At 70%, Idar records 16% more votes than last time

It was not the heat wave, but people’s enthusiasm to vote that ruled the roost in Idar town of Sabarkantha district — one of the hottest places in Gujarat — on Wednesday. Compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Idar recorded about 16 per cent more polling on Wednesday, as the mercury hovered around 44 […]

It was not the heat wave, but people’s enthusiasm to vote that ruled the roost in Idar town of Sabarkantha district — one of the hottest places in Gujarat — on Wednesday.
Compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Idar recorded about 16 per cent more polling on Wednesday, as the mercury hovered around 44 degree Celsius, at par with Deesa and Surendranagar.

In 2009, Idar had clocked around 53 per cent votes, whereas, this time it recorded around 70 per cent polling. Idar taluka, known for its academicians like late Umashankar Joshi and Gujarati film stars like Upendra Trivedi and Arvind

Trivedi showed outstanding enthusiasm to vote, despite the heat. By 3 pm, it had surpassed the 2009 poll percentage.
In order to beat the heat, special arrangements were made for voters. For instance, benches were placed under specially erected shamiyana, pedestal fans were kept in place for voters in the queue and provision of chilled water was also made.

Fakir Mohammed Mansuri (70) from Idar town reached the polling booth at Sir Pratap High School in Idar by 12 noon along with his family members. Mansuri said that on principle he voted during every election since it the only occasion when he can ensure his voice is heard.

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Nanjibhai Vankar from Kukadia village near Idar town was seen braving the heat at 3 pm. “I belong to a dalit community. I believe that there are a lot of issues in our community that have remained unaddressed and I don’t think there is a better opportunity to bring about a change by casting my vote,” Vankar said.

Calling the voters’ turnout exceptional in Idar, Sabarkantha Collector Banchhanidhi Pani said, “I salute the people of Idar and Sabarkantha for coming out even on such a hot day and contributing to the high turnout. I must say they beat the heat to make the democracy run.”

Overall, Sabarkantha constituency saw around 69 per cent voting, which was more than the 49 per cent recorded in 2009.

This constituency covers seven Assembly constituencies of Sabarkantha and newly formed Aravalli districts. Except for Idar, which is represented by Modi government’s Cabinet minister Ramanlal Vora, the rest of the seats were bagged by Congress in the 2012 Assembly election.

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This time, the main battle for the seat is between Leader of Opposition in Assembly and senior Gujarat Congress leader, Shankersinh Vaghela, and BJP’s Dipsinh Rathod.