Bengaluru witnessed a disappointing turnout in the recent Lok Sabha elections, with nearly half of the city’s voters abstaining from voting. Despite the Election Commission’s vigorous efforts, only 52.81% of voters turned out in Bangalore Central, 54.42% in Bangalore North, and 53.15% in Bangalore South constituencies.
Previous Elections Comparison
Comparatively, the voter turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was slightly higher in these urban constituencies, with Bangalore Central recording 54.32%, Bangalore North 54.76%, and Bangalore South 53.70%.
Disappointment Among Election Officials
Election Commission officials expressed disappointment over the low turnout despite various initiatives aimed at increasing participation. Top EC officials admitted their perplexity, stating that there was no clear explanation for the low turnout.
Possible Reasons for Low Turnout
Scorching summer heat was cited as one of the reasons for the decreased voter participation in Bengaluru. However, neighboring constituencies like Bangalore Rural saw a relatively higher turnout of 67.29%.
Election Commission’s Initiatives
The Election Commission in Karnataka implemented several measures to boost turnout, including voter helplines, ‘Know Your Candidate’ campaigns, and improved facilities at polling stations. These efforts were based on feedback from surveys conducted after previous elections to address issues contributing to low voter turnout. Despite these initiatives, urban constituencies in Bengaluru struggled to attract voters to the polls.
