BENGALURU: Bommanahalli assembly constituency in Bengaluru is geographically 30km from the Hoskote assembly constituency, but the difference in polling percentage is huge. Bommanahalli recorded 47.36 per cent, while Hoskote clocked 90.95 per cent polling, the highest in the state after Melukote in Mandya. Melukote recorded 91.01 per cent. Among the 2 lakh registered voters of the temple town, 1.82 lakh cast their vote, and included over 90,000 men and 91,000 women.
As on Thursday, data shared by the Chief Electoral Office shows the state recorded 73.19 per cent, an all-time high. The number excludes postal ballots and vote-from-home voters.
While Bommanahalli has 4.52 lakh registered voters, only 2.14 lakh voters cast their vote, making it 47.36 per cent, the lowest among 224 constituencies. Bommanahalli is close to Electronics City, and many of the residents here work with IT companies. CV Raman Nagar, which includes upmarket areas like Indiranagar, has 2.7 lakh voters, but only 1.28 lakh (47.44 per cent) cast their vote.
By contrast, Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural has 2.3 lakh registered voters, of whom 2.1 lakh voted. Hoskote has always been among the top few assembly constituencies that records high voting. Its demography includes a large number who depend on horticulture and agriculture.
Bengaluru-based civic evangelist V Ravichandar told The New Indian Express that traditionally, the city’s voting percentage has been low. “Going by the numbers, Bengaluru should clock at least 62-65 per cent polling. The reason for low turnout could be the voters’ list challenge and urban apathy. This is the reason for the disparity in places close to Bengaluru Urban, which record high polling.”
On the other hand, Old Mysuru region and a few pockets in South Karnataka saw good polling, compared to coastal and North Karnataka. Bengaluru Rural, Chamarajanagar, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kolar, Mandya, Ramanagara and Tumakuru districts recorded at least 80 per cent polling, while districts like Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar and Kalaburagi recorded less than 71 per cent. Belagavi, Shivamogga, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru and other districts clocked between 75 per cent and 78 per cent. Bengaluru, however, recorded 54.53 per cent, the lowest in the state.
WOMEN MAKE A MARK IN BENGALURU
Among the 28 assembly segments in Bengaluru, 24 segments recorded a high number of women voters, compared to men. The seats include Chickpet, Gandhinagar, Rajajinagar, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Shanthinagar, CV Raman Nagar, Hebbal, KR Pura, Mahalakshmi Layout, Malleswaram, Pulikeshinagar, BTM Layout, Basavangudi, Bommanahalli, Govindarajanagar, Padmanabhanagar, Vijayanagar, Anekal, Bengaluru South, Byatarayanapura, Dasarahalli, Mahadevapura, Yelahanka and Yeshwanthpur.