The hilly state of Uttarakhand had polls on Monday. Vidhan Sabha polls were largely peaceful, and FIRs have been filed against those who violated the model code of conduct.
Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha elections have been completed in 1 phase on 14 February 2022. Elections were largely peaceful. Nearly 82 lakh people have cast their votes which will decide the political fate of 632 candidates from different political parties.
Despite the pandemic, the total voter turnout in the state is 64.29%, which is less than the last Legislative Assembly polls in 2017. Constituency-wise, most people cast votes in Haridwar rural (81.25%), and the least number of votes were cast in salt (44%).
Election Commission has said that this is not the final voting percent. It isn’t easy to get figures immediately from areas with poor connectivity. It will take some time, and Election Commission will be releasing final data by Tuesday evening. People from hilly districts have voted more than expected. The voting percent in Dehradun has dropped.
Haridwar has the highest voter turnout in all 13 districts ,and Almora has the lowest. The approximate district wise trend in voter turnout is as follows-
1. Almora- 52.82%
2. Bageshwar- 61.08%
3.Chamoli- 60.32%
4. Champawat- 61.83%
5.Dehradun- 62.4%
6. Haridwar- 74.06%
7.Nainital- 65.84%
8. Pauri Garwal- 53.14%
9. Pithoragarh- 59.44%
10. Rudraprayag- 60.49%
11. Tehri Garhwal- 55.57%
12. Udham Singh Nagar- 71.45%
13.Uttarkashi- 67.32%
*Source: ECI Voter Turnout App
As per the past trends in Uttarakhand, the voter turnout is around 65 to 67%. In 2002, the total number of people who cast their votes was 54.34%. In 2006, the voter turnout increased to 59.50%, In 2012, it was 67.22% and in 2017, the voter turnout was 65.56%.
People denied to vote in 7 booths.
People did not cast votes at seven polling booths in Uttarakhand. Out of these, three were from the Kumaon division, one each from Kashipur, Champawat, and Dharchula seats. The remaining four were from the Garwal division, each from Purola, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Chaubattakhal.
In Purola, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Champawat, and Dharchula, people were angry due to no road construction. Not giving possession over the land was the reason in Kashipur’s Manpur. People at Sunderwala in Chaubattakhal, were not happy with tehsil change.
Violation of Model code of conduct
The elections were largely peaceful. But at certain places, ECI’s Model Code of Conduct was violated, and people were clicking and uploading their photos inside the polling booth. On Monday, 203 FIRs were filed for violation of the Model code of conduct. For violation of COVID-19 guidelines, 92 cases were filed.
Older Generation serious about voting
Narayan Singh with SDM at Kapkote, Bageshwar
Elections Commission has made arrangements to bring older adults to polling booths with the help of NCC candidates and SVEEP volunteers. They helped elders reach polling booths, vote, and then helped them to get homes.
At Kapkote in Bageshwar, Narayan Singh, a centenarian, voted. “Since the day, I became eligible to vote, I have voted in every election”, said Singh. In Dehradun, 100-year-old Lal
Bahadur and Mohammad Yaseen voted. Besides them, Kanta Devi, a 106-year-old lady, came to the polling booth to cast her vote.
Edited By : Shreya Pandey
Published By : K. Bindhiya Prarthana
