Wayanad sets a new record in poll

By R. Madhavan Nair

KALPETTA, MAY 12. The record turnout of voters in the hilly Wayanad district in the Assembly poll on May 10 was made possible by a host of factors. These included vigorous electioneering and what many believe was an irresistible urge among the voters to have a first hand feel of the electronic voting machines which were being used for the first time.

The polling percentage of 81.55 marks a significant increase from 69.69 registered in the 1996 Assembly election.

The CPI(M) district secretary, Mr. P.A. Mohammed, however, believes the voting percentage does not give a realistic picture.

He points out that names of 10,000 to 20,000 voters were left out of the voters' list for various reasons. Some of them were deleted for no reason at all. If this fact is taken into consideration, it would not be fair to presume that most of the eligible voters got an opportunity to vote.

For example, North Wayanad registered the highest poll percentage of 83.22 (along with Thodupuzha) in the State. Actually the votes which went unpolled there were much more than that indicated by the polling percentage since, according to the CPI(M) leader, nearly 25 per cent of deletions made in the voters list were unwarranted.

But the high voter turn-out in Wayanad has come as a pleasant surprise to all major political parties. Its impact on election results remains in the realm of speculation though many believe a high polling percentage in Wayanad would be advantageous to the UDF.

What all political parties would like to believe is that their campaigns which were severely handicapped by restrictions on expenses imposed by the Election Commission had been forceful enough to prompt the voters to reach the polling booth on the election day.

The North Wayanad constituency which is considered a stronghold of UDF registered the highest voting percentage of 83.22. Campaigners pointed out that an upsurge in interest of voters was the sole reason for the sharp rise in polling percentage. The main candidates in the fray in North Wayanad were Ms. Radha Raghavan of the UDF and Ms. Sarada Sajeevan of the LDF.

Also of interest is the fact that North Wayanad constituency has a large number of tribals who appear to have evinced more interest in this election than in the past.

In Kalpetta, the voting percentage was 80.88 and in Sulthan Bathery 80.55. In Kalpetta the polling percentage last year was 71.44 while in Sulthan Bathery it was 69.71.

UDF campaign managers in Bathery are confident that the increase in polling percentage would increase the victory chances of their candidate and that the Congress leader, Mr. N.D. Appachan, would overcome the challenge from the formidable LDF Independent, Fr Mathai Nooranal.

A campaign manager said though many names were missing from the voters' list the handicap faced by the UDF on this score would be offset by the increase in polling percentage.

Speaking to The Hindu the CPI(M) leader, Mr. P.A. Mohammed, said campaigners of both the UDF and the LDF deserved kudos for the large turn-out of tribal voters in this election. Unlike in the past elections, liquor was not used to influence tribal voters and no attempt was made to win over tribals by unfair means. ``Awareness among our tribals about elections has clearly increased,'' he said.

Many other old-timers in the district believe the principal reason for more people going to polling booths in Wayanad in the May 10 election than in the past was the use of electronic voting machines. ``Electronic voting machines turned out to be an irresistible attraction in this election,'' said a social worker in Kalpetta.

The veteran Congress leader, Mr. K.K. Ramachandran Master, who is seeking re-election from Kalpetta constituency and is pitted against Mr. K.K. Hamsa of the LDF, also believes the high polling percentage does not tell the whole truth.

He is of the view that the outwardly impressive polling percentage of 81.55 blocks the fact that many eligible voters were denied their democratic right to participate in the exercise to elect their representative.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ramachandran Master, who has been an MLA for the past 20 years, said names of a large number of nuns, priests and Muslims were omitted from the new voters' list.

Whatever the reasons, the backward but scenic Wayanad district has come out with flying colours in this Assembly elections. First it set a record by issuing voters'identity card to 98.55 percent of the electorate which is the highest for any district in the nation. Now it has registered the highest polling percentage.

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Section  : State Elections
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