Telangana’s first general elections witnessed a relatively low turnout of voters, a shade above 60%.
Unlike the previous Lok Sabha elections in 2014, when 12 out of the 17 constituencies crossed 70% polling, the polling in the current election did not exceed 70% even in a single constituency. Officials were still awaiting the report relating to the voter turnout in Nizamabad and Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituencies where people were still in queues after the 5 pm deadline.
“The percentage could be a little bit higher, but hopefully we will be somewhere in the same range,” said Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar. “The polling parties and equipment should reach the collection centres where the record will be prepared. It will take around midnight,” he said.
According to reports received from districts by State election officials, Medak registered the highest polling of 68.6% closely followed by Karimnagar with 68%. There was a significant drop in voting percentage of polling in constituencies like Khammam which registered 67.96% as compared to 82.55% in the 2014 polls. The situation was no different in Bhongir which reported 68.25% polling by 5 pm, indicating a drop of close to 15% from 81.27% of the previous Lok Sabha polls.
Despite repeated appeals by the election authorities and special drive conducted to enhance voter participation, Secunderabad registered just 39.20% voting and Hyderabad was a shade above at 39.49% by the close of poll timings. Malkajgiri constituency was no better with voting percentage pegged at 42.75% while Chevella, covering some parts of the State capital, fared better with 53.80% voting.
Adilabad with 66.76% (76.16% in 2014) and Zaheerabad with 67.8% (76.09%) too showed a drop in poll percentage. Polling in Nizamabad constituency where 185 contestants are in the fray went on smoothly where the replacement of machines too was relatively negligible. In all, 261 ballot units, 55 control units and 87 voter verifiable paper audit trail machines comprising less than 1% of the total units deployed were replaced.
