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Unlike in 2009, the urban voters were found to be more enthusiastic in exercising their franchise than their rural counterparts as the polling for the Dharwad Parliamentary constituency on Thursday was a smooth affair with no untoward incident being reported.
The preliminary reports received just after 6 PM when the deadline for entering the polling booth ended the constituency comprising eight assembly segments had recorded an approximate 62 per cent of voter turnout. The exact figures were expected late at night.
In 2009, the constituency had registered 56.64 per cent voting and it had been listed among the 100 constituencies in India recording low voting percentage.
The polling booths particularly in border areas of Navalgund, Dharwad rural and Kalghatgi taluk were wearing a deserted look and the villages too were not an exception. Voters seemed to be preferring to stay indoors despite the weather remaining cool and cloudy.
The polling began on a sedate note at 7 am and till 11 am, the majority of polling booths in Mugad, Mundihaal, Garag and nearby villages had recorded 20 per cent polling.
However, the polling gained momentum slowly as the clock ticked 2 pm. Garag, Kotur, Uppinabetageri, Harobelawadi, Shirur, Morab and other villages had recorded polling percentage between 30 per cent to 50 per cent.
By 4 PM when the voters were expected to make a beeline to the polling booths in Morab village, heavy rains forced them back indoors. The agents of the political parties were waiting for the rain to stop to enable the voters reach the booths.
Adding more woes to the polling percentage, incessant rains lashed some parts of Navalgund and Dharwad taluk which further dipped the polling percentage.
Hectic arrangements were made by the district administration to see that no untoward incidents took place within the 200 meter radius of the polling booths. The polling passed off smoothly.
As a precautionary measure, armed police personnel were deployed in the polling booths to ensure safety of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and also to instil courage in the people to come out of their houses and cast their vote.
90-year-old Padmavati Dindalkopp in Garag village with the support of her grand sons was seen standing in queue to cast the vote. Recalling the old memories, she said she is casting the vote for the 15th time including gram panchayat election, zilla panchayat, Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
One dies: Chandusaab Hongal (45) breathed his last while he was on his way to cast vote at Hanasi village in Navalgund taluk. Villagers stated that he developed chest pain while he was on his way to cast his vote and suddenly collapsed.
Apart from this, no incidents of EVMs going defunct, villagers boycotting polls or any kind of election malpractice were reported in rural areas.
Confusion
A case of the presiding officer in the polling booth at Kannada Primary School in Yemmikeri of Dharwad not allowing a woman voter bearing the voter slip issued by EC led to heated arguments. The PRO relented after the media persons questioned her action in denying the voting right when EC had listed the voter slip among the 11 documents as ID proof. The EVMs after demustering will be brought to Dharwad and kept in a heavily guarded strong room at University of Agricultural Sciences. The counting of votes will commence on May 16.
