Voter turnout in phase 1 of LS elections down by 4%, compared to 2019; EC looks at improving figures
New Delhi: The first phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections witnessed a decrease of about 4 percentage points in voter turnout compared to 2019, raising concerns among Election Commission officials. In the 102 seats up for election on Friday, with over 16 crore eligible voters, the turnout was approximately 65.5%, down from the 70% recorded in 2019.
While final figures are yet to be released by the Election Commission, data from the EC’s Voter Turnout app at 7 pm on Saturday showed a decrease in turnout in 19 out of the 21 states and Union Territories in the first phase.
Tamil Nadu saw a decline of roughly 3 percentage points, from 72.44% to 69.46%, while Uttarakhand witnessed a dip of almost six percentage points, from 61.88% to 55.89%. Rajasthan, with 12 out of its 25 seats going to polls, experienced a decrease in turnout by over six percentage points – from 64% to 57.65%. However, Bastar in Chhattisgarh saw a slight increase in turnout.
The Commission had made extensive efforts to encourage voter participation, including roping in celebrities as ambassadors and collaborating with the BCCI to raise awareness among IPL audiences. Despite these efforts, there was a dip in turnout, prompting officials to consider strategies to increase participation in subsequent phases.
Polling officers cited various reasons for the decrease in turnout, including intense heat, a busy wedding season, and a lack of enthusiasm. However, they are still assessing the extent to which these factors contributed to the decline.
In Tamil Nadu, political leaders attributed the subdued turnout to extreme temperatures and a lack of enthusiasm due to the election being a three-cornered contest. Urban areas like Chennai continued to show lower voter participation compared to rural areas.
Uttarakhand officials noted that the current wedding season and harsh sunlight during the day may have contributed to the decline in turnout. In Madhya Pradesh, where voter awareness campaigns have been ongoing since the assembly elections last year, officials are analyzing the reasons for the low turnout.
Overall, the Election Commission is yet to decide on specific measures to address the decrease in turnout but acknowledges the challenge ahead, especially with rising temperatures expected in the coming days.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
