A lot of enthusiasm was seen among women voters.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
After the completion of the first phase of Lok Sabha General Elections 2024, the voting percentage figures are shocking. However, the Aurangabad district administration left no stone unturned to ensure 100 percent voting and increase the voting percentage. On one side, the candidates were running a public relations campaign. On the other hand, voter awareness rally, voting pledge and oath etc. programs were being organized by the district administration every day as part of SVEEP activities in the entire district. Not only this, District Election Officer cum District Magistrate of Aurangabad Shrikant Shastri, after casting his vote at a booth in the city, also appealed to the voters, especially the youth, to come forward and enthusiastically participate in the great festival of democracy. Despite all this, there could be many reasons for what the voting percentage figures are saying. In such a situation, it is necessary to investigate it. Before this, let us discuss the percentage of voting in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the voting percentage of Aurangabad was 52.9, which came down to 50.2 percent this time. This time the voting percentage declined by 2.7. Everyone would like to know the reasons for this decline.
Weather can also have an impact
One reason for the decline in voting percentage could also be the Laganauti season i.e. the wedding season. It is noteworthy that these days the wedding season is in full swing. The marriage is in someone’s house and the marriage is in someone’s relatives. Therefore, the relationship of marriage also has to be maintained and to maintain it, it is also necessary to be busy and go away from home. Perhaps for this reason, it may be considered necessary to stay away from voting due to the busy schedule of voters in those families in whose homes or relatives there may have been a marriage. If we talk about the weather temperature in Aurangabad parliamentary constituency on the voting day, Friday, April 19, then today’s minimum temperature ranged from 26 degrees to maximum 41 degrees Celsius. It is obvious that when the temperature crosses 40 then the summer season is very painful. One has to endure severe heat and heat waves. Therefore, there is certainly a reason for voters to stay indoors to protect themselves from the scorching heat. Perhaps due to this, voters stayed away from voting, which became a reason for the decline in voting percentage.
Lack of time for election campaign is also the reason
It is noteworthy that the notification for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections was released on March 20. Nominations took place till 28 March. Scrutiny of nomination papers took place on March 30. After the nomination papers of 12 candidates were rejected during scrutiny, only 9 out of 21 candidates remained in the fray. Despite the date of withdrawal of candidature on April 2, only 9 candidates remained in the fray due to no candidate withdrawing his name. After this, the process of election campaign started which continued till 17th April i.e. the candidates got only 15 days to formally conduct their election campaign. It can be easily estimated that in 15 days no candidate can contact the voters of the villages or cities associated with every booth in his area. There are a total of 2040 polling stations in Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency. Therefore, it is not possible for any one candidate to contact the voters of so many booths in 15 days, but it is certain that his supporters must have contacted the voters of every village. At the same time, it is well known about the voting mood of the voters that voters want to see and hear their candidate closely. This is the reason why voters who do not have contact with the candidate become indifferent towards voting and this indifference can also be a reason for the decrease in voting percentage.
Other possible reasons for decline in voting percentage
If we talk about other reasons for decline in voting percentage, then lack of issue could also be the reason behind it. In the first phase, it was clearly visible that even though the parties released their manifestos, very little was said about them on the ground. On the contrary, both the alliances ended up cursing each other and exposing each other. Local issues often remained secondary. Therefore, this could also be a reason for voter indifference towards voting and decline in vote percentage. If experts are to be believed, they agree with all the above reasons.