Though there are reasons to be elated that the Union Territory of Puducherry has once again outnumbered many States and Union Territories in bringing maximum voters to the polling booths, the analysis of Assembly segment wise poll percentage has revealed that voter’s apathy is more visible in urban areas than rural areas.
As many as 7,40,344 voters have exercised their franchise out of 9,00,874 total voters in Puducherry constituency. It works out to 82.18 percentage.
The female voters (82.75) are marginally high than the male voters (81.56), who actually turned up to polling booths.
As far as region wise break up, Yanam topped the list with 89.48 followed by Puducherry with 82.37 percentage. Mahe, which is described as fully urbanised area, finished the list with just 70.15 per cent. The poll per cent in Karaikal region is 77.35.
A close view of votes polled in Puducherry region reveals that most of the rural based Assembly segments have scored more than 80 per cent polling. Out of 23 Assembly segments in Puducherry, Ossudu has topped the list with 88.89 per cent followed by Bahour with 88.42 per cent.
Mannadipet, Thirubuvanai, Mangalam, Villianur, Manaveli, Embalam, Kalapet and Nettapakkam, which are considered as rural segments, have secured between 80 and 89 per cent.
In urban segments, Indira Nagar, Oupalam, Nellithope and Mudaliarpet have fared better with 80 per cent and above.
Kamaraj Nagar and Raj Bhavan, which houses mainly rich and highly educated people, recorded low turn out with just 74.91 and 75.15 per cent respectively.
Interestingly, many of the segments represented by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in the Puducherry Assembly have recorded above 80 per cent irrespective of urban and rural areas. Similarly, except Indira Nagar, segments such as Kadikamam and Thattanchavadi, which are considered as favourable to Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, have not got beyond 80 per cent.
The concerted campaign undertaken by the Election Commission officials on educating the voters to exercise their democratic right is stated as the main reason for the increased performance than the previous Parliament elections.
However, the voter’s apathy in urban areas underscores that the Election Commission needs to follow different programmes aimed at urban population alone.
As far as ethical voting is concerned, there is a general feeling that the Election Commission has reasonably done well than the previous elections. However, complaints have been levelled against a few parties that they indulged in widespread distribution of money to voters in various areas. It has still a long way to go in preventing money power from influencing the voters by following more stringent, bold and result oriented measures.
Though the fate of the 30 candidates, who fought for the Puducherry seat, is sealed in strong rooms, intense speculations are doing rounds in main political parties including All India N.R. Congress and the Congress as both of them are confident of a victory, besides other contesting parties.
However, they will have to wait for 19 more days to know the result.
