RIDING on wave of enthusiasm among voters, the voting per centage for 12 Assembly constituencies in Nagpur District reached 60.49 per cent till 6 pm on Wednesday. Political parties are hopeful of increase in the polling per centage as final figures of voting are awaited. According to the polling data released by the administration, till 6 pm, average voting per centage in Nagpur district was 60.49 per cent with Ramtek constituency recording highest turnout of 71.27 per cent followed by Umred at 70.02 per cent and Katol was third with 66.70 per cent. In other three rural constituencies — Savner recorded 66 per cent voting, Hingna recorded 58.10 per cent voter turnout while Kamptee saw 63.05 per cent voters exercising their franchise. Of the three, significant part of Kamptee and Hingna constituencies have urban base that explains the voting per cent on bit lower side.

 

In Nagpur city constituencies, Nagpur East r e c o r d e d h i g h e s t 58.70 per cent voting while Nagpur Central recorded lowest 55.01 per cent voting. Similarly, Nagpur North witnessed 58.05 per cent voting, Nagpur South (56.20 %), Nagpur SouthWest (54.49 %) and Nagpur West (55.68 %). These figures were past midnight even as Election Commission of India stated that they may vary. Here too the voting trend again indicates a tad lower turnout in affluent areas compared to constituencies that are under developed. A cursory look at voting figures showcase that again rural populace was quite aware and ensured they cast their votes while urban dwellers seemed unenthusiastic. In Lok Sabha elections held in May this year the Nagpur parliamentary constituency recorded 54.1 per cent turnout while neighbouring Ramtek 61.1 per cent polling. The final polling per centage of Nagpur District is still being compiled and clear picture will be available only on Thursday. Due to skirmishes in East Nagpur and Central Nagpur Assembly segments, the final voting per centage calculations got delayed as election machinery got entangled in the rival claims that led to local flare up. Even police machinery hands were full due to these two incidents, particularly one in Central Nagpur segment as rumoursflew high.

 

Finally, the city police resolved the matter peacefully and the crowd dispersed. Elsewhere entire voting process was held in peaceful atmosphere barring some minor incidents in some pockets owing to hyper local political activism among two alliances, MahaYuti and MVA. Though election see tempers high, this time however stakes were quite high as survey showed that the fight is quite close and hence no one was willing to concede the race. Compared to Lok Sabha, this time the voting process was held quite smoothly as the irritants of missing names or deleted names in voters list were far and few. The elaborate exercise undertaken by District administration and alertness on part of voters ensured that the mass complaints that surfaced during general elections were not seen in assembly elections. Only at one or two places, voters complained about not finding their names or cross mark on their names in the voter list presuming them to be dead. Overall the voting per centage that was targeted at 75 per cent was way below that mark inspite of hectic efforts put in by the administration. Several factors are being quoted as to reasons for failure of Mission Distinction, students community could not make it for voting owing to forthcoming exams, and also many of locals have shifted to Pune and other major cities, or some have moved abroad.

 

The voting started on positive note as voters knowing well that as the day passes by the queue starts forming and hence many of them went in first hours itself. Brisk voting started across all the seats and with pleasant weather throughout the day the voters came at ease, unlike during the Lok Sabha when it was scorching heat that affected the overall voting per centage. By 3 pm the average polling in 12 assembly segments of Nagpur District was 44.45 per cent. In other districts of Vidarbha similar trends were reported elsewhere. As per guidelines of Election Commission, district administration made elaborate arrangement for elderly and Divyang voters to ensure they do not miss out on their right.

 

They were offered transport facility and also wheel chairs were arranged at polling booth and many voters took advantage of the same. Barring in mid afternoon when there appeared to bit lull in the voting, it was confined to some pockets of East and North Nagpur segment, at other centres voters were present in substantial numbers to cast their votes.Young and old, even Divyang made it a point to exercise their franchise. Political parties pulled out all tricks to ensure voters presence, even students and people who are in Pune were ferried by deploying special buses to drive up the polling per centage, which shows a 1 per cent overall rise across Maharashtra.