People power Here it's about power and water shortage
Quickly, she adds, ‘‘I am not going to vote. Whom to vote for? Is anyone out there interested in solving our water problem’’.

In drought-affected Lakhapar village located some 20 km from Rajkot, there are many other disillusioned voters like Maluben. The result: in the first four hours of the day, poll officials recorded only 5 per cent turnout.

‘‘Whether Vajpayee or Sonia, can any one give us water?’’ an elderly Karsanbhai Kamji wanted to know. Other villagers were also sceptical of the promises made by candidates in the run-up to the election. After all, they’ve been grappling with a water shortage for quite some time now. The village, dominated by Kolis and Patels, has three hand pumps but neither of these are in working order. Bore supply is also irregular.

‘‘In the past week, supply was regular because the election was near,’’ says Kantiben Koli.

She was very sure that from next week, she and other women would again have to trudge three km to the temple of Rangunmata to fetch water. ‘‘Parties have promised many things but I know they do not believe in translating their words into action. Panjau ke kamal badha sarkha che (Panja or kamal, they’re all the same)’’

‘‘The BJP talked about Narmade Sarvade but where is the Narmada supply. We are still drinking bore water. And the Congress is no better,’’ says Dinesh Joshi, another villager who’s given up on politicians. On the development front, the village has only an anganwadi for children to boast of but that too was constructed by Reliance Group, Joshi points out.

Of the total population of 2,500 in Lakhpar, many were daily wagers who had left for work at Rajkot early in the morning even before polling began.

The 28-year-old son of Mohanbhai Patel had left for work in Rajkot. ‘‘For voting, we cannot afford to let go of a daily wage of Rs 90. So he left at 7 am without casting his vote,’’ admits Mohanbhai, but adds that there is no choice. ‘‘I have land, but there is no water and power. Due to crop failure, my son has to go to work in the city’’.

But not everyone has given up on the democratic system. Jitu Samerliya said that though he did not have much faith in any party or candidate, he was aware of his rights. ‘‘I don’t really want to vote for any party. But if I don’t vote, some one else will in my name’’.

For many, electronic voting machines were an incentive to go to the polling station. ‘‘I wanted to see the machine,’’ says Gopal Punaviragi.

Republished from The Asian Age