Karnataka elections | Karnataka records highest-ever polling of 73.19%, voting turnout in Bengaluru remains low

In Bengaluru, there are 97.1 lakh voters including BBMP Central (17.9 lakh), BBMP North (21.9 lakh), BBMP South (20.5 lakh) and Bengaluru Urban (36.7 lakh).

Karnataka on May 10 recorded its highest-ever voter turnout for state elections with a percentage of 73.19%, following a month-long, fiercely-contested campaign.

This surpassed the previous record of 72.44% polling during the 2018 assembly elections. It was 71.83 percent in 2013 polls.

While the Melukote assembly segment in Mandya recorded a polling percentage of 91.01%, the Bommanahalli constituency in Bengaluru recorded only 47.36%.

Voting concluded in around 60,000 polling stations across the state at 6 pm on Wednesday. Final figures are likely to be higher as this is excluding the postal ballots and those who voted from home. For the first time, around 76,000 super-senior citizens (above 80 years) and 18,800 PwD voters in the state availed of the 'vote from home' facility provided by the commission.

Voting turnout in Bengaluru remains low

Polling began at 7 am for the state’s single-phase assembly election on May 10. At many polling stations in Bengaluru, a decent number of voters, particularly senior citizens and first-time voters, enthusiastically stood in queues in the early hours of polling. However, the voting percentage in Bengaluru remained low after the end of the polling.

As per EC records, the polling percentages were: BBMP (Central) at 55.50 percent, BBMP (North) at 52.59 percent, BBMP (South) at 52.33 percent, and Bengaluru Urban at 57.71 percent. In 2018 assembly polls, BBMP Central recorded 55.18 percent, BBMP (North) at 53.47 percent, BBMP (South) at 51.98 percent and Bengaluru Urban at 57 percent.

BBMP Central consists of Chamarajpet (54.15 percent), Chickpet (58.12 percent), Gandhi Nagar (57.16 percent), Rajaji Nagar (56.60 percent), Rajareshwari Nagar (53.81 percent), Shanti Nagar (54.13 percent) and Shivaji Nagar (56.71 percent).

BBMP North consists of CV Raman Nagar (47.44 percent), Hebbal (54.38 percent), KR Pura (52.53 percent) Mahalakshmi layout (54.25 percent), Malleswaram (55.08 percent), Pulakeshi Nagar (51.45 percent) and Sarvagnanagar (53 percent).

BBMP South includes BTM Layout (48.84 percent), Basavangudi (54.61 percent), Bommanahalli (47.36 percent), Govindarajanagar (54.14 percent), Jayanagar (57 percent), Padmanabhanagar (57.07 percent) and Vijayanagar (51.72 percent).

Bengaluru Urban comprises Anekal (62.31 percent), Bengaluru South (54.78 percent), Byatarayanapura (57.74 percent), Dasarahalli (50.16 percent), Mahadevapura (54.97 percent), Yelahanka (62.67 percent) and Yeshwanthpur (63.23 percent).

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman cast her vote at the Bharath Education Society polling booth in Jayanagar, Bengaluru. Speaking to reporters after casting her vote, Sitharaman said, "...On inflation, I am with the public that yes, there should not be a burden on them, but the Opposition has no right (to speak on it). They should look at their own tenure".

The Karnataka election is crucial for the BJP, which is looking to hold on to its lone outpost in the South, and the Congress, which is looking to make a comeback after five years. The JDS, meanwhile, is hoping to stay relevant, as a third force.

Senior officials, including Manoj Kumar Meena, Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer, and Tushar Giri Nath, Bengaluru District Electoral Office and BBMP chief Commissioner, also voted on Wednesday morning. They interacted with voters and evaluated preparedness.

Prominent citizens, including Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, his wife and philanthropist Sudha Murty, entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani, chairman and founder of Narayana Health Devi Shetty, cast their votes on Wednesday morning.

The EC is hoping for a polling percentage of 75 percent in Karnataka and 65 percent to 70 percent in Bengaluru. The state government has declared a paid holiday for all employees on polling day.

The Bengaluru district election officer had cautioned that CEOs of IT-BT companies would be prosecuted if any firm refused to declare a paid holiday on May 10 

IT companies such as Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, Wipro, and LTIMIndtree have declared a holiday for their offices in Karnataka. 

Bengaluru's poor track record 

Bengaluru has the dubious distinction of having low polling percentages during elections. The voter turnout in Bengaluru during the 2013 and 2018 assembly polls stood at 62 percent and 57 percent, respectively. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Bengaluru's turnout was 54.1 percent — lower than the 56 percent recorded in 2014.

In Bengaluru, there are 97.1 lakh voters, including BBMP Central (17.9 lakh), BBMP North (21.9 lakh), BBMP South (20.5 lakh), and Bengaluru Urban (36.7 lakh). Apart from urban apathy and errors in the voters' list, residents moving to other parts of the city, and names of deceased voters not being removed from the electoral rolls are among the reasons for the low turnout 

Awareness drive

This year, the Election Commission (EC) has been conducting more awareness campaigns, through walkathons, street plays, awareness campaigns on buses, the Metro, theatres, and even using garbage collection vehicles. The EC has also roped in Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and tech parks for awareness drives.

While announcing the polling date for the Karnataka polls on March 29, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that voting had been scheduled mid-week to increase the participation of voters.

"We have kept the polling day on Wednesday because we have observed in recent years that people take leave on Monday/Friday if polls are held close to weekends and head out of the city, instead of voting. If the polling day is on a Wednesday, it will make it difficult for people to take two days’ leave," he said.

EC officials said that voters will be able to check the availability of parking space near polling booths on the Chunavana mobile application. Voters can check the queue status at polling booths in real-time through the app. Senior citizens and disabled workers can also request a wheelchair facility at polling stations through the app.

The EC has also facilitated pick-up and drop-off facilities (between the polling station and residence) for elderly and differently-abled voters. The app also provides details of polling booths, contesting candidates, the election schedule, previous election details, list of officers, details of the nearest police station, and healthcare facilities, among others.

In numbers

There are 5.30 crore electors, including 11.7 lakh first-time voters, in the state’s 224 assembly constituencies. Of the 5.3 crore registered voters, 2.66 crore are male, 2.63 crore are female, and 4,927 are third gender.

EC records show that 5.71 lakh Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), 12.15 lakh senior citizens (80+), and 16,000 centenarian voters are also registered on the electoral rolls.

EC records show Karnataka has 1.17 million first-time voters, including 61,602 in Bengaluru Urban. There are 2,615 candidates in fray, including 2,430 males, 184 females, and one third gender.

Seizures cross Rs 380 crore

EC records show that officials seized a whopping Rs 384.46 crore worth of cash, freebies, liquor, etc. meant for distribution across the state during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). This is nearly 4.5 times the seizures made in the 2018 assembly polls.

Additionally, the EC seized Rs 83.78 crore from the second week of March 2023 till the date of announcement of elections.  The Enforcement Directorate also attached assets amounting to Rs 288 crore after the imposition of the code of conduct.