Urban apathy as city enjoys holiday

SHILLONG: Urban apathy to cast vote was visible even during the district council elections on Wednesday with several polling booths in the city remaining as deserted as roads and business nerve points.
Some polling stations in the city recorded low turnout and queues were dominated by women. The number of male voters was abysmally less.
In some polling stations the men’s section was empty when The Shillong Times visited in the afternoon.
The afternoon deluge too played spoilsport deterring people from going out and vote. However, it was learnt that the voting slowly picked up in the evening.
However, Commissioner and Secretary of District Council Affairs Department Tining Dkhar told reporters on Wednesday that the inclement weather “did not deter people from coming out to vote”.
But when it was pointed out that turnout was low in many places, he admitted that there was not much awareness campaign for the Council polls.
He said the urban mood, by practice, “is not like rural areas where people come out” and urged urban voters to exercise their franchise in the upcoming polls.
In many localities, the turnout was better than the Assembly elections last year.
The scene in Mawlai and Lower Mawprem was different as people flocked to the polling stations.
Motphran wore a deserted look with less vehicles on the road and closed shops. Few vendors were seen doing their usual business. Taxis to Mawlai, Jaiaw and other places were also absent.
The state government had declared a holiday but did not issue any direction for closing down of shops or restricting vehicular movement.