Vote follows violence graph

The BJP was not much off the mark when it said Godhra was the epicentre of everything that followed the February 27 carnage. If violence was...

The BJP was not much off the mark when it said Godhra was the epicentre of everything that followed the February 27 carnage. If violence was rampant in the Panchmahals — of which Godhra is the headquarters — the same areas also witnessed high voter turnout on Thursday.

As one moves away from Godhra in central Gujarat, the increase in turnout over the last election is marginal — and at points farthest from it, it has actually reduced. Compared to the 1998 polls, in the Panchamahals alone the rise is as sharp as seven per cent. Godhra witnessed six per cent higher turnout at 68.22 per cent, while in the adjoining Kalol and Halol, the turnout shot up by nearly 15 per cent.

In Valsad and the Dangs at the southern tip, voting was low by half a per cent. Dahod was the only exception to the high turnout in districts sharing border with the Panchmahals. The voting was less by four per cent.

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This district has seen drought-like conditions and most tribals have migrated in search of work. In Kaira, Anand and Vadodara, all less than 100 kms from Godhra, turnout was higher by three per cent.

In contrast, voting was low in peaceful areas like Surat in south Gujarat. Surat’s neighbouring Navsari district registered a modest increase. But in Bharuch — which has a high percentage of Muslims — the voting percentage shot up to 70.58. In several Muslim-dominated areas, like Kalupur in Ahmedabad, and Vagra in Bharuch, the percentage was more.

The top ten constituencies that witnessed 72 per cent or more turnout are spread evenly in the state. Only two constituencies that witnessed violence figure in this list. Despite largescale violence, Naroda (in Ahmedabad city) which includes Naroda Patiya and Ellisbridge where Narendra Modi’s party rival Haren Pandya was denied ticket — figure in the ten constituencies with the lowest turnout.