The resulting ambivalence has meant that the impact of their boycott call isnot significant on voter turnout. Thus, for instance, during the April 2004Parliamentary Election in Jharkhand, where the pre-poll campaign was marred by aseries of attacks on security force personnel, the voter turnout was recorded at55.71 per cent. Even in some of the worst-affected districts, including Palamu,Hazaribagh, Singhbhum and Lohardaga, the voter turnout ranged between 49 and 60per cent. Similarly, many Naxalite dominated areas in Bihar registered animpressive voter turn out.
There are reports, moreover, that these groups have themselves contested theelections through proxies. For example, during the Panchayat (VillageCouncil) elections in 2001, activists of both the PWG and MCCI contested inJehanabad district. In the Parliamentary Elections of April 2004, a former'sub-zonal commander' of the MCCI, Ramlal Oraon alias Veer Bhagat, contested asan independent candidate from one of the worst Naxalite-affected constituencies,Chatra in Jharkhand, and the voter turnout in some of the worst-affectedAssembly segments recorded their highest turnout in the last 20 years.
Clearly, despite the announcement of the election boycott, the factors that havehistorically influenced the behaviour of Naxalite groups still remain operative,and will continue to have considerable influence during the election process.Some of these factors include the general breakdown of the rule of law, thecriminalization of politics, sharp polarization on the basis of caste, and anexus between elements of mainstream political parties, various stateinstitutions and extremist formations.
The problem is enormously compounded by the absence of proper administrative andenforcement responses. After every major incident of Naxalite violence, the centraland state governments announce a succession of ad hoc and emergencymeasures, but these have only had a negative impact in the long run. Noattention has been paid to basic issues, such as the proper functioning of civiladministration in rural and tribal areas and the development of an effective policeforce.