And for a Friday ….. in Thiruvanthapuram …. after election day yesterday ….some thoughts …. some musings…..
Elections fever , tempo & enthusiasm in Kerala is markedly different from other states of India …..I was hugely impressed by the active involvement …… deep study … clear commitment along party ideology lines ….& the seriousness with which casting the Vote on Election day took place in this city ….. which I know symbolises rest of the state too ……a temporary worker in a shop … labourer … a Doctor … lawyer or the IAS officer & his family ….. each one of them ….. irrespective of class … caste or hierarchy …..has ensured they have the voting slip …. Know where the polling booth is located & what time they will vote & either get back to work or enjoy the day as a holiday …….whilst campaigning & use of Social media , TV , Street corner meetings posters etc etc was actively undertaken by all parties …… my sense was that each Voter had already made up his/her mind …… they are not swayed away easily …. nor influenced by incentives or lurings ….as in some other parts of the country ….. impact of 100% literacy & political consciousness is very evident in this state ……l
Of the 27.14 million voters in the state ….. 2.15 mn or 8% are abroad & classified as Overseas Voters …..EC has recently undertaken SIR wherein a lot of Voter list clean up has taken place ….. this election the impact of the Iran-US /Israel war will have an impact in many constituencies particularly in Central & North Kerala ……there are 2,42,093 overseas registered Voters who are eligible to vote in their constituencies based on their passports …… but this election flights have been hugely disrupted ….. normally Politically affiliated organisations charter flights to bring these Voters to cast their votes …… in few seats in the past elections the margin of Victories has ranged from single digits to 332 to 16,000 …… hence the impact of this War & absence of Gulf Malayalee voters will be felt …… we would know on May 4 th when results are announced……
Every Election further reemphasises the power of the ordinary citizen ….. the strength of Democracy to change Govts…… let us all celebrate this constitutional freedom …… the involved way …., the legal way ….. the SEEGOS way.