India’s massive election faces heatwave challenge in penultimate phase

Published May 25, 2024
Men use a stole to protect themselves from the heat as they wait in line outside a polling station in Bhubaneswar to cast their votes during the sixth phase of India’s general election on May 25. Reuters
Men use a stole to protect themselves from the heat as they wait in line outside a polling station in Bhubaneswar to cast their votes during the sixth phase of India’s general election on May 25. Reuters

The world’s largest election may become the hottest on Saturday, as Indians participate in the penultimate phase of voting with temperatures forecast to surge to 47°C in the capital New Delhi.

More than 111 million people in 58 constituencies across eight states and federal territories are eligible to vote in the general election’s sixth phase, which recorded turnout of 49.2 per cent at 3pm, with three hours of polling left. The overall turnout in the same phase of the last elections in 2019 was about 63pc.

“There is a concern, but we hope that people will overcome the fear of the heatwave and come and vote,” Delhi Chief Electoral Officer P. Krishnamurthy told Reuters.

Voting in the elections began on April 19 and will conclude on June 1, with counting set for June 4.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who is favoured to win a third consecutive term, also asked people to “vote in large numbers” in a message on social media platform X on Saturday.

The Election Commission has deployed paramedics with medicines and oral hydration salts at polling stations in Delhi, which have additionally been equipped with mist machines, shaded waiting areas and cold water dispensers for voters.

In some parts of the northern state of Haryana, people residing near polling booths also pitched in to help voters beat the heat, handing out cold drinks, dry fruits and milk free of cost.

People get their names verified in voters’ lists as they arrive to cast their votes outside a polling station during the sixth phase of India’s general election in Karnal, in the northern state of Haryana, on May 25. — Reuters
People get their names verified in voters’ lists as they arrive to cast their votes outside a polling station during the sixth phase of India’s general election in Karnal, in the northern state of Haryana, on May 25. — Reuters

Among those who cast their ballot early in Delhi were Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main opposition Congress party and Modi’s main rival, his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Vadra. “We are keeping all our grievances aside and casting our vote for our constitution and democracy,” Vadra told reporters.

Opposition leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose bail after pre-trial detention of nearly two months in a graft case has given fresh impetus to the opposition campaign, also voted in the capital.

Price rise and unemployment were two of the major issues mentioned by voters to Reuters when asked about the factors that determined their ballot.

People wait in lines to cast their votes at a polling station during the sixth phase of India’s general election in New Delhi on May 25. — Reuters
People wait in lines to cast their votes at a polling station during the sixth phase of India’s general election in New Delhi on May 25. — Reuters

“The government boasts about fast economic growth but the reality on the ground is very different,” said Delhi voter Fazal, 46, who only gave his first name and works at a multinational corporation, adding he also voted to “save democracy”.

Ashok Ghana, a plumber in the eastern state of Odisha, who said he voted for the BJP, added that “price rise and the non-availability of jobs” were the issues he considered.

People carry Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) at a distribution centre ahead of the sixth phase of India’s general election in New Delhi on May 24. — Reuters
People carry Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) at a distribution centre ahead of the sixth phase of India’s general election in New Delhi on May 24. — Reuters

Among those who voted based on the situation in their region was property dealer Praveen Chauhan, 43, in Delhi. “My main issues are clean water, electricity, access to good healthcare and education,” he said, adding that the Kejriwal-led Delhi government “has given us that till now”.

While the heatwave was a concern in Delhi, a cyclone expected to hit land tomorrow was being closely watched in eastern Odisha and West Bengal, parts of which are also voting on Saturday.

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