According to preliminary data, voter turnout during the first phase of Gram Panchayat elections on Saturday was 65%.
The first phase of Gram Panchayat (GP) elections were held across 16 districts — 2,643 Panchayats with 43,822 posts — on Saturday and voters came out in droves to exercise their franchise. According to preliminary data, the total voter turnout is estimated to be 65%.
High voter turnout in areas on the city’s outskirts — in Bangalore city and Bangalore Rural districts — should serve as a lesson for voters in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s jurisdiction. In towns like Hoskote in Bangalore Rural district, voting percentage crossed 60 per cent by 12 noon. In contrast, the recently-concluded BBMP polls had a low voter turnout.
Roads leading out of Bangalore were jammed from early morning as both private and public buses were packed with commuters heading to their villages to cast their vote. Tumkur Road — a gateway to many North Karnataka districts — was chock-a block. Similar scenes prevailed along Bellary Road, Old Madras Road and Mysore Road too. “I applied for leave at the garment factory where I work. My village is in Tumkur and I have to reach there as soon as possible to accompany my family members to vote,” said Prakash K, who was waiting for a bus near Jalahalli Cross.
As soon as voting commenced, voting booths in Arishinakunte Gram Panchayat, in Nelamangala taluk of Bangalore Rural district, had long queues. “The first job of every family in our colony today is to vote,” said Lakshmi K, who was accompanied by her five-member family. Voting was brisk in Nelamangala, Hoskote, Doddaballapur and Devanahalli taluks, which surround Bangalore.
There were no reports of violence, especially in Naxal-hit regions, where polls were held amid tight security. Few untoward incidents were reported in Tumkur, Chitradurga, Dharwad, Davangere, Shimoga and other districts. There were complaints of anomalies in party symbols and absence of names from the voters’ list. The second phase of polls will be held in 2,833 GPs in 15 districts on May 12.
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