PATNA: Three festivals rolled into one: Chhath, Deepavali and vote. The timing of the elections in Bihar, with the fourth and fifth phases coinciding with Deepavali and Chhath, has turned the electioneering process into another festival.
A large number of migrant workers, who come home during this time to be with their family, will get an opportunity to cast their vote. It spells good news for the Election Commission, as with 35 constituencies going to the polls on November 9, it will help, even if marginally, to increase the voting percentage in several rural pockets where the percentage is otherwise very low. Naren and his wife Rita, who hail from Islampur in Nalanda district, are eagerly waiting for Chhath as it means a dual festival of homecoming and voting.
“My son and daughter-in-law are excited as they will cast their ballots this year when they will come for Chhath,” said Gyanendra Sahu, another resident of Islampur. “Not only will I pay my obeisance to the Sun God at Barark in Nalanda, but will also get an opportunity to vote after a long gap as my constituency Rajgir goes to the polls on November 9, which is also the first day of the four-day Chhath festival,” said Anil Sharma, who works as a gangman in the Indian Railways in Mumbai. Ratan Singh is also happy as he, too, has planned to return to his native village near Jagdishpur in Bhojpur district. “My son is an official in a private bank in Delhi. But every year he makes it a point to come with his family during Chhath. This year also he has booked his tickets. I am happy that he will be able to exercise his franchise rights this time,” said Subodh Singh, a trader in Patna.
“As a total of 42 constituencies go to polls, including Danapur on November 1, I have planned to take a holiday this year during Diwali, which is on November 5,” said Animesh who works as a research scientist in Karnal, Haryana.
However, those allotted poll duty during the festival days, say that they will miss Chhath and Diwali. “Every year I have been performing Chhath at my native village in Vaishali. But this year I have been allotted poll duty on kaddu-bhat’ day. I will have to ask somebody else to perform the Puja on my behalf,” said Rina Singh, a teacher of a middle school.