Urban voters opt for a long weekend!

Warangal: Alas, the voters in Warangal West segment, who seem to have made it a habit, on Thursday disappointed yet again by not turning to polling booths. Take leave on Friday and make it a long weekend was the idea perhaps, the urban voters had preferred.

Notwithstanding the massive campaign elucidating the significance of utilising the right to vote drive taken up by the Election Commission (EC), the urbanites of Warangal West segment either confined to indoors or made it a long weekend stapling the second Saturday and Sunday to the public holiday given to make their finger 'inked' that would have given them a huge opportunity to send a right person to Parliament, who would work for them.

Although the overall percentile of voter turnout in the Warangal Parliamentary Constituency (PC), which stood at 60 per cent, is disappointing compared to previous elections, the voters in West Assembly segment picked up a dubious record by recording a paltry 42.75 per cent turnout.

Even though the segment is more urbanised housing a host of educational institutions compared to other segments barring twin cities, the denizens appear to have a blithe concern towards democratic process. It may be noted here that Hanamkonda is the most sought-after city in the region for those pursuing higher studies and job holders.

The stats of last six elections suggest the notoriety of the urban voters when it comes to the matter of voter turnout. In fact, the voter turnout in Warangal West segment (earlier known as Hanamkonda) had never touched 60 per cent. The last time the segment crossed 60 per cent was in 1989 election. Then it was 61.32 per cent. Since then the voter participation, which was hovering below 59 per cent is awfully short of expectations.

The voter turnout was 59.01 per cent in 1994; 59 per cent in 1999; 59.29 per cent in 2004; 53.53 per cent in 2009; 57.56 per cent in 2014; 57.56 per cent in 2014; 58.29 per cent in recent elections to Assembly in December 2018. Against this backdrop, the voter turnout reached a new low on Thursday with just 42.75 per cent, this despite the massive campaign organised by the EC and civil societies to improve voter turnout.

Speaking to The Hans India, Lok Satta Udyama Samstha State advisor P Kodanda Rama Rao said: "The kind of politics prevailing in the State is demoralising. This may have led people to abstain from voting. The time has come for the EC to act tough against those, who abstain from voting without proper reason."

Forum for Better Warangal (FBW), a citizens forum, President Pulluru Sudhakar said: "If the Assembly and Lok Saha polls are held together, the candidates in fray for Assembly would have played a proactive role in bringing voters to the polling stations. This apart, elections to Assembly, gram panchayats and Council which happened one after the other within a short period killed the people's zeal to go for voting."