Northeast India, Surrounded by Many Foreign Nations, Records More Voter Turnout Than National Average
By
Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam
22 May 2024
Amid the
national elections of India, where five phases of polling were successfully
completed (another two are waiting), various sections have expressed concern
over the low voters’ turn out in the largest electoral show on Earth. Election
Commission of India (ECI), which conducts all important polls under
constitutional provisions in the country of 1.4 billion populations, reveals
the polling percentages as 66.14, 66.71, 65.68, 67.25 and 60.09 in the
concluded five phases of voting respectively. But contrary to the national
statistics, northeast India (NE) comprising 60 million populaces (and
surrounded by many foreign nations, where polls were held in the first three
phases) scored over 77 percent voter’s response.
Polling in Meghalaya was by and large peaceful. State capital Shillong
remained mostly closed as people stood in queues at polling stations.
-------
Meanwhile,
many political observers come up with theories that the declining voter turnout
indicates the shrinkage of electoral influence by the ruling Bharatiya Janata
Party (read Prime Minister Narendra Modi) over the years. The saffron party is
projected to win the general elections 2024 with a satisfactory number of
lawmakers in the 545-member Lok Sabha by a number of opinion polls before the
electoral process was executed. Now those pundits put the projection that PM
Modi’s dream to retain power for the third consecutive term will be spoiled as
the voters have lost interest in the electoral process and more precisely on
the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
If the old
statistics are analysed, the all-India averages of polling in Lok Sabha
elections remain usually lower than 70%. In 2009 general elections the country
observed less than 60% polling (Congress retained power in New Delhi), whereas
the next national elections in 2014 recorded over 66% (BJP came to power) and
the 17th Lok Sabha polls in 2019 reported over 67% voting. NDA won over 350
Parliamentary seats in the last national polls and this time the ruling
alliance is looking for 400 plus members in the lower house of Parliament. The
counting of votes will take place on 4 June after two more phases scheduled for
25 May and 1 June and the results are expected the same day.
Despite
relentless awareness campaigns by the ECI, social organisations, media outlets
and political personalities, the voter turnout has not significantly improved
in mainland India. The opposition parties, which even fail to attract more
voters to the polling booths across the country, try to score electoral
advantages with the unimpressive voter response asserting that it was a silent
mandate against the NDA. However, the voters of north-eastern States have
ridiculed the theory with nearly 13% more polling than the national average.
The lion’s share of credit goes to Lok Jagaran Mancha Asom, which successfully
launched a campaign for 100% polling with printed leaflets, music videos, short
plays etc in the region.
The
land-locked region, which sends 25 members to Lok Sabha, projected the
impressive polling in a peaceful ambience except some incidents in Manipur.
Often termed as a land of separatists, where the residents remain reluctant to
participate in any national event including the general elections, the voters
have once again upheld their inherent commitment for the great nation. Assam,
largest State of the region, witnessed fully peaceful and participatory polling
in the final phase on 7 May for four Parliamentary seats with over 81.61 %
voter turnout, where Dhubri went to over 90% polling. It recorded voter turnout
78.25% and 77.35% respectively in the first two phases. Tripura, Meghalaya,
Sikkim, Manipur also recorded impressive polling (over 75 %) in the 1st and 2nd
phases.
The BJP put
candidates in all ten parliamentary seats of Assam in 1st and 2nd phases, but
the saffron party fielded only one nominee (Bijuli Kalita Medhi for Guwahati LS
seat) in the last phase. It extended support to its alliance candidates namely
Phani Bhusan Choudhury (Asom Gana Parishad) for Barpeta seat, Zabed Islam (AGP)
for Dhubri and Jayanta Basumtary (United People’s Party Liberal) for Kokrajhar
constituency. The former women wing chief of Assam State primarily faces an
electoral challenge from the Indian National Congress candidate Mira Borthakur
Goswami in Guwahati.
In Barpeta,
the AGP legislator faces Deep Bayan (Congress), Manoranjan Talukdar (a CPM
legislator), and a few others, whereas in Dhubri, the AGP nominee challenges
sitting All India United Democratic Front MP Moulana Badruddin Ajmal and
Congress legislator Rakibul Hussain in the westernmost constituency. The
nomination of sitting Kokrajhar MP Naba Kr Sarania was cancelled and hence the
electoral battle in the Bodo-dominated constituency emerged as a triangular
contest, where the UPPL nominee faces challenges from Kampa Borgoyary (Bodoland
People’s Front) and Garjan Mashhary (Congress).
In the 2nd
phase, BJP’s sitting MP Dilip Saikia faces electoral challenges from Madhav
Rajbangshi (Congress) and Durgadas Boro (BPF) in Darrang-Udalguri seat. Diphu
seat witnesses’ frontal electoral fights between Amarsing Tisso (BJP) and Joy
Ram Engleng (Congress). In Silchar, State minister Parimal Suklabaidya faced
Surya Kanta Sarkar (Congress) and Radheshyam Biswas (Trinamool Congress).
Congress party is expecting positive outcomes in Nagaon and Karimganj seats.
The sitting MP Pradyut Bordoloi primarily faces Aminul Islam (AIUDF) and Suresh
Borah (BJP) in Nagaon and in Karimganj, the oldest party fielded Hafiz Rashid
Ahmed Choudhury against Sahabul Islam Choudhury (AIUDF) and Kripanath Malla
(BJP).
In this
phase, two seats of Tripura and Manipur also went to polls, where in Tripura
East, the saffron party supported Tipra Motha candidate Kriti Singh Devbarma
against CPM nominee Rajendra Reang which recorded over 80 % polling. Outer
Manipur seat went to polls in both the phases where Kachui Timothy Zimik (Naga
People’s Front) was supported by the BJP against the Congress candidate Alfred
Kanngam S Arthur. Many booths in and around Imphal went for re-polling and the
State's voter turnout reached to over 75%.
During the
1st phase, all north-eastern States participated in the polling. West Tripura
seat, where BJP fielded former State CM Biplab Kumar Deb against the united
opposition candidate Ashish Kumar Saha, witnessed over 81 % polling. In the
Inner Manipur seat, BJP candidate Basanta Kumar Singh faced challenges from
Angomcha Bimol Akoijam (Congress). Mizoram witnessed a peaceful polling for the
lone Parliamentary seat, but it recorded a not so impressive 55 % turnout. Here
Zoram People's Movement nominee Richard Vanlalhmangaiha was challenged by K.
Vanlalvena (Mizo National Front), Lalbiakzama (Congress) and Pu Vanhlalmuaka
(BJP).
Tura seat
of Meghalaya recorded 81% turnout, where the ruling National People's Party put
sitting MP Agatha Sangma against Zenith Sangma (Trinamool Congress) and Saleng
A Sangma (Congress). Shillong constituency however recorded around 65% voting,
where sitting Congress MP Vincent Pala was challenged by State minister
Ampareen Lyngdoh. Nagaland, even after six districts voted zero, recorded
around 57 % polling for the lone Parliamentary seat. The Nationalist Democratic
Progressive Party nominee Chumben Murry (endorsed by People’s Democratic
Alliance) emerged as a front runner against his rival Supongmeren Jamir
(Congress) in this seat.
The voters
of Arunachal Pradesh successfully exercised their franchise to elect two MPs
and 50 legislators, with a turnout of around 67 %. Here 10 BJP candidates
including State chief minister Pema Khandu and his deputy Chowna Mein won the
race in assembly segments with no fielded opponents. Union minister Kiren
Rijiju faced Congress nominee Nabam Tuki in Arunachal West seat and sitting
saffron MP Tapir Gao was challenged by Bosiram Siram in Arunachal East
constituency.
The
electorate of Sikkim also voted for an MP and 32 legislators with 75 %
electoral responses. The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha fielded sitting MP
Indra Hang Subba against Prem Das Rai (Sikkim Democratic Front), Gopal Chettri
(Congress) and Dinesh Chandra Nepal (BJP). State CM Prem Singh Tamang, former
CM Pawan Kumar Chamling, legendary footballer Bhaichung Bhutia, etc contested
from separate assembly constituencies.
In Assam,
Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal faced electoral challenges from Manoj
Dhanowar (Aam Aadmi Party) and Lurinjyoti Gogoi (Asom Jatiya Parishad) in
Dibrugarh seat. Another Rajya Sabha member Kamakhya Prasad Tasa had a direct
contest from Roselina Tirkey (Congress) in Kaziranga. Similarly, in Sonitpur
(earlier named as Tezpur) BJP candidate Ranjit Dutta was challenged by Prem Lal
Ganju (Congress) and Rishiraj Kaundinya (AAP). Sitting saffron MP Pradan Barua
primarily faced challenges from Uday Shankar Hazarika (Congress) in Lakhimpur.
Jorhat seat attracted public attention as two sitting MPs namely Gaurav Gogoi
(who represented now delimited Kaliabor seat) and sitting saffron MP Tapan
Gogoi contested with high promises.
------
Nava Thakuria is a northeast India-based
professional journalist who is an engineering graduate.
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism