Hyderabad: The low percentage of polling recorded till 1 pm today has totally disillusioned and shaken the contestants at many places as also the leaders of different political parties which fielded candidates in the Assembly elections, according to information.
The average poll percentage recorded was only 10.15 till 9 a m in many of the constituencies. Only in Assembly segments like Bhupalapally, Bhuvanagiri, Mulug, Gadwal, Sirpur, Nirmal, Bellampalli, Vemulawada, Julkkal, the percentage showed 11 to 15 by 9 a m. Many felt that the voting would pick up by afternoon. By 11 a m, the percentage reached 23.4, and by 12 noon, it was 35 only. The average polling reached 47.8 per cent by 1 pm.
Disturbed over the low percentage of polling and it’s likely consequences, many state leaders of political parties were reported to have contacted their local leaders at district level to know the factual position, while the district leaders started making phone calls to their mandal and village level followers. Expressing worry over the low turn-out of voters, the leaders advised the local leaders to see that more people turned up for polling in their respective areas, and the polling percentage increased considerably. The leaders also wanted the local leaders to take special measures to ensure that voters turned up in numbers, particularly from the areas where their party candidates are expected to get majority votes.
It may be recalled that in 2014 general elections, 69 per cent of the voters had exercised their franchise. Out of a total electorate of 2,81,65,885, as many as 1,94,43,411 had cast their vote in the 219 Assembly segments. High percentage of more than 84was recorded onlyin ten constituencies, namely Palair (90.04), Madhira (SC) (89.5), Narsampeta (87.78), Waira (ST) (87.45), Alair (86.1), Ashwaraopeta (85.92), Dornakal (ST) (85.77), Narsapur (85.77), Sattupalli (SC) (85.2), and Bhuvanagiri (84.97). (NSS)
