The total voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh Elections is expected to settle around 76%, register an almost 3.5% increase from last assembly polls in 2013, led to claims from the Congress that this is a strong anti-incumbency vote like 2003 when the Digvijaya Singh government had gone out of power in MP. But the BJP State Functionary is in the view, that high turnout is because of the voter Mobilisation by the RSS Cadre.
Election Commission has put the provisional figure at 74.6% on November 28, saying the final figure could rise to 76% by Friday evening. The polling turnout in 2013 was 72.13 almost 3% less than this year’s poll.
High Voting in the state has triggered claims from the Congress Camp that it is certainly because of the anti-incumbency wave against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan led BJP Government in the state. The Opposition camp is also considering is as the reminiscent of the 2003 elections when polling percentage rose by almost 7% and Digvijaya Singh, the then CM of the state had gone out of the power.
Congress is also pointing out increased voting in MP’s rural areas as a good sign in the backdrop of farmer distress which was one of the major issues in the polls. “The increased polling shows it is a vote for change and one against the BJP,” Congress campaign committee chief, Jyotiraditya Scindia said to media.
While Ruling Bhartiya Janta Party(BJP) is in the view, that high voting percentage is just because of voter mobilization by the RSS Cadre. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh backs the ruling BJP in the party and helps them to reach out farmers in the state.
BJP’s national vice-president, Prabhat Jha, who handled the campaign closely for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, however, said that even in 2013, the polling percentage had gone up by almost 3.5%, similarly this year.
“BJP had then increased its seats from 142 to 165 and returned to power. I think Congress without any reason is seeing a victory in these polling percentages. It (increased polling) is no danger sign for the BJP,” Jha said
While other BJP State Functionary said the RSS had carried out massive voter mobilization in the last 10 days of the campaign, which contributed to the increased number of voters coming out.
However, Congress points to higher voting in its strongholds like Gwalior, Guna and Chhindwara districts which are bastions of its leaders like Scindia and Kamal Nath, saying this is the winds of change. Polling percentage in Scindia’s Guna has increased to 76.19% from 73.56% in 2013 and in Kamal Nath’s Chhindwara to 83.76% from 81.09%.
The counting of votes will take place on December 11 with four other state assembly elections.