Amir Khan’s rigorous campaign asking people not to get lured by candidates and must vote, and the catchline and Jago Voter Jago, seems to have fallen on deaf ears in Uttar Pradesh. For, the figures in the state indicate that the picture will be the same as it was in the 2004 elections — low voter turnout.
Three phases of polling are over and the figures released by the election office state that it is well below the 50 per cent mark this time.
In the third phase too, polling for which concluded on Thursday, there was a low turnout at 44.5 per cent. The voter turnout in Lucknow was 34.5 per cent, which is quite like the previous election.
Interestingly, the voter turnout has been this low despite a rigorous campaign by non governmental organisations (NGOs), Swami Ramdeo, Sri Ravi Shankar, media houses and political parties themselves.
The volunteers of Rashtriya Swabhiman Dal made a personal visit to the households on Thursday morning asking people to vote first and vote must.
The volunteers distributed handbills with the slogan “Pahle Matdaan Phir Jalpaan” (vote first and then have breakfast).
In the second and third phase, the polling was abysmally low in Amethi, Sonbhadra, Azamgarh, Ghosi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Shravasti, Gonda and Kaisarganj.
