Highest-ever turnout in 4 states, EC ecstatic

NEW DELHI: 'Participatory democracy' emerged a winner in the just-concluded assembly elections, with four of the five states that went to polls recording the highest-ever turnout in their history.

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand made history registering unprecedented polling percentages. Manipur, however, remained an exception to the trend.

Uttar Pradesh, which saw hectic electioneering and several instances of poll-code violations even by Union Ministers, witnessed an overall polling percentage of around 60 per cent in the seven-phased election, as against 46.07 per cent recorded in the last assembly polls in 2007.

The highest turnout so far in the state was in 1993 when 57.13 per cent voters cast their ballots.

The border state of Punjab also recorded the highest-ever turnout of 78.57 per cent this time, against the previous highest of 75. 45 per cent recorded in the 2007 assembly elections.

Keeping up the high voting trend, the coastal state of Goa recorded a polling percentage of 81 as compared to the previous highest percentage of 70.51 in 2007.

In the hill state of Uttarakhand, the voter turnout was the highest this time at 67.22 per cent. The previous highest poll percentage in the state was 63.96 recorded in 2007 assembly elections.

Congratulating voters for taking polling percentages to new highs, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi told PTI, "The voters have respected our appeal and we thank them for this.

"It shows that what we set out to achieve, we have achieved. This is what we call participative democracy and is the result of our continuous efforts in the past three-four years."

The CEC said, "The large voter turnouts will help improve the quality of governments also." MORE PTI SKC RT 03041928 NNNN