Rourkela: Election officials informed here Tuesday that the voter turnout percentage in Naxal-hit areas has gone up considerably despite Maoists warning people to abstain from exercising their electoral rights. Posters warning people not to vote had appeared in many places close to the Odisha-Jharkhand border.
However, that did not prevent people from turning out in large numbers in the second phase of polls conducted Monday. Officials said that there were large queues in more than 19 booths since morning in various villages under Bisra block.
Special security arrangements were provided for many of the booths including those in Jaraikela, Manko, Tulsikani and Bhalulata gram panchayats. “We informed the voters that their safety is assured and it worked. A record number of youths turned up in these booths. This is indeed a very positive development,” informed a CRPF officer. Despite putting up posters and banners at various places, Maoists have been on the back foot since the deployment of security forces well ahead of the elections. People now want the forces to stay on even after the results are announced fearing repercussions. “Previously many of these places had dismal turnouts of less than 30-35%.
However, this time, the turnout was more than 60% in the Maoist-hit areas despite polling ending at 4.00 pm. This has been due to the positive attitude of the voters. They were very enthusiastic to vote,” said an officer who was present at a booth in Bisra. Another officer from the Bonai region added that the turnout was more than 50 per cent in most of the booths. There were plenty of pictures on various social media platforms of first-time voters. “It just goes to prove that the youths are ready to vote and are not afraid to hide their feelings. Displaying their pictures on social media platforms is indeed an encouraging sign. It proves that people are not interested in the philosophy of the Naxalites,” stated a social media user. It should also be stated here that all the officials who had been deputed from this city to booths in various Naxalite-affected areas returned safely Tuesday. They all said that they were very happy with the security arrangements.
