With Lok Sabha polls entering phase 2, a ridiculously large number of Gen Z and millennials are refraining from voting. In a bid to decode why, midday.com interviewed Mumbai's youth, who shared insights into their comprehension (or lack thereof) of the 2024 general elections. “We don’t have much knowledge on this subject,” confessed Suruchi Rastogi (21), a pharmacy student, when queried about her voting history. With a lack of education on who to vote for, the voice of Indian youth remains dormant when it comes to choosing their leader. The world’s largest democracy, India is also home to the largest youth population globally. Despite this demographic prowess, youth influence on the elections appears to be stifled: with fewer than 40 per cent of eligible voters aged between 18 and 19 being registered for the 2024 general elections, according to the Election Commission of India. Several young people interviewed by the Midday team also opined that youth representation is missing from the parliament; and that the current agendas of political parties don’t take into consideration their aspirations. Sumit Anand (23), a student of Rizvi College, Bandra said: “Most of the elected members are senior citizens. For example, LK Advani and Amit Shah sir. They are mostly seniors. I don't see much youth representation in Indian politics.” On the other hand, Shivam Khandelwal (29), who completed his MBA at ICFAI Business School, offers a different perspective, arguing that younger members might not have enough experience to become lawmakers. "I suppose, for now, a millennial obviously would be the one who might get into the parliament. Not anyone post that generation. But even a millennial would lack the aptitude to ensure that the government performs its duties satisfactorily." Saima Akhtar (24), from National College in Khar, opines that there are youth members in Indian politics but not enough. In the current Lok Sabha, only 12 per cent of the members are youth leaders, as per a report by ‘Youth in Politics.’ Some of the prominent youth leaders in India are Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Agatha Sangma, Lakshika Dagar and Tejasvi Surya. Does Gen Z know who to vote for and why?While the youth remain complacent in learning about their constituencies and representatives, some of them blame it on their parents for not introducing them to Indian politics. Shifali Bhasin (19), a student of Psychology shares: "I've never felt the need to get a voter ID because my parents never had one either.” Conversely, Anand takes a divergent stance thanks to the escalating presence of Indian political discourse on social media platforms. “Although I have not visited Ayodhya, I have seen that Ram Mandir has been built very well. I think due to the internet trend, BJP will win this time.” When asked about how he decides who to vote for, Anand shared that he assesses candidates based on their five-year performance to determine their effectiveness and accomplishments. “My vote is cast accordingly, taking into account their demonstrated excellence over time,” he added. Parallelly, Khandelwal hints at a growing reliance on hate speech and polarisation amongst politicians to garner votes. “As much as we get to see the events in Delhi, it does feel that this is not going the correct way – however, I am not much into the political part.” Coming from a finance background, Khandelwal places heavy weight on factors like India’s inclusion in the JP Morgan Government Bond Index. “I am happy with the fact that the country is better rated on platforms like CRISIL, ICRA, SMERA. I am not much into politics as I don’t understand it.” Khandelwal separates himself from how politics is unfolding by concentrating on financial prosperity. Saima outlines her criteria for voting decisions: She prioritises development, including infrastructure and educational opportunities, particularly for the youth. Additionally, job availability and international engagement factor into her considerations. What the youth wants from the elected partyGen Z and millennials voice their aspirations from the winning government, prioritising initiatives on education and the environment. Khandelwal stresses that green cover needs to expand to mitigate climate change. “While the ruling party promotes electric cars as a step towards environmental sustainability, the extraction of lithium, a crucial component, poses significant harm to nature, contradicting their green initiatives. Furthermore, I find the ongoing construction of roads unsettling, especially when travelling. It often leaves me questioning: are we living in a concrete jungle?” Driving the focus back to rising unemployment in the country, Anand appeals that the winning party needs to prioritise employment opportunities and invest in infrastructure, particularly in sectors like hospitality, healthcare and education. Given the soaring costs of schooling, steps should be taken to reduce fees, ensuring that more parents can afford quality education for their children. While Bhasin is not voting this year, she highlights 4 issues she wants to be resolved by the party that wins Lok Sabha elections: Academics, Schools, Cleanliness and Mumbai traffic. Saima expands on local issues by emphasising the current condition of road infrastructure in Mumbai. “Give us good roads within the city. Yes, the coastal road project is great but what about internal roads that remain unattended, dug and ruined for years?” She continues, “Moreover, the issue of excessive street hawkers needs to be addressed, along with better regulation of traffic violations such as unauthorised parking and restricted entry areas for vehicles.” Bringing back the focus on safety, Khandelwal shares that crime rates need to be reduced, especially considering recent incidents where perpetrators easily evade capture. For instance, the shooter at Salman Khan's residence appeared to carry out the act effortlessly, raising questions about law enforcement efficacy. Additionally, reports suggest he was the primary suspect in the Sidhu Moosewala case and managed to flee to Azerbaijan, despite being connected to a jailed relative, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of the justice system. Harsh Singhal (19), pursuing Bachelor of Management Studies appeals to the government to improve the education curriculum, reduce the burden on students, and equip them with practical life skills beyond mere syllabus completion. Additionally, addressing poverty by allocating more funds towards poverty alleviation programs is imperative. Lastly, he remarks that there is a pressing need for global food security initiatives to ensure sustainable access to nutrition for all. Singhal concludes by saying that “rather than having strict rules, I believe there should be more supervision on how these rules are followed in certain states and certain cities.”
27 April,2024 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Ainie RizviUttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has increased electricity rates by seven per cent for 2024-25, reported news agency ANI. "Electricity rates in Uttarakhand have been increased by about seven per cent," the Commission's acting chairman ML Prasad, said on Friday, reported ANI. However, there has been no increase in fixed charges for 4.5 lakh BPL consumers and snowbound consumers, reported ANI. According to the new rates issued by the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission, domestic consumers have been charged 25 paise for consumption of electricity up to 100 units, 30 paise for 101 to 200 units, and 40 paise per unit for 201 to 400 units. Last year, the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission increased electricity rates by 9.64 per cent for 2023-24. Meanwhile, three men were arrested on Friday after being caught trying to set fire to the forests in two different areas of the district, an officer said, reported PTI. Sheep herder Naresh Bhatt was arrested from Tadiyal village in Jakholi area while he was trying to set fire to the forest, Divisional Forest Officer Abhimanyu said, reported PTI. Bhatt confessed that he was setting the forest ablaze so that fresh grass can grow for his sheep to graze. He has been booked under Indian forest act, 1927. Two more, Hemant Singh and Bhagwati Lal, were arrested from Dangwal village in similar circumstances, the DFO said, reported PTI. Forest fires are raging in different parts of Uttarakhand these days. The state on Thursday recorded 54 fire incidents which destroyed around 75 hectares of forest land, most of which located in the Kumaon region, a forest official said, reported PTI. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami asked officials in Dehradun to be on alert against forest fires, reported PTI. Other departments should also be on alert mode to prevent forest fires, Dhami said. Dhami also called for people's cooperation in controlling the fire. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)
27 April,2024 09:05 AM IST | Dehradun (Uttarakhand) | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will campaign in Maharashtra and Goa for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, reported news agency IANS. The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public meeting in Maharashtra's Kolhapur at 5:00 p.m. From there, he will proceed to South Goa to hold an Lok Sabha elections 2024 rally there at around 7:00 p.m, reported IANS. Meanwhile, here are few major political events that will unfold across the country today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will campaign in Gujarat on Saturday. He will address public meetings in Rajkot at 10:30 a.m., Bharuch at 1:30 p.m., and Panchmahal at 3:00 p.m. After public meetings, the Home Minister will hold a roadshow in Vadodara at 4:30 p.m, reported IANS. The Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge will meet on Saturday evening to discuss the names of candidates for the remaining Lok Sabha seats, including Amethi and Raebareli. The Congress has so far announced candidates for 317 parliamentary constituencies, reported IANS. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal will spearhead AAP's Lok Sabha elections 2024 campaign in the national capital on Saturday. She will hold her maiden roadshow at around 4:00 p.m. in Kalyanpuri for party's East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar. In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will hold public meetings in Hathras at 12.15 p.m., Firozabad at 1.40 p.m. and Auraiya at 3.10 p.m. on Saturday, reported IANS. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will address public meetings in Gujarat's Valsad and Maharashtra's Latur on Saturday. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav will hold public outreach programmes in the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency on Saturday, reported IANS. The BJP has said that prominent personalities will join the party in the presence of senior leaders in the national capital at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. BJP President J.P. Nadda will address the event. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai will address a public meeting in Kasdol on Saturday, reported IANS. (With inputs from IANS)
27 April,2024 08:55 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAn Indian-origin female student studying at the prestigious Princeton University is among two students who have been arrested and barred from the campus for staging pro-Palestine protests on the campus. Achinthya Sivalingan, born in Coimbatore and raised in Columbus, has been barred from the campus and faces disciplinary action,. Protesters set up tents for a student-led pro-Palestine encampment in McCosh Courtyard at about 7 am Thursday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 April,2024 07:38 AM IST | New York | AgenciesVoter turnout of 60.96 per cent was recorded till 7 pm in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections held on Friday across 88 constituencies spread in 13 states, the Election Commission said. The poll panel described the voting as “peaceful”. In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections of 2019 held in 95 constituencies across 13 states, the turnout was much higher at 67.6 per cent. Heat wave is believed to have contributed towards several voters not turning up at polling stations in both the phases. In the first phase, the turnout was 65.5 per cent compared to 69.43 per cent in phase one of the 2019 parliamentary polls. Some of the constituencies were different then and the total number of seats which went to poll were 91. The EC said polling is now complete in 14 states and Union territories. The polling time was extended till 6 pm in many polling stations in Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger constituencies in Bihar to facilitate the voters in hot weather conditions. Special arrangements were made to combat the heat, including provision of ‘shamiyana’, drinking water, medical kits and fans for the convenience of the voters. The usual polling time is 7 am to 6 pm but it varies depending on factors such as terrain, time of sunset and security situation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 April,2024 07:38 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Supreme Court on Friday rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and said “blindly distrusting” any aspect of the system can breed unwarranted scepticism. Maintaining that “democracy is all about striving to build harmony and trust between all institutions”, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta delivered two concurring verdicts and dismissed all the pleas in the matter, including those seeking to go back to ballot papers in elections. The court issued two directives. Pronouncing his verdict, Justice Khanna directed the Election Commission to seal and store units used to load symbols for 45 days after the symbols have been loaded to electronic voting machines in strong rooms. The apex court also allowed engineers of the EVM manufacturers to verify the microcontroller of the machines after the declaration of the results on the request of candidates who stood second and third. Request for the verification of the microcontroller can be made within seven days of declaration of the results after payment of fees, the court said. Decision exposes INDIA bloc: Law minister Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal welcomed the decision and said it has exposed opposition parties, including the Congress, that had left no opportunity to defame EC. Court has rejected pleas seeking complete cross-verification of votes cast using EVMs with a VVPAT and said blindly distrusting any aspect of system can breed unwarranted scepticism. Modi hails SC verdict; slams opposition PM Narendra Modi asserted that SC judgment on cross-verification of votes was a tight slap on Congress-led opposition which must apologise for committing the sin of creating distrust against EVMs. Addressing an election rally, he also charged the opposition with trying to steal reservations meant for OBCs, SCs and STs for sake of their favourite vote bank of Muslims. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 April,2024 07:35 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesBJP has unleashed a hate campaign against the LDF government in Kerala. Despite Prime Minister Modi’s repeated visits to the state, the saffron party will not make it in the polls, says Karivellur Murali, Secretary, Kerala Sangeetha Natak Academy, Department of Cultural Affairs, speaking in an exclusive conversation with mid-day at the academy office in Thrissur, he touches on different issues in Kerala. Murali spoke about the resolute of the state, highlighting the infrastructure development over the years. He further shared how the government has helped citizens affected by sea erosion. What are some key factors contributing to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's effectiveness and efficiency in leading Kerala?Infrastructure in Kerala faces challenges due to its elongated geography, yet it boasts extensive roadways and connectivity even in remote villages. Sea erosion victims have been provided housing, albeit with some delays due to financial constraints. Kerala Sangeet Nataka Academy Kerala, despite being financially strained, remains resilient, with the Left government making significant progress since 2016. However, the state grapples with its share of GST and neglect in railway development, amidst Central government indifference. This neglect reflects a broader trend of central power undermining state autonomy and perpetuating misinformation, exemplified by the debunked Kerala Story film. Is this a failure of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan?He's the most active and capable chief minister in the state, completing major projects like the GAIL Kochi-Mangaluru natural gas pipeline and resuming the National Highway project. Kerala is the only state in India to pay 25 per cent of road-building compensation and excels in food distribution and education, with mortality rates comparable to Europe's. We have nearly 150 educational institutions at par with international standards for public education Does the BJP have a chance?None at all. The BJP has zero chances of winning in Kerala in any of the 20 constituencies. It is running a Hate Kerala campaign in Kerala. The party is spending a lot of money on canvassing, spreading lies, and dividing people on religion, and yet the result after the polls will be a zero. There is no doubt about it. What is the perspective of the agrarian community on the BJP's campaign promises?The agrarian community is completely against the BJP which thrives on lies. Trusting its campaign promises is risky. History shows shifts in power, like the Janata Party's faltering and Congress's decline after the emergency. Despite a strong start, the BJP's support is limited to 31 per cent. Which party will win in Kerala?The Lok Sabha polls differ from Assembly polls due to the absence of strong national leadership, particularly evident in the Congress. This contrasts with the era of leaders like Nehru and Kamaraj who maintained federal unity. The recent incident where the Congress discouraged the display of Indian Union Muslim League flags at a rally addressed by Rahul Gandhi reflects the party's weakening grip, Earlier there were defections like Raman Nair, KS Radhakrishnan, and Pramila Devi. Notably, individuals like CS Raghunathan have switched to BJP, indicating a shift in political allegiance. What are the changing perceptions surrounding Suresh Gopi's entry into Lok Sabha politics in 2019?When Cinew star Suresh Gopi contested the Lok Sabha polls for the first time in 2019, he was able to make a little difference with his presence. That is no longer there. Suresh Gopi has now become a ‘comedian’. At first, he tried to woo the Christian minorities by placing a golden crown on the statue of Mother Mary in a church. He lives in Thiruvananthapuram. There are many from Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur. Could he not have placed the crown in one of those churches? But the fact he decided to come to a church in Thrissur is revealing. Voters can now see through their candidates. What's the perception of Rahul Gandhi in Indian politics?Like the word, evergreen, Rahul Gandhi will always remain the future PM candidate and hope for India. He cannot be the prime minister simply because he does not take responsibility. Let alone the fact that the Congress does not have a national-level leader. Rahul Gandhi, as the MP, has visited his constituency in Wayanad less than 20 times in 5 years. This is a massive defeat of the constituency. Is he doing anything on the national level? All the time we hear and read, he is travelling abroad. What is the role of the Left (LDF) in politics today?The Citizenship Amendment Act first came in 1951 and had nine amendments. For the first time, it was understood during the BJP rule that religion is the foundation of CAA. Why did the Congress vote against it? It is supposed to be standing with the minorities. The only vote against it came from the Left in Kerala. Take for instance the Shaheenbaugh case and, the Bilkis Bano case —all these had only members from the Left backing it like Brinda Karat and Subhashini Ali. This is a fact. It does not matter if there is one or many supporting the deserving.
27 April,2024 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonDespite the heat waves in Kerala claiming four lives including a polling agent, voters in the state braved the elements and came out of their homes and offices to exercise their franchise on Friday in all the 20 constituencies. The voting percentage has dropped compared to previous general elections. However, even as the authorities are in the process of crunching the numbers and the final picture may emerge only on Saturday, the latest available data puts the voter turnout at 70.22 per cent. Interestingly, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had already cautioned about heat waves from April 24 to April 26, as temperature had almost touched 41 degrees. And on April 26 the temperature varied between 36 to 38 degrees, in some parts of Kerala. The state disaster management had cautioned the public at large to take precautions to prevent heatstroke. A first time voter felicitated with a pepper sapling by district administration of Wayanad 70.22 per cent turn out till 7.30 pm According to senior state election officials, based on the data made available from all the 25,231 polling stations across the state of Kerala till 7.30 pm, the turnout was reported as 70.22 per cent. Interestingly, Wayanad district recorded 72.71 per cent, followed by Thrissur 71.91 per cent and Thiruvananthapuram recorded 66.41 per cent voter turnout till the time of going to press. “We are still in the process of accumulating data, and the actual percentage would be ready only by Saturday and the percentage is most probably expected to go up,” the official said. Actor and BJP candidate Suresh Gopi waits in a queue at the polling centre in Thiruvananthapuram; (right) An elderly woman proudly displays her inked finger in Wayanad Kerala, interestingly, had registered a voter turnout of 77.68 per cent with a total of 2,03,12,833 votes polled in 2019, which was higher than the 73.94 per cent voting reported in 2014 General Elections. Technical glitches When asked if there were any untoward incidents or any technical glitches, the official said, “Voting across the state went peacefully, though there were some technical glitches at some polling stations, but the issues were resolved. No untoward incidents have been reported.” And on the demise of four people, the official said, “It was all natural death, we are awaiting the reports.” BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar, registered as voter in Bengaluru, poses for a selfie with a voter outside a polling booth in Thiruvananthapuram From ground zero “I will vote for sure” as part of the campaign conducted by SVEEP (Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation) Wayanad, the first time voter, was given a surprise gift of pepper sapling for being the first voter at the polling booth number 112, Wayanad. Meanwhile, BJP candidate from Thrissur Suresh Gopi cast his vote, Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor cast his vote in Thiruvananthapuram. Both Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is contesting from Thiruvananthapuram and Annie Raja, who is contesting as CPI candidate from Wayanad could not cast their votes, as Chandrasekhar is a registered voter in Bangalore and while Raja is a voter in Delhi. However, two of them ensured that they were in the constituency and encouraged voters by visiting polling booths. Wayanad recorded 72.71 per cent (71.69 per cent voting till 6pm) 7.30 pm and Thiruvananthapuram recorded 66.41 per cent First Vote and Black Pepper An official said that black pepper stands as the emblem of Wayanad's pride! First Vote embodies the essence of our democratic journey! Pepper is the pride of Wayanad! “With the slogan 'I will vote for sure', as part of the campaign conducted by SVEEP Wayanad, Booth 112 of Government Higher Secondary School, Tharodu, Wayanad and SVEEP representative Manoj Kananchery's handed over the pepper sapling to maiden voter Govindu Molu. It is the sight of young voters who came to cast their first vote with enthusiasm and became the pride and excitement of the democratic process all over the district,” the official said. The Pride Booth in Thiruvananthapuram was set up to encourage transgender voters Voters given Vegetable seeds At Poomala polling station (Sultan Bathery constituency), Wayanad, which was manned by all women polling staff, an elderly woman welcomed the voters by giving them vegetable seeds. The all women voting booth had special rest rooms, breast feeding centres and mini Anganwadi for the children. “Interestingly tribal women belonging to the Kurumba tribe, along with other indigenous groups like the Irula and Mudugar, enthusiastically visited polling stations and cast their votes. Kathy, one such tribal woman, was spotted taking a selfie at a selfie point made outside the polling booth 47, Azizi L P School at Cheloor – Thrissileri, village Mananthavady in Wayanad. ‘Pride Movement booth’ at Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram district administration and SVEEP Thiruvananthapuram have implemented the Pride Campaign targeting transgender voters, a first of its kind initiative in the state. “Booth 69 Fort Mission Girls' School has the highest number of transgender voters in the district. The district administration transformed the booth into a rainbow booth symbolising a model polling booth for transgender voters,” pointed out an official. Thiruvananthapuram district administration has been planning a fair, inclusive and accessible election. The Pride Campaign has been implemented targeting transgender voters under the aegis of Thiruvananthapuram district collector. Along with the help of the department of social justice department, NGO Daleview, the district administration had conducted an awareness programme for transgender voters. The debate program organised by the district collector for the transgender voters had also gained a lot of attention. Thiruvananthapuram SVEEP has been working with the aim of making the polling percentage of transgender voters from 39per cent to 100per cent in the 2019-2021 elections. The number of transgender voters in the district has risen from 55 to 94 as a result of special voter enrollment camps in Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram. With 367 transgender voters in the state, 94 transgender voters in Thiruvananthapuram may seem significantly high. The District Collector has issued a letter to each transgender voter inviting all transgender voters to vote in the election as part of the district's 'Rainbow Campaign’. 4No. of people who died from heat wave
27 April,2024 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonThe second phase of voting for the 2024 general election took place in Western Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The voter turnout was 52.74 per cent till 5 pm, as per a report put out by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In the first phase, a voter turnout of 60.25 per cent was recorded, after which the local authorities, ruling party and the Opposition created awareness among the masses about the importance of coming out to vote. However, going by the new figures, it appears that even fewer citizens came out to exercise their franchise on Friday. As per the ECI report, of the eight constituencies that went to the polls, Amroha and Meerut registered the highest voter turnout at 61.89 and 55.49 per cent respectively. The figures for Aligarh, Bulandshahr and Baghpat are 54.36, 54.34 and 52.74 per cent respectively. In all, 91 candidates are in the fray for eight Lok Sabha constituencies in the second phase - 81 of which are male while the rest are women. There were 1,67,77,198 voters in the second phase, of which 90,26,051 are male, 77,50,356 are female and 791 belong to the third gender.
27 April,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Faisal TandelIn what could be a rather erotic moment, way past midnight, we look away a little, as the two men in the front seats of our car, lock their foreheads into each other’s, sideways, as the car zips at top speed. Only that the two men before us—campaign managers of Purnea’s prime candidate, former don and five-time MP, Pappu Yadav—are simply sharing the phone handset, between two ears, during a conversation that is anything but intimate. They could put the phone on speaker. But that would mean I can hear what’s being said from the other end. I’d rather not. We are headed to Rajesh Ranjan, aka Pappu’s election HQ, Arjun Bhavan, in the city centre, the night before Purnea in Bihar goes to polls. Or, rather the same day as the elections, since it’s around 2.30 am, effectively April 26. “Qatl ki raat (night of murder),” as one of Pappu’s campaigners puts it to us later. We’re semi-convinced he didn’t mean this literally. Just that our car comes to a sudden halt. Three men push into the backseat. The lovers in the front have jumped out, once informed about a “raid” at a hotel nearby, by cops—“the force is increasing.” The DSP, referred to here as “Singham”, is doing the rounds. Mainly in search of cash. Or if the candidates are still canvassing, which must stop 48 hours before voting. The candidate, during this time, is at best allowed the company of a driver, and a bodyguard, if in public. Pappu isn’t a stickler for every such technicality. Earlier in the day, the cops had disbanded his convoy. His volunteers had raised slogans on the street, protesting this move. We walked down to his office, through a dark alley. Maybe the coppers have left. Or that was a false alarm. There is a sizeable crowd of Pappu’s close associates sombrely chilling with him, before he ushers us into his inner chamber. The intention, for us, is to quietly merge with the hundred mosquitoes in the “war room” as they discuss data, demographic distribution, and other such last-minute nitty-gritty around poll-booth management. Not a Manchurian candidate Having been elected from the neighbouring Madhepura, in 2014, Pappu lost his seat in 2019. He’s returned to Purnea since the ’90s, when he won from here twice, once on a Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket. In 1998, he was accused of the murder of the local, former MLA, Ajit Sarkar of CPI (M). For which he also spent over a decade in prison, before getting acquitted in the case by the Patna High Court in 2013. Pappu has previously been with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD. Earlier in the year, he joined the Congress, which is allied with RJD in the INDIA bloc. Congress didn’t offer him a ticket from Purnea. His wife, Ranjeet Ranjan, who can’t campaign for him, is a Rajya Sabha MP, with the Congress. He fielded himself as an Independent—opposite JD(U)’s incumbent Santosh Kumar Kushwaha, fighting for a third term; and RJD’s Bima Bharti who, until recently, used to be with JD(U) herself, which in turn is part of the BJP-led NDA grouping. This electoral math, emanating from all of the above has made Purnea in the Seemachal region, by all accounts, one of the hottest contested seats in Bihar, if not North India. For a national election wholly centred on the BJP—whether an Independent, Pappu, could pass a miracle test has had the national press descend on Purnea, mainly to follow this wild card entry. Outcomes/results apart, he is the more interesting story. One ought to be deeply wary of spot-polls, but it appears every person we casually ask for their voting preference, all of them male, alternate between Pappu and JD(U). The anti-incumbency factor for JD(U)’s Kushwaha, who won his second term with over 50 per cent vote share, is evident. That said, can’t deny the famed personal appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in these parts either. As a local wit summed it up, “Kushwaha majboori hai, Modi zaroori hai! (Kushwaha is a compulsion; Modi’s a necessity!).” Modi has also personally campaigned in Purnea. Which makes one of Pappu’s campaign managers say, “Ek akela sab pe bhari! (One man against everyone!).” Something that’s usually said for Modi himself, by his supporters, instead. Snoozing in war-room Without the backing of any political party, Pappu is relying on his personal connect, promising direct access to voters. As you can tell, even at around 2.30 am, when a wailing woman arrives at his campaign office. It seems she’s lost someone in her family. Much of Pappu’s reputation or infamy emerges from him taking on local medical doctors, in case they fail to treat the poor well, or at all, for lack of money. His election symbol is kaichi (scissors), which is what he intends to do with RJD, cutting into their core base of Muslim and Yadav votes. The discussion in the war-room is, however, centred equally on the young, and female voters. Pappu confesses to his coterie that he’s surprised by women voters veering towards him. I’m guessing they’ve been wary in the past? Once a dreaded don, he’s had close to 100 cases registered against him, ranging from kidnapping, and extortion to murder (as per his election affidavit). His yes-men add on with similar claims about his popularity, from their private recce of the constituency, during the day, while Pappu passes in and out of sleep in his chair—sometimes with his mouth wide open, or pouting in deep contemplation. “He’s slept for max 10 hours over the past seven days,” we’re told. Hearing a video of a village mukhia/headman suggesting how there’s no one like Pappu, he suddenly slips out of his slumber, and blasts, “B********, what do people in Delhi and Bombay know? There is no one like me!” Ignoring the jibe, we remain the quiet mosquito in the room. 2013Year Yadav was acquitted of Ajit Sarkar’s murder Elections in digital India! That cash is often handed to voters, in lieu of votes, is one of the badly kept secrets of Indian elections. Cops in Bihar, we noticed in the case of Purnea and Kishanganj, do a fine job of constant patrolling, checking on the boots of cars, and checking on the movements of money. That said, it appears from informed locals that UPI transactions have made these petty cash transfers easier still—delivered from phone to phone, rather than party office to home. So, if there’s no cash found in the car’s dicky, it doesn’t mean it didn’t reach where it was intended!
27 April,2024 06:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharVoter turnout of 60.96 per cent was recorded till 7 pm in phase two of the Lok Sabha elections held on Friday across 88 constituencies spread in 13 states, the Election Commission said. The poll panel described the voting as "peaceful". In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections of 2019 held in 95 constituencies across 13 states, the turnout was much higher at 67.6 per cent. Heat wave is believed to have contributed towards several voters not turning up at polling stations in both the phases. In the first phase, the turnout was 65.5 per cent compared to 69.43 per cent in phase one of the 2019 parliamentary polls. Some of the constituencies were different then and the total number of seats which went to poll were 91. The EC said polling is now complete in 14 states and Union territories. The polling time was extended till 6 pm in many polling stations in Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger constituencies in Bihar to facilitate the voters in hot weather conditions. Special arrangements were made to combat the heat, including provision of 'shamiyana', drinking water, medical kits and fans for the convenience of the voters. The usual polling time is 7 am to 6 pm but it varies depending on factors such as terrain, time of sunset and security situation. In phase two, the EC said, voters from 46 villages in Bastar and Kanker constituencies in Chhattisgarh cast their vote in a polling booth set up in their own village for the first time in a Lok Sabha election. "Thus, including phase one, overall, 102 new polling stations were set up for the first time in these constituencies for convenience of villagers," EC said. Cricketing icons Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Javagal Srinath were seen voting at different polling stations in Bengaluru. Striking a pose with their inked fingers, they carried the message of importance of participation in the electoral process to the youth, the EC said. In the second phase, over 15.88 crore voters, including 8.08 crore male, 7.8 crore female and 5,929 third gender were eligible to vote. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 April,2024 10:15 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIADVERTISEMENT
