HYDERABAD: Disturbed by the low percentage of voting in the last GHMC polls held on November 23, 2009, the Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), in association with voluntary organisations, have vigorously started taking up awareness programmes in the wards where there was low percentage of voting in the last GHMC polls so as increase the polling percentage in the ensuing elections to be held on February 2.
In the 2009 polls, of the total number of 56,99,015 electors, 24,08,001 voters exercised their franchise which was about 42.92 percent, considered to be a low percentage of voting. A staggering number of 32,91,014 voters did not vote.
GHMC officials said Vijayanagar Colony recorded the lowest voting percentage with 25.17 pc, followed by Red Hills (27.84 pc), Kothapet (28.26 pc), Kapra (31.11 pc), Tolichowki (31.34 pc), Murad Nagar (32.04 pc), Ahmed Nagar (33.21 pc), Ramnaspura (33.23 pc), Ameerpet (33.39 pc), Karmanghat (33.77 pc), Hussainialam (33.79 pc), Falaknuma (33.89 pc), Nwab Shah Kunta (34.14 pc), Doodhbowli (34.70 pc), Mallapur (35.50 pc), Ramanthapur (35.71 pc) and Barkas (35.53 pc).
The wards which recorded the highest voting percentage were Aliabad (62.13 pc), Moghalpura (60.11 pc), Dhoolpet (58.86 pc), Begum Bazar (58.10 pc), Gowlipura (57.92 pc), Ramachandrapuram (54.88 pc) and KPHB Colony (54.55 pc).
GHMC and TSEC claim that the city can be transformed into a truly world-class metropolis that will enhance the life style and prosperity of its residents provided there is a competent and capable elected body managing it. A responsible and accountable city government can be obtained only with the active participation of voters in the election process. A traditional voting percentage of 40 percent can only obtain a traditional leadership, the authorities say.
While the number of voters last time was 56 lakh, now it is more than 70 lakh which is nearly one-third of the total population of Telangana. GHMC and TSEC are urging voluntary organisations to play their due role in increasing voter awareness, which will lead to a higher voter turnout, by verifying one’s registration in the electoral rolls.
