Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110759590300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Voter turnout to decide poll outcome in Ernakulam

Special Correspondent

Candidates worried about middle-class voter’s apathy

— Photo: Vipin Chandran

ALL SET: Polling materials being handed over to officials at the Maharaja’s College on Friday morning.

KOCHI: In campaigns that left past byelections far behind in terms of deployment of people and resources, the UDF, LDF and BJP nominees as well as a dozen other candidates are worried about the voters’ apathy in the Ernakulam constituency that goes to the polls today.

Though whoever wins will hold office only for two years, the four-week campaign had witnessed remarkable heat and energy and use of all modes of communication to access the voters’ minds. Both UDF and LDF deployed men and materials that were not usually used even during general elections, signifying the high stakes for the two fronts. However, the mainly-middle-class, urban electorate of Ernakulam, has refused to warm up and respond.

Big-ticket campaigners, ranging from Union Ministers to the Chief Minister, tried their best to woo the lukewarm electorate to their respective sides using national and State issues. Usual catch phrases such as law and order and development were used at every campaign meeting by both sides. From Metro Rail to SmartCity, all local issues have been put on the table. However, the electorate has not been touched. For, the self-centred urban middle class knows better: the byelection outcome is not going to change the current political situation a wee bit. They would rather spend the weekend outdoors. The candidates are worried that the polling day is a closed day for government employees and is followed by a Sunday, and that a substantial number of voters may use the long weekend to attend to personal and family matters and keep away from the polling booth. The Ernakulam constituency, traditionally, has not been known for heavy turnout at the polls. This time, the candidates and their parties fear, the voting percentage might be a big letdown.

The old arithmetic about a heavy turnout favouring the UDF and a low voting percentage favouring the LDF is passé. And hence, LDF’s Seenulal and UDF’s Dominic Presentation are keen on getting as many voters as possible to the polling booths.