The single-phase election started at 8 am and concluded at 6 pm in Uttarakhand on February 14. The final voting percentage stood at 62.51%, with Haridwar reporting the highest turnout at 68.37% and Almora the lowest, at 50.65%. The polling took place in 70 assembly constituencies spread across 13 districts. A total of 632 candidates are in the fray of these polls.
The numbers
A total of 81 lakh registered voters were eligible to vote, out of which 62.51% showed up to exercise their right of enfranchisement. Eleven thousand six hundred ninety-seven (11,697) polling stations spread over 8,624 locations received footfall for voting. According to the Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Election Commission(EC), it took place.
The polling percentages for all districts are as follows:
Bageshwar saw 57.83 %, Chamoli 59.28 %, Champawat 56.97 %, Dehradun 52.93%, Nainital 63.12%, Pauri Garhwal 51.93%, Pithoragarh 57.49%, Rudraprayag 60.36%, Tehri Garhwal 52.66%, Udham Singh Nagar 65.13% and Uttarkashi district 65.55%.
Electoral issues in the state
Led by social activist Anoop Nautiyal, a poll “Mood of Uttarkhand” was sent out to gauge the demands and aspirations of people. In the responses received, the most common were employment and health care facilities, providing us valuable insights from the people regarding their demands from the new government. According to Newsclick, a respondent named Sanjeev Nautiyal stated the situation in the state: “We were so enthusiastic about the formation of a new state 21 years ago, but our lot has not improved. Lack of employment and health facilities are forcing thousands of young men to leave their aged parents behind to seek employment in metro cities.”
This comment hammers home the point of migration out of Uttarakhand that has been highly prevalent as of late. Over five lakh people have migrated out of the state in ten years. Most of these people have been from Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli and Pithoragarh. The numbers released by the State Migration Commission raise alarms. According to them, about 60% of all hill-based population has moved to the plains. Facilities like infrastructure and healthcare are required if the crisis gets contained in these regions.
“Whereas employment, health and migration are the key issues facing the public, the politicians’ focus is on illegal mining, selling liquor and generally making money by hook or by crook,” commented Vijaypal Singh Rawat, a user on Facebook.
Out of the 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand, 34 are in the hills. It is essential that these areas receive the plains’ attention; otherwise, the mass exodus of people from the hills would be impossible to contain. The political parties have been accusing each other of sabotaging the state’s growth. While the ruling BJP accused Congress of “appeasement politics”, the latter has not been behind in accusing the BJP of using polarization to garner votes and mass support.
