Mini-India votes in second phase

Kochi, Apr 29 (UNI) Second phase of Kerala polls today had a unique feature when a ''mini-India'' comprising voters from six States and almost all religions exercised franchise at two booths of Mattancherry constituency, to facilitate a new Government in the State.

But none of them wanted to be referred to as a Gujarati or a Tamilian, and wanted to be a Keralite to the core.

The voters at the boths 51 and 52 at Hajee Isa Hajee Moosa School, Mattanchery near here, included those from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu besides Kerala.

We are no more Gujaratis or outsiders. For three generations, I am here and we are proud to be called as Keralites,'' 75-year-old Arunkumar told UNI while leading a small folk of his family including an aged women attired in traditional Gujarati dress out of the booth.

There are about 500 Gujarati families in this commercial hub of Kerala. There are about 2000 non-Malayali voters in these two booths which saw a moderate polling till the noon.

Interestingly, the voters also represented all castes. The Gujarati community had Jains, Marwadis and Kutchis while Tamilians included Brahmins and non-Brahmins as members. Tulu Brahmins, Kudumbi and Konkanis are migrants from Goa. Besides, the booths also had local people from Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities, giving a true national integrity.

We have been voting regularly in all the elections and we are in no way isolated from the mainstream,'' said Hemant Kumar after voting at booth number 51.

None of the non-Keralite communities has taken an open political stand though each of the groups had their own association like Cochin Gujarati Mahajan and Tamil Aikyavedi.

Sitting Minister V K Ibrahim Kunhu is seeking another term from this constituency and CPI(M) leader M C Josephine is his nearest rival.

Polling officials at the booths said the people were coming regularly since the morning. As many as 348 persons of a total of 712 at booth number 51 and 437 out of 1018 had voted by noon.

UNI JA VV PR RN2046