Gujarat elections 2017 | Rural areas outshine urban counterparts
Predominantly rural places like Valsad, Navsari, Dang, Tapi, Bharuch, Narmada and Morbi have recorded over 70 per cent of voting
As the final voting figures came in for the first phase of polling, it showed that rural voters are more aware about exercising their franchise. They outshined urban voters on Saturday.
Predominantly rural places like Valsad, Navsari, Dang, Tapi, Bharuch, Narmada and Morbi have recorded over 70 per cent of voting. On the other hand districts with relatively higher urban population, like Surat and Rajkot recorded 70 per cent voting.
Even within Surat district, rural pockets have witnessed higher voting compared to their rural counter parts.
As per the data provided by the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat, Surat recorded 70 per cent turnout. However, rural seats within the districts like Mangrol (75.76 per cent), Mandvi (78.89 per cent), Mahuva (76.62 per cent) and Bardoli (71.37 per cent).
The rest of the seats, which are urban recorded 55-67% of turnout.
Other rural seats that recorded high turnout include Pardi (70 per cent) Kaprada (70 per cent), Umargam (70 per cent) and Dharampur (78per cent ). Districts that have high rural voters recorded higher turnout. These include Narmada (73 per cent), Navsari (75 per cent), Tapi (73 per cent), Dang (73 per cent), Morbi (75 per cent), Gir Somnath (70 per cent) and Valsad (70 per cent). While Junagadh district recorded 62 per cent voting, the urban seat of Junagadh city recorded 59.5 per cent voting.
However, rural voters in other parts of Saurashtra were not so enthusiastic and the voting was relatively lower. This includes Kutch (63 per cent), Surendranagar (65 per cent), Jamnagar (65 per cent), Devbhumi Dwarka (63 per cent), Porbandar (60 per cent), Junagadh (65 per cent), Amreli (67 per cent), Bhavnagar (62 per cent), Botad (60 per cent).
It must be noted that urban areas are traditionally strongholds of BJP. The party had been consistently making inroads into rural seats, which have been loyal to Congress on most occasions. However, hasty implementation of GST has caused dissent in the traders in urban areas. "This time a significant number of traders have voted for Congress, shifting their earlier stand. The trend is similar in small cities and town as well," said Jayendra Tanna, President of Gujarat Traders Federation.
Sagar Rabari, Secretary of Khedut Samaj – Gujarat, the apex body of farmers in Gujarat, told DNA that farmers have been fed up with the anti-farmer policy of successive BJP governments in the state and so they have come out to vote in larger numbers.