Uttarkashi: With the Lok Sabha polls being held during the time the Char Dham Yatra commences in the state, the priests at the Char Dham shrines and local businessmen believe that the number of pilgrims may significantly dwindle this year.According to the data collected from Badri-Kedar temple committee and Gangotri and Yamunotri temple committees, the number of pilgrims recorded in 2003, 2008 and 2013 were 11, 72,566, 2,10,6704 and 12, 54,541 respectively.However during the general elections of 2004, 2009 and 2014, the footfall dropped to 11, 58, 986, 2, 02, 3809 and 3, 17,900 respectively. In 2014, the significant drop can also be attributed to the 2013 devastating floods at Kedarnath which dealt a body blow to the Char Dham Yatra.The portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are expected to reopen on May 7 whereas portals of Kedarnath and Badrinath will reopen on May 9 and 10 respectively.As per the election schedule, a number of states will be going to the polls from May 12 to 19. These include Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, MP, West Bengal, Delhi, UP, and Punjab, from where a large number of pilgrims come to Uttarakhand.“Even though Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines witnessed highest turnout last year, the turnout is likely to be less this year. However, by the time the shrines' portals are opened, voting in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala would end. So, we are expecting that pilgrims from these states at least would be coming for the yatra," Bageshwar Uniyal, spokesperson of Yamunotri Temple Committee said.Echoing similar sentiments, political analyst Surat Singh Rawat said, “There is clearly a correlation between elections and low turnout of pilgrims. May and June is believed to be the peak season as there is an influx of Char Dham Yatra pilgrims and those coming for vacations. But with the elections coming into the picture, there might be a drop in numbers.”President of Uttarkashi Hotel Association, Shailendra Matuda, meanwhile expressed hope that the polls in many states coinciding with the time of starting of the yatra doesn't lead to adverse effects.“Char Dham Yatra is the main source of income for hoteliers, taxi drivers and many others. But this year, the business might suffer due to the general elections, which are coinciding with peak yatra season. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the numbers of pilgrims improve after the elections are over.”

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