Queueless 55% polling

In 1996, the voter turnout was 57 per cent. But many a political activists were reminded of the 1991 election when 48 per cent polling was recorded. The only difference this time round was the steady flow of voters, which ensured a good polling percentage.

By 3 pm today, the highest polling was recorded in Parvati constituency (45 per cent), while Cantonment recorded a poor 32 per cent. The polling percentages in therest constituencies was Bopodi (44 per cent), Shivajinagar (41 per cent), Kasba Peth (40 per cent) and Bhawani Peth (41 per cent). The final figures of polling would be available tomorrow morning, said returning officer Vijay Mathankar.

The morning hours witnessed a sluggish phase as only seven per cent turnout was recorded till 9 am. Bhawani Peth segment recorded a poor five per cent. Many booths wore a deserted look during this period, confirmed the polling staff. The polling process gained momentum after 11 a.m. and by 1 p.m. as the overall voting percentage crossed 28 per cent. Thereafter, a steady flow of voters was witnessed at many places. Still the usual queues in front of the polling booths were missing.

While polling began on a dull note at various centres under the Shivajinagar assembly segment, registering between seven and ten per cent between 7 am and 9 am, the pace brightened after 11 am when several ventured out of their homes.

At Symbiosis polling centre, the poll percentage of 8between 7 am and 9 am climbed to 20 per cent. At Loyola High School polling centre too the trickle of voters in the early morning hours steadied at about pre-noon when it registered 22 per cent.

At some centres at Narayan and Shaniwar Peth, however by 2 pm polling was brisk with the figure crossing 30 per cent. At SNDT polling centre by 3.30 pm the percentage had climbed to 45, while at Modern College polling centre the end of the day’s polling saw an approximate 47-50 per cent.

Polling in the Kasba assembly segment of the Pune Lok Sabha constituency began on a very slow note as in the first two hours only 8-10 per cent voters exercised their franchise in various polling centres.

At a polling booth in Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya only 49 votes had been cast out of total number of 817 voters in that booth. While in other booths in that school the tally was 73 out of 760, 76 out of 840 and 81 out of 1,070.

Lack of enthusiasm among the electorate was much apparent as the first one to cast votes at variousbooths mainly consisted of elderly persons who had gone for a morning walk. In the initial four hours, it seemed that the `election fever’ had failed to motivate the voters to cast their vote, as sight of crowd outside polling stations was hardly to be seen.

The turnout of women voters was very poor till 11 in the morning. Though it increased after 11 with a consistency, the overall response was less enthusiastic as against men, said party workers.

Marked low turn out of voters was also witnessed in Bhavani Peth during the first phase of polling with just five per cent of the total 1.79 lakh voters exercising their franchise.

Only 57 voters out of the total 925 turned up at the booth number 53, municipal school number three opposite the S M Joshi Cultural hall, between 7 am and 9 am. Just four per cent polling was recorded at booth number 304 at Raja Dhanrajgiriji High School during the first phase.

However, polling picked up in the afternoon when unenthusiastic party activists finally began to bringin the voters to the polling booths. Pune Vikas Aghadi supporters led by corportaror Razzak Rampuri and Congressmen led by former corporator Rashid Khan and ex-PMT chairman Vastad Riyaz carried out special drives appealing the voters in the slum pockets and areas dominated by minority community.

Rampuri and Khan indulged in a verbal duel at the Satranjiwala chowk. While Khan charged the PVA supporters with tampering the posters of Congress candidate Vitthal Tupe, Rampuri alleged Khan of infuriating religious sentiments of the minority community.

In the predominantly slum areas like Yerawada, Vishrantwadi, Khadki, Bopodi and Dapodi falling in Bopodi segment, the response of voters was at best lukewarm till noon. However, it picked up post-noon and a steady flow of voters was witnessed all along till 5 pm.

Surprisingly, the posh locality of Kalyaninagar recorded a good turnout. At 3 pm over 40 per cent voting was recorded at the two booths in this area. Interestingly, women from every strata of thesociety seemed to be more conscious of their right to vote if their numbers at the polling booths were an indication.

The usual paraphernalia of political parties around the polling stations was missing this time. Except for the two main rivals, none of the other candidates had their supporters around to help the voters locate their names in the electoral rolls.

In contrast to the other parts of the city, where voters turn out was comparatively low, the slum dwellers in Parvati constituency were seen standing in the queue from early in the morning.

The voting percentage in the areas like Sahakarnagar, Bibwewadi, Padmawati, which are dominated by the middle and educated class, was low during the first two hours of voting. The voters turn out in Maharshi Shinde High School in Sahakarnagar area was hardly seven per cent by 10 am.

The situation, however, improved when the voters came to the polling stations by 11 am. The political workers in this area, however, had to go door-to-door to remind the votersabout their duty in democracy.