Gujarat polls:Women take the lead

SURAT: Household chores took the backseat in most houses on Thursday as women folk came out in huge numbers at polling stations in the city. In past elections, women used to come out to vote during afternoon hours after finishing routine household work but this time the trend was different.
Voting percentage of women was almost equal or higher in Surat constituencies compared to men.Women in different areas started reaching polling stations early in the morning and at majority of the polling booths queues of women were longer.
Up to 3 pm, in Olpad constituency, the women voting percentage was 50 per cent compared to 48 per cent of men. In Varachha Road, 58 per cent women voters exercised their franchise compared to 56 per cent men. Similarly, in Katargam 54 per cent women voters were came out to vote against 52 per cent men.
Both Varachha and Katargam area are dominated by Saurashtra natives and the women from these areas enthusiastically participated in the polling process during early hours on Thursday. "We planned in advance to vote first and then start our routine day. We scheduled our daily work accordingly and spared an hour for voting," said Rashmi Patel, a resident of L H Road, Varachha.
Forming groups in societies, the women came out to vote without any help from their husbands. "My husband and men from our locality planned to vote in afternoon as they were busy with some work in the morning. So to avoid missing a chance to vote we formed a group and went at 10 am," said Malti Gangani, a Katargam resident.
Interestingly, in Surat East seat where Muslim voters are higher compared to other voters, witnessed higher voting by women. Here 46.41 percent women came out to vote against 46.20 percent of men. Women from the area came out to vote early during the day to avoid last minute rush and crowd at polling station in the afternoon.