Udaipur, December 2, 2024 - The 15th general elections of the Dawoodi Bohra Jamat (DBJ), a registered Society affiliated to the reformist Bohra community, were held yesterday at the Bohra Jamat Khana in Bohrawadi. Of the 3,536 registered voters, 1,246 participated in the election to select 21 candidates. Which means 35.23% of eligible voters participated in the election that is held every three years. A large  percentage of voters, live elsewhere in India or abroad hence could not take part in the elections.

Voting began at 8:00 am and concluded at 5:00 pm. The atmosphere surrounding the election venue remained festive throughout the day with family members and supporters of the candidates thronging the area outside the Jamaat Khana. Enthusiasm was high as community members exercised their right to vote and bring in the candidates they felt were most suitable to run DBJ for the next three years. Even elderly and indisposed members of the community were seen coming to vote. A fresh set of youngsters, many voting for the first time, also exercised their right to choose their community representatives.

The turnout of 35.63% is the nominal voter turnout, based on the current members present in Udaipur to cast their vote. A very significant portion of eligible members of the community reside in other cities in India and abroad. Taking that adjustment into consideration, the real voter turnout can safely be said to hover in the range of 55% to 60%.

Election Committee spokesperson Anees Miyaji said that in order to conduct the elections in a fair, transparent and democratic manner, the entire work of voting and counting of votes was carried out by a team of government employees skilled in the election process under the leadership of Chief Election Officer Virendra Singh Solanki and Assistant Election Officer JS Panwar and their team. The entire proceeding was carried out smoothly with help of volunteers from the community.

Election Convenor, Anees DM informed that 27 candidates were in the fray for 21 seats following the withdrawal of some candidates. Of the 1,246 ballots cast, 46 (3.69%) votes were rejected for various reasons, he added. The ballot paper review and counting process began at 8:00 pm and continued until the wee hours of December 2.

The results were declared at 5:00 am. Subsequent to the annoncement of the results the convening committe handed over the  selection certificates to the successful candidates.

Firoz Nath secured  the maximum 1,085 votes, which is one of the highest votes secured by any candidate in the last 15 general elections of the Jamaat. (Selected Candidates List is appended at the end of this post).

According to the spokesperson of the election panel, Anees Miyaji, the elected 21 members would then appoint (co-opt) 11 members. Thereafter, the total 32 members would elect 11 members to the Cabinet. This includes a President, two Vice-Presidents, one Secretary, two Joint Secretaries, one Treasurer, one Accountant and three Executive members.

Miyaji also said that in every election the number of votes cast decreases by about the same amount.  This is because most families in the Bohra community live abroad or in other parts of the country. For example, in a family of four members, two of them are not living in the city. As a result, only about 1,200 to 1,300 voters participate in the election. This means that voter turnout is typically between 35 to 40 percent. Even among the total number of eligible voters, 100 to 150 new voters may join, but sometimes that number also decreases.

Selected  Candidates List

OTHER  PHOTOS on Election Day

Election Convening Committee