How right Chief Minister Narendra Modi was, when he proposed compulsory voting, or when he initiated e-voting for the first time in India. His efforts were in direction to increase the voting percentage, and voters participation in democracy. Yesterday when voting was too much low in the morning hours, former Deputy Prime Minister of India L.K.Advani advocated compulsory voting provision.

I have now handy figures of yesterday’s civic polls, just arrived from state election commission office. And I have unofficial but latest census figures too of the cities that witnessed civic polls yesterday.

So given below is the state of our fantastic democracy, but not so fantastic people.

Ahmedabad’s population according to year 2010 census is believed 5452000. Of this, the registered voters are 3539424. This means, the voters consist 64% of city’s population. Now from this 64% segment, only 44.08% voters actually exercised the franchise. It means that out of total citizens of Ahmedabad, only 28%(1560025) voters actually voted.Now from this 28% people, suppose the winning party secures 50% votes(In 2005, the winning party BJP gained 50.16 per cent of total votes cast. Whereas in 2000, BJP lost and secured only 43.18 per cent of total votes. In 1995, winner BJP attained 39.24 per cent of total votes), then we can conclude that only 14% citizens of the city decided their ruling party. And rest of 86% people either opposed, or didn’t take interest in the process!

Let’s calculate similar for Surat. The latest figure of population in Surat is 4400000. Of this, the registered voters are 2420000. This means the voters form 55% chunk of total population. Of this chunk, only 1024184 voters actually exercised their right to vote. It means that only 23.27% of total voters participated in the process. If the winning party secures 50% votes, it can be concluded that about 11.50% citizens voted the winning party, and about 88.50% persons either opposed or were unactive.

If we dig the figures of other four cities that witnessed the poll, the situation would not be different. Whatever it is, however it is, this is our democracy.

The situation could be slightly different if Gujarat had powerful and vibrant opposition party. The people living in parts of poll-bound city’s less-governed, badly-governed, or not-governed areas could vote for opposition party in that case, rather than sitting ideally at home showing apathy towards existing regime, and hopelessness about the challenger.