Polling booths fails to attract

Kochi, Apr 29(UNI) Are the traditional fervour and festivities of polling vanishing in Kerala? At least the urban Kerala, especially the commercial capital of the state, showed that polling is fast turning in to a monotonous ritual with less enthusiasm.

With most of the private offices and business establishments working as usual, the polling booths proved less of an attraction for many, especially the educated youth.

A media team that visited many of the booths in Ernakulam district could hardly find the usual fanfare and serpentine queues of voters which were once were the hallmarks in these areas. Most of the areas reported moderate polling.

But still, there were people like Bahulayan, a paralysed voter, who came to the booth at Udayamperur carried by a friend and 80-year-old Kali.

I have never missed the voting chance except in the last Parliament elections,'' said 55-year-old Bahulayen, whose both legs are paralysed.

There was no problem in voting with the machine. I wanted to cast my vote as I used to do always in the past,' said Kali.

* * * *** *** Cool day for Rajasthan cops Kochi: Unlike their previous outings elsewhere in the country, it was a cool and rest day for the large posse of personnel from Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) who came to back up the Kerala police and were deployed in sensitive booths.

I went to many Northern states several times on election duty and had a struggling time. Here, things are totally different as we are having a rest day almost,'' said gun-trotting Om Singh from Jaipur. He was posted at Little Flower School, South Parur in the district.

Over 250 RAC personnel have been deployed in sensitive places in the Central Kerala for the second phase of voting today.

May be because of high literacy and the nature of the people, we have no tough time manning the booths,'' said Jaitlal Singh at a booth in Mattanchery constituency.

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