Nalbari seniors exercise franchise for change

NALBARI: While everyone cuddled up in bed lulled by the cool morning breeze, septuagenarian Lota Haloi got ready to cast her vote at a polling station on the banks of Nona in southern Nalbari.
Lota, a resident of Nimua village in Ghagrapar in Nalbari, said she was among 40 senior voters in her constituency who voted with a vengeance on Monday for change and prosperity.
"We have voted for change, peace, prosperity of the young generation," reiterated Lota.
Another elderly woman voter from Baksa said she, too, had voted for change. She was returning after casting her vote in Samatiyapara village under Barama constituency.
While peace and prosperity were on the radar of seniors, the young brigade wanted jobs and an end to corruption. In fact, corruption was high on their agenda. More than 20 new voters that TOI spoke to in Barama, were vocal about voting out corruption.
"This will be the first time we will be voting. Our elected representatives must eradicate corruption and create job opportunities for youths in our district," said Barnali Kalita of Baska, who was spotted casting her vote with her friends at Momela LP School in Baska.
The peasant community on the other hand wanted proper irrigation and agricultural facilities especially in villages like Barkuchijar, Niznomati and Bhogpur. "The paddy fields need proper irrigation. This area was neglected by our previous representatives," said Bhupen Das, a college teacher. Just after the last round of polling at around 3 pm, many voters were found hoping AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary would take over as chief minister. "If Patowary wins, he will be a chief ministerial candidate. That would be a matter of great joy for us," said voter Lakhi Sharma of Birhampur village. Although polling was peaceful in most of the polling stations, there were reports of some untoward incidents in Dharmapur. "I was attacked by Congress workers when I was coming to vote in Sukekuchi polling station," alleged Rebati Barman of Sukekuchi village in western Nalbari.
The area near the Sukekuchi L P School polling station had a large posting of security personnel after the incident. But, the presiding officer denied the occurrence of the incident. "The incident did not take place inside the polling station. It may have occurred outside," said Binoy Kumar Deuri, presiding officer of the polling station.