MLC candidates fear dip in poll percentage due to Shivaratri
Devotees typically observe fasting and night-long prayers (jagarana) during Shivaratri, which may lead many to rest the following day instead of heading to the polling stations.
By : Narender Pulloor
Update: 2025-02-26 17:40 GMT
Nizamabad: In light of the Maha Shivaratri festivities, political parties and contesting candidates are concerned about a potential drop in voter turnout for the Graduates’ and Teachers’ MLC elections scheduled on February 27. Devotees typically observe fasting and night-long prayers (jagarana) during Shivaratri, which may lead many to rest the following day instead of heading to the polling stations.
In the 2019 MLC elections, only 59.30 per cent of the 1,95,581 registered graduate voters (1,15,359) and 83.54 per cent of the 23,160 registered teachers (19,349) cast their votes in the Karimnagar-Adilabad-Nizamabad-Medak Legislative Council constituency. This year, parties fear the turnout could be further impacted as large numbers of devotees travel to temples in Vemulawada, Kaleshwaram, Basar, and Edupayala Durga.
BJP district president K. Dinesh Kumar, however, expressed confidence in maintaining a decent turnout. “Polling the day after Maha Shivaratri might cause inconvenience, but we expect a good turnout on February 27 with collective efforts by party workers and other organisations,” he said.
In the meantime, Union minister of state Bandi Sanjay and Nizamabad MP Arvind Dharmapuri have been reaching out to graduate and teacher voters through recorded voice calls, urging support for BJP candidates Anji Reddy and Komuraiah. Bandi Sanjay criticised the Congress government for designating February 27 as a working day for government offices and educational institutions, suggesting it could discourage voters.
Teachers, under pressure from union leaders and headmasters, are being persuaded to participate in the MLC polling. Several candidates are reported to have offered individual and community benefits to teachers in exchange for their votes.
Meanwhile, hundreds of employees on election duty plan to cast their ballots via postal voting, which could further influence the overall polling figure.