Lighter side of the Batti polls

Rasika SOMARATHNA in Batticaloa

BATTICALOA: The Local Government Elections for nine Local Authorities in the Batticaloa district, held under trying conditions last Monday, was a novel experience for the majority of the people in Batticaloa as it was held after a lapse of 14 years.

Authorities and observers were to undergo some strange and hilarious experiences on the day of the election which was keenly contested in many areas with enthusiastic voters turning out in large numbers, even braving bad weather to exercise their franchise after one and half decades of living under the gun.

At a polling station in Vakarai, out of 830 registered voters around 700 had cast their ballots by 10.30 a.m.

Inquiries by officials who were from outstation, surprised at the high voter turn out so early finally discovered the truth.

The villagers had to rush back to earn their daily income through fishing, as they were all involved in the trade as the only viable income in the area, which resulted in going to polls as early as possible.

In another polling station in Valachchenai an enthusiastic voter commented that going to vote after such a long time was like coming from a funeral to attend a wedding, referring to years of suppression under the gun.

At a polling station in Oddamavady, a few old women had preferred an opening in the desk to insert their marked ballot papers instead of the large box next to it, but the intervention of an alert official finally prevented the votes from going waste.

In an Eravurpattu Pradeshiya Sabha polling booth, an ardent UNP supporter was seen in an uproar, because of the inability to find his famous symbol-the elephant in the ballot paper.

The attempts by bemused officials to explain that the UNP was not contesting fell on deaf ears, ultimately resulting in the paper being torn to pieces by the angry voter.

Despite the absence of the elephant symbol, wild jumbos were reported to be roaming free in the Vellaveli area, where they had gone to the extent of even blocking one polling booth for some time.

According to officials the herd was finally driven away enabling voters to cast their ballot after a 14 year gap.

Some eager voters in a remote area in Batticaloa were obviously not happy with the choice they had with the calibre of the contestants coming in for much flak.

Thus opposite a nearby Pradeshiya Sabha office, some irate voters were heard commenting, that soon the seats inside the Pradeshiya Sabha would start weeping because of the calibre of the burden they would have to carry in the near future.

These are but a few incidents in a poll which garnered a high level of interest both locally and internationally due to a variety of factors.

However, these small incidents too amply demonstrate the desire of the Batticaloa public which enjoyed elections after a lapse of 14 years, to be a part of the democratic process and for the restoration of democratic institutions through the political process.