Yakutpura division sees lowest voter turnout

Yakutpura: The polling booths in different parts of Old City looked deserted and the polling percentage remained low, even this time like the recently held Assembly elections. While some areas witnessed meagre turnout others like Yakutpura witnessed lowest turnout with 31 percent.

The areas under Parliamentary division in Old City like Uppuguda, Kanchanbagh, Phisalbanda, Santosh Nagar, Rakshapuram, Edi Bazar, Talabkatta, Bhavani Nagar under Yakutpura areas were seen deserted. Most of the public in these areas stayed at home and enjoyed the holiday and did not cast their vote purportedly due to the hot weather. The other parts of the Old City like Moghalpura, Shalibanda, , Malakpet and Chandrayangutta and other surrounding areas witnessed medium voter turnout.

The areas which recorded the lowest voter turnout - Yakutpura division 31.1 percent with 1,02,207 votes, while Malakpet, Bahadurpura and Chandrayangutta recorded 33.21 percent, 37.8 percent and 38.9 percent respectively. The highest votes in Hyderabad was recorded in Goshamahal division by 49.54 percent with 1,21,191 votes and Karwan with 44 percent.

Even as the Election Commission emphasized to provide facilities to PwD (Persons with Disability) at polling booths, however, sadly many booths in the area did not provide amenities like wheel-chairs nor they allowed the disabled to have an escort inside.

A voter in Dabeerpura was seen escorted by his grandson to cast his vote, but unfortunately the grandson had to stand outside the booth, as he was a minor and did not have a voting right. This voter along with the help of another voter had to exercise his franchise.

Mohammed Ahmed, 68-year-old voter said, "I was told that the GHMC had provided a wheelchair for the aged and a vehicle for handicapped for casting their vote but there is no facility provided in the booths for aged voters."

Alleging missing votes, some of the voters in Yakutpura division expressed anger over the matter. When a family of 4 members came to cast their vote, only one person was allowed in the booth. The remaining three said that their votes were missing in the booth. They wondered as to how their names were missing, as they have been voting for the past several years in each election.

Meanwhile, a first-time voter who was enthusiastic about the event mocked at those who did not vote. "Vote is our democratic right, but bad people are elected by good people, who don't vote", said Fayaq Naser, a Journalism Student. Another student, Hameed Majid, who is an Engineering Student said that he voted for development and would choose his leader.

During the polling hours, AIMIM, Hyderabad constituency MP candidate Asaduddin Owaisi visited the polling booths in the different localities. He visited the booths in Talabkatta and asked the locals if they had exercised their right. Later, he also offered Zohar Prayer in the Mosque near the polling booth in Anwar School in Talabkatta.

Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic), Anil Kumar along with the DCP, South zone Ambar Kishore Jha was seen reviewing the arrangements and patrolling the sensitive polling booths in Rein Bazar division.

While in Talabkatta division the police including women police were seen patrolling the area and the booths continuously. Speaking to The Hans India Inspector Bhavani Nagar, N Venkateshwarlu said that the situation in the polling booths is under control.

"The voters who came to cast their vote are showing their identity before entering the booth. The policemen and policewomen have been patrolling continuously and no one was allowed to stand in the 100-meter yard near the booth," added the Inspector.