Raipur: Today, the second phase of the three-tier panchayat elections has begun, and rural voters are showing great enthusiasm at the polling stations as soon as the voting starts at 7 AM. The state had an average voter turnout of 7.48% by 9 AM, as per reports. It includes a 7.82 per cent male voter participation rate and a 7.14 per cent female voter participation rate. There has been a variation of voter turnout across districts as varied voter turnout in rural areas.
Till 9 AM, 12.77 % of people voted in the Bilaspur district, and it was higher in the Kanker district, which reported a 16.29 % voter turnout. Bhanupratappur Janpad reported 16.70 percent turnout, and Durgukondal Janpad reported 15.71 percent. These figures strongly highlight the activity of grassroots democracy in rural communities.
During the elections, various candidates are attempting to gain votes through other means. Several reports came in of unusual election activity. In the Gram Panchayat Sankara of Dharsiwa Janpad Panchayat, a peculiar incident occurred when villagers observed that yellow rice and lemons were left outside the polling station, i.e. Government School, late at night. The speculation was that traditional practices or superstitions were being used to affect their influence over elections. Many of the voters who came to the polling station in the morning found the sight of these items rather puzzling.
As elections become so publicized, the bodies that observe and monitor the elections are watchful to ensure a free and fair election. Finally, the eventual final voter turnout and election results will better paint the electoral landscape and also the amount of participation that rural governance will need to encounter.
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