Bankipore Assembly By-Election: Polling Completed, Voters Say It Wasn't an Easy Path to Cast Votes

Voting in the Bankipore assembly by-election in Patna concluded on Thursday amidst the infighting of various political parties, and the mixed reaction of voters coming out of polling stations after casting their votes indicates that it's not going to be an easy walk.

At polling station number 36, Kidzee Pre School, Boring Canal Road, a unique voter was met. 95-year-old Dr. Gokulanand Sahay, who has participated in almost every election since independence, told UNI that he has heard that an army of campaigners has descended upon Bankipore, but no one came to give him a pamphlet. He said he is not dissatisfied with the government, but hopes it will also consider the elderly. He said that due to increasing age and physical disability, he rarely goes out now and does not understand how to withdraw the lakhs of rupees stuck in the Employees' Provident Fund.

Sritta Singh, a postgraduate from Patna University and a resident of Boring Road, said that political parties should choose their candidates thoughtfully. She said that the public representative should be educated and fluent in language, who instead of being a puppet of big leaders, should be the voice of the people. Ms. Singh said that beyond any party and ideology, she has voted for the most deserving candidate.

Rampi, who came to cast her vote at polling station 4, North Part, Rajapur Pul, said she is voting in the name of development, saying that whoever will make the concept of a developed Bihar a reality, she is with them.

Voting was underway at four polling centers at Bankipore Girls High School, but a lack of enthusiasm was seen among voters, when the gaze fell upon a member of Gen-Z, Adrita. Adrita, who is studying BBA (Management), said she wants to get a degree in finance specialization. Due to the poor financial condition of her family, she will first look for a job after BBA, and then after saving some money, she will take admission in MBA. Adrita clearly stated that the current government has no special program to provide opportunities to the youth, and the transparency of competitive examinations is also under suspicion. She said her vote has gone against the government and in favor of an educated and deserving candidate.

At the same polling station, Manish, who works in the corporate sector, said he does not like the candidate of the ruling party, but due to party affiliation, his vote has gone in their favor. Sunil Kumar Gupta, a salesman at a shop, came to vote for RJD candidate Reka Gupta along with his entire family. He said everyone is with their own, and he is no different. On the possibility of Ms. Gupta's victory, he said that sometimes in a two-way fight, the third one wins.

Then, a meeting took place with a couple, Sunita and Madan Lal. Wife Sunita speaks more openly, saying that no party or representative should be given a chance continuously. She said that to make public representatives work, change is necessary every five years.

Near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed in Gandhi Maidan, there is the famous St. Xavier's School of the capital, from where Prashant Kumar, who once topped the Indian Civil Services exam across the country, and cricketer Syed Sabahuddin 'Sabir' alias Syed Saba Karim, studied. At the polling center of this school, there were more booth level officers (BLOs) and police personnel, but fewer voters. During the slow-paced voting, Anil Kumar Singh said he has been a BJP supporter for the last 45 years, but this time he does not like his party's candidate. He said the BJP has become an anti-Savarna party, so he is no longer with them. He said his vote has gone in favor of a candidate who openly expresses his views before the public and the government.

Sanjeev, a trader who participated in voting today, said the government has already got a jolt, that's why such a large number of leaders have been fielded in the election campaign. Nevertheless, he said he is with the government. On the other hand, Nalish Kumar Ravi, a teacher by profession, said he has voted in favor of a better political party, not the candidate.

However, the different priorities of the voters indicate that the path for any party in Bankipore is not going to be easy, and one will have to wait till August 3 for the final decision.