Round The States

New Delhi, 25 April 2014

EC Joy, Embarrassment

HIGH TURNOUT & TURN AWAY

By Insaf

The sixth phase of polling across 11 States has given the Election Commission moments of joy, sorrow and embarrassment. While the high voter turnout in the 117 constituencies kept pace with the previous phases, there were hiccups, some avoidable. Prominent among these is the reports from the nation’s financial capital, Mumbai, one of the six constituencies in Maharashtra which went to polls. While it can claim to have had the highest voter turnout in 25 years (52 per cent against 46 per cent), thousands of voters were sent back disappointed from polling booths after not finding their names in the EC list! Undeniably, the State EC officials would have some answering to do as political and corporate big wigs were among the many young turned back. While the polling was by and large peaceful, Maoists did manage to mar the voting in Dumka district of Jharkhand, killing eight persons. Add to this, reports of damaging of EVMs and booth capturing being reported from Assam (Kokrajhar district) and UP, where political parties had feared rigging. On expected lines, Anantnag district in Kashmir, proved to be a downer. It recorded a poor 28 per cent following killing of an EC official and the voters heeding to the separatists’ boycott call. But by the end of the day, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal left Nirvachan Sadan smiling with the highest turnout.   

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However, Varanasi would be seen as a spoilsport for the poll panel on the crucial day. Though not voting, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s massive road show lasting over three hours before he could file his nominations hogged most of the media coverage. Worse, it saw the Congress complaining about violation of code of conduct and wanting filing of an FIR against Modi. Did the EC slip up? Could it have done its homework better, anticipating that filing of nominations dates in this most-prestigious constituency should best be avoided on a date of polling elsewhere. With TV channels beaming the event live, voters could be swayed by the crowds and enthusiasm that reverberated on the streets—a sea of saffron. While the EC has some answering to do here, for now its energies would be to avoid another goof-up. As of now, the holy city has 78 candidates in the fray as against 15 last Election! The maximum number of EVMs four will not be able to accommodate all. Will it be forced to use ballot papers? A tedious job and that counting could even take 36 hours. While it would be an interesting test for Nirvachan Sadan, it is hoping that some candidates oblige by withdrawing.  Fortunately, for it May 12 is a long way off.

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Amritsar Hots Up

The SAD-BJP ruling combine in Punjab may well be praying for some more faux pas by its opponent in the holy city of Amritsar. With Congress candidate Amarinder Singh putting his foot in the mouth the other day, giving a “clean chit” to Jagdish Tytler, one of the accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, BJP’s heavyweight candidate Arun Jaitley, would have less of a worried frown over his election debut. What seemed to be safe seat for him with the Badal family putting its weight behind, has now turned out to be tough as it nears D-day April 30. Not only has Amarinder’s entry raised the stakes really high for Jaitley, but winning the seat has become a prestige issue for both Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and son Sukhbir, ruling the State for seven years. However, Amarinder’s gaffe has clearly rubbed the Sikhs (65 per cent of the electorate) the wrong way, with protests from Sikh groups breaking out in the State and Delhi. Will it mar the prospects of the “son of the soil” (Amarinder) against the “outsider” (Jaitley)? Too close a call for any guesses.   

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Breather For Goa

Goa not only gets a breather but gives hope to many others. The good news comes from the corridors of the Supreme Court. On Monday last, it lifted the ban on iron ore mining in the State, heeding to the BJP Government’s pleas that thousands of jobs as well as revenue had been severely impacted. However, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would need to tread carefully. The apex court has allowed mining activities only on issuance of fresh leases and ordered cancellation of all mining leases given extension after 2007. This apart, it has put conditions, including limiting ore extraction to 20 million tonnes per year (less than half of its production of 45 MT) and demarcating a one-km buffer zone around national parks and sanctuaries. Recall, the ban was imposed in September 2012 after its attention was drawn to a Rs 35,000-crore scam involving politicians, big mining companies and the bureaucracy. While companies can make a fresh start in Goa, others in Karnataka and Odisha will be keeping fingers crossed for good news their way too. 

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Winds of Change In Haryana

Will Haryana see less of ‘honour killings’ in the near future? There is good reason to believe so. The State’s biggest Khap Panchayat-- Satrol khap has taken a historic decision to allow inter-caste marriages, amending over 600-odd years’ old norms. Additionally, the Panchayat has done away with its ban on marriages within 42 villages under its influence. The change in heart, explained the Panchayat head was an offshoot of the “declining male-female sex ratio in the State and the changing social fabric of society.” However, it hasn’t done away with its ban on inter-caste marriages in the same and bordering villages and same-gotra marriages. Though a big question mark hangs on whether this will change, there is certainty that suicide, honour killings, persecution of young couples and caste-ridden conflicts in villages will come down drastically. This apart, while some Panchayats have decried the lifting of the ban, many others are contemplating follow suit. Indeed, revolutionary.  

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Thumbs Up For Delhi

It’s a thumbs’ up for Delhi. It can put many a High Court to cringe or set an example to emulate. Either ways, the nation’s capital has one more reason to boast about. The Delhi High Court got its first woman Chief Justice on Monday last, all the way from the south, senior-most judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice Gorla Rohini. While she obviously will be a role model for young girls, women lawyers and judges across the country, the track record of high courts has not particularly been encouraging. Of the 24 HCs only four are said to have women chief justices and there are only 53 women among 614 judges, making the all-India figure of male-to-female ratio a low 1:10. If one looks higher, the record too is discouraging—only two women judges in the Supreme Court out of the present strength of 30! On an optimistic note, Delhi has shown that times are changing. Rohini’s appointment is being viewed as symbolising women empowerment, much promised by all political parties this election season.--INFA 

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