On the 13th we voted in Cha
ndigarh, Usually for me its just a two minute walk to the polling station. On the way I stopped to have a chat with the father of a friend who was sitting at a political party’s tent. Inside the polling station I was surprised to see a line of people waiting to cast their vote because usually its just a walk in and walk out affair. After a wait of around ten minutes I could show my identity and proceed to vote.
As I had expected the congress candidate Pawan Kumar Bansal won by quite a margin. This election was special in Chandigarh because of two reasons. The first we had major parties trying to win the seat for the first time, in the past it was only a competition between the Congress and the BJP. Second voters turned out in huge numbers, in some parts of the city voting reached 85%, over all the city vote percentage was around 65%. On a sadder note the brother of the BJP candidate died after election results were declared due to a heart attack. When you are the richest city in the country you don’t usually expect such percentages. The people this time were determined to come and show their resolve to vote. It was very nice to see many first time voters and young people. The atmosphere in the polling center was polite and respectful. The guy who marked my finger even called me “Sir”. Something that I don’t really expect from an Indian public servant.
I would encourage everyone to vote in the next elections whenever they get a chance. Not because your vote will or not make a difference but because you can vote. Although I am opposed to compulsory voting I think when people get the encouragement they will come out. As for the mark on my finger now I am curious how many months it will take to vanish, however the one good thing about this is that I can now be amazed at how fast finger nails grow.
May 19th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
hey, what happened to the Akali Dal? Nobody in the race this time? Am surprised to hear about the large turnout, would’nt have expected it(i have lived in chd earlier, so am familiar with the local psyche….he..he…)
May 19th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Ah, the tatoo! I think it wears out in few days, but I also remember the nail growing fast (and making it look ugly) I had one 3 years back too – see this. You are funny as usual
May 19th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
The mark made on your finger would disappear in six months but the mark you made on the voting machine will take five years to disappear though
Destination Infinity
May 19th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
people have voted in numbers this time and its a good thing… and people becoming polite is a good sign
May 20th, 2009 at 11:17 am
The EC officials are polite ! Perhaps thats why Indians come out and vote, to experience some courtesy from their civil servants !
May 21st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Good to hear about the turnout. I wish it had been so in Mumbai! About the mark, mine is already gone! Actually they didn’t put it on the nail by mistake, just on the skin, and the skin mark goes within a few days. I could have rushed to Delhi to cast my vote!
May 21st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
DI, that’s a great comment!
May 26th, 2009 at 11:53 am
this is one election I had really wanted to vote but cdnt. Anyway but the people have done it. Thanks to you all
May 27th, 2009 at 2:06 am
@ Everyone : I apologise for commenting late, I have been suffering from a terrible bout of laziness. I opened up this window many times to reply but just hit the close button again and again. So here we go :
@ Aneeta : We had no Akali Candidate. We usually do not because the BJP their alliance partner always puts up a person. Oh and yes I was a bit surprised by the turnout as well!
@ Final Transit : The nail continues to grow and the animal branding keeps moving ever upwards.
@ Destination Infinity : I remember precisely I did not stain that machine!
@ Kanagu : Yes sir, you are right!
@ Vikram : Do not the election people round up local government workers and force them to work for the polls?
@ Nita : The local papers contrasted the situation with Bombay. I had a good laugh about that because I guess Bombay can not be really compared with here. Oh and as for the skin, mine has disappeared as well in the first week, the nail one is going strong though. May be i will finally get rid of it when i clip it one day.
@ Rolling : I am so sorry you could not vote. That is why I say they should have postal ballots.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:50 am
I had visited Chandigarh a week before the election and was fortunate to witness a live debate between the the 3 main candidates(Congress, BJP and BSP) along with the independent Ajay Goyal.The debate was in the Art’s college and it was more interesting than any TV debate during the elections.There was a slogan raising and a protest and a genuine debate.Everybody was predicting Pawan Bansal’s victory even then.
June 14th, 2009 at 1:45 am
Excellent post dear friend.
June 21st, 2009 at 12:33 am
@ Sai : Thank you!