Mangalore: Maundy Thursday unlikely to affect polling

Bellevision Media Network

 

Mangalore, 15 Apr 2014: Put to rest all your fears of a low voter turnout on election day. The Election Commission’s announcement of the polling date for the Lok Sabha election in Karnataka had drawn flak since it coincides with Maundy Thursday. But, this is unlikely to have any effect on the turnout.

 

Fr William Menezes, public relations officer at the bishop’s house, doesn’t expect polling to be affected by Maundy Thursday since church services start only at 5pm. "The deputy commissioner has also assured that the faithful will not have any problem in attending services in churches attached to schools where polling will be held."

 

Minal Lobo, a resident of Bajal, agrees. "We have plenty of time since voting starts early. This should not pose a problem as services start in the evening," she says.

 

Maundy Thursday, the first day of the Easter Triduum, is a three-day period that begins with a liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday and ends with evening prayer on Easter.

 

A B Ibrahim, deputy commissioner who is also the returning officer for Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, says there is only one school in the district, at Bantwal, which is close to a church. "At the rest of the places, there is no such problem. We have instructed officials not to inconvenience people attending services in churches in close proximity of polling stations."

 

Christian leaders also indicate that far from a dip in polling, the voting percentage may be high since Christians with voting rights will be returning home for Easter Triduum, which would not have been the case otherwise.

 

If the Christians vote in full strength, the constituency can hope to keep up with the high poll percentage, which has been its hallmark. The last election registered a turnout of 74.33%. The lowest - 57.43% - was seen only once in 1957. Thereafter, the poll percentage has been high, exceeding 60% all times, indicating the literate population’s interest in polls.