Bjp Worried Over Low Turnout In Up Polls

Former state chief minister Kalyan Singhs slogan twenty youth each booth appears to have failed to give desirable results. Kalyan Singh had chalked out plans to ensure that all BJP voters came to the polling booth. In the surcharged political atmosphere of the state, the party needs a good turnout to win absolute majority.

During the 1993 assembly elections, when the BJP won 176 assembly seats, the turnout was 57.13 per cent. This time, the turnout was about 50-55 per cent. The reported low turnout of forward caste voters is a cause of special concern for the party. The low turnout was discussed at the partys review meeting after the second round of polling.

A senior BJP leader from the state, while admitting the partys predicament, said: The fact that upper caste Hindus did not go to vote is a cause of immense worry for the party. He tried to play down the impact of the low voter turnout and pointed out that the division of Muslim votes between the SP and the BSP would compensate for this.

According to party insiders, the leadership is worried as its opponents, the SP and the BSP, have committed vote banks.

During the last assembly elections, the party had polled 32.75 per cent of total votes polled. It was 30.26 per cent in 1991 assembly elections and 33.44 in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections. This time, the BJP leadership had set a target of 36 per cent.