Ranchi: It was a nostalgic moment for 33-year-old voter Sweta Swansea as she arrived at a polling booth decorated with the ‘Jharkhand Women’s Hockey’ theme to cast her vote in the Ranchi Assembly constituency.
The six-booth polling station at CM School of Excellence in Baliatu was decorated with banners and posters of the state’s leading hockey players, including Olympian and captain of the Indian women’s hockey team Salima Tetteh, Olympians Nikki Pradhan and Sangeeta Kumari.
“I liked the theme. It gave me a nostalgic feeling. The theme brought back memories of my childhood when I used to play the sport. Just like the women hockey players of Jharkhand who have made our country proud, I am sure that voters too will strengthen our democracy by exercising their right to vote,” Swanthi said. PTI.
Hockey and archery are favourite sports among tribal youth in Jharkhand, a state known for its mines and minerals, and has produced a large number of Olympians and international-level athletes in both sports.
Anmol Ankar, convener of polling station number 379, said, “The theme of the polling station is aimed at enticing and inspiring voters to come to the polls. Moreover, this is also an effort to popularise women’s hockey.”
More than 7,000 voters are registered at the polling station. “The topic has caught the attention of voters, especially girls,” he said.
“The banners and posters of athletes from Jharkhand have instilled a new energy within us to do something for the country,” said Priti Kumari, 23, a voter.
Ranchi administration officials said the unique theme has been designed on the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar Sinha to motivate voters and promote women’s hockey.
The voter turnout in the Ranchi Assembly seat was 64.49% in 2019, 63.68% in 2014, 44.56% in 2009 and 55.69% in 2004.
But 30-year-old Suman Kumari seemed worried as she could not find her name on the electoral roll.
“My voting card was produced in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections along with other family members including my mother and sister. I voted in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections using the same card. But this time, my name was not on the electoral roll even though my mother and sister voted using the same card. Even polling station-level officials are unable to find a solution,” she said.
Ranchi Assembly constituency has a total of 2.188 million voters, of which 1.08 million are women voters. As many as 27 candidates are contesting from the constituency.
Published May 25, 2024 09:48 IST
