BBMP polls: Siddapura ward tops with 62 per cent voter turnout

Bengaluru: The state election commission (SEC) on Sunday officially announced that the turnout at BBMP election was 49.31 per cent, an increase of 5.27 percentage points when compared with previous 2010 BBMP polls.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday SEC Chairman P.N. Srinivasachari said that as many as 36,13,831 voters, out of a total voter population is 73,28,578, exercised their franchise across 197 wards. Siddapura ward in Chikpet constituency recorded the highest voter turnout with 62.14 per cent, while Doddanekkundi ward in Mahadevapura constituency has registered the lowest turnout of 37.83 per cent. Despite massive awareness drives organised by various NGOs and programmes like Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), it is sad that the voter turnout was not satisfactory, he said.

In terms of assembly constituencies, Yeshwantpur recorded the highest percentage of 54.96 per cent, while it was lowest in Basavanagudi (43.18 per cent). Since polling was peaceful, barring few stray incidents, there was no need for re-polling in any of the wards, he added.

However, BBMP commissioner G. Kumar Naik expressed happiness regarding the increase in voter turnout and hoped it would increase in elections to be held in future.

Arrangement for counting
The fate of the 197 candidates will be decided on Tuesday. Bharati Ramachandra, a BJP candidate from Hongasandra ward has been elected unopposed. Adequate arrangements have been made for the counting of votes, which will begin from 8 am at 27 strong rooms. Adequate security has also been provided at all these vote counting centres. BBMP commissioner G. Kumar Naik said as many as 3,180 staffers have been deployed for counting. Since votes will be tabulated with the support of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) the results will be announced soon.

Dry day: Sale of liquor has been prohibited from 6 am to 8 pm on Tuesday.

Voter turnout percentage
Bengaluru Central: 50.01
Bengaluru North: 48.67
Bengaluru South: 47.59
Bengaluru Urban: 50.67
Average total: 49.25