Hyderabad: Telangana witnessed a significant increase in voter turnout during the Lok Sabha elections on Monday, recording a turnout of 66.3%, a 3.53% rise from the 2019 general elections.
This surge is attributed to favorable weather and increased voter awareness. The polling proceeded smoothly across 17 Parliament seats and the Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly seat, with voters queuing up from 6 am.
Polling concluded at 4 pm in 13 assembly constituencies and by 6 pm in the remaining 106 constituencies. Voters in line before 6 pm were allowed to vote, extending the process until 10 pm in 1,400 stations.
Turnout steadily increased throughout the day: 9.48% at 9 am, 24.31% by 11 am, 40.38% by 1 pm, 52.34% by 3 pm, and 61.16% by 5 pm, with a final turnout of 66.3% recorded by midnight.
Comparative data shows a shift in voter engagement. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw a 62.69% turnout, while the 2018 Assembly elections recorded 73.74%. This recent increase indicates a rising trend in voter participation.
Bhongir recorded the highest polling rate at 76.78%, while Hyderabad reported the lowest at 48.48%. The Narsapur Assembly segment of Medak parliamentary constituency had the highest poll percentage of 84.25%, and Malakpet Assembly segment of Hyderabad had the lowest at 42.76%.
Questions arise over the delay in revealing the final polling percentage. EVMs were introduced to expedite this process, yet delays persist. A BRS leader called for the Election Commission to release the final polling percentage promptly. The Supreme Court is set to hear an application on May 17 regarding the delay in publishing voter turnout data for the first two phases of polling, filed by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms.
