Hyderabad: The poor turnout of women voters is one of the reasons for the city recording the lowest percentage of polling among all districts in Telangana.
In about 10 of the 24 Assembly constituencies in Greater Hyderabad, less than 50 per cent of women voted compared to more than 50 per cent overall polling registered in the state capital.
The failure of officials to distribute voter slips to voters, the heat, distance of polling booths, women already having left with family on vacation to their native places and lack of interest among women could be some of the reasons for the low turnout, said officials.
Interestingly, in the Assembly constituencies of Ranga Reddy district falling under GHMC limits, the Serlingampally seat which covers Hitec city and is assumed to have a large chunk of educated voters recorded the lowest women polling rate of 47.47 per cent.
Of the 2.82 lakh voters, 1.56 lakh are men and 1.26 lakh are women. Though the overall polling percentage was 48 per cent, the polling percentage of women voters was 47.47 only.
Other Assembly constituencies in Ranga Reddy district falling under GHMC limits which recorded less than 50 per cent women polling are LB Nagar 47.70 per cent, Uppal 49.71 per cent and Qutbullapur 49.11 per cent. In all these segments, polling percentage of men is over 50 per cent.
In sharp contrast, the highest percentage of women polling was recorded in Patancheru assembly segment with 67.38 per cent. In Hyderabad district, Secunderabad Assembly constituency recorded highest women poll percentage of 56.13.
In Hyderabad district, Malakpet Assembly constituency recorded lopwest women poll percentage at 45.19 followed by Nampally 48.2 per cent, Yakutpura 49.83 per cent, Secunderabad Cantonmernt 49.19 per cent, and Jubilee Hills 49.97. In all these constituencies, the polling percentage of men is higher than women i.e. over 50 per cent of the total men electorate.
GHMC Commissioner and Hyderabad District Election Officer Mr Somesh Kumar said they were busy with making arrangements for counting of votes on May 16, and that they will look into the reasons for low turn out of polling in the city later ends-M Roushan Ali-8.30 pm.
