Hyderabad: While the GHMC is trying very hard to increase the polling percentage in the upcoming GHMC elections, Hyderabadis, except those from the Old City and slums, have always ignored the local polls. In 2008 the civic voting percentage was 46 and in 2002, for erstwhile MCH, it was 28, as against 53 per cent for the 2014 general elections.
Civic elections always report a low turnout with many not considering it important to vote for their immediate first-level local representative. The city’s voting percentage is far behind those registered in gram panchayats and other elections in the rural areas.
The total number of voter card-holders in 2009 was 56,99,015, and in 2014 it increased to 72,84997. In the 2009 GHMC corporator elections, about 35 per cent voting was polled till 3 pm. About 56 lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes to elect 1,310 candidates, including 403 women.
The 2009 polls were the first municipal elections after Greater Hyderabad was created in 2007 after merging eight municipalities and 12 villages of neighbouring districts with Hyderabad. This had made Greater Hyderabad the second biggest urban agglomerate in the country after New Delhi in terms of area (621.48 sq. km).
In 2002, for the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad elections, the voting percentage recorded was 28 percent as the polling day had clashed with Cricket World Cup matches.
Even in the case of state legislature elections in 2014, the city recorded the lowest voter turnout when compared to other districts in Telangana. Hyderabad registered 53.3 per cent voting, down from 2009’s 53.86 per cent. In 2014 general elections, LB Nagar recorded the least at 47 per cent, followed by Serilingampally 48 per cent and Quthbullapur at 49 per cent.
