Noida bypoll sees 32.5 % polling, BJP worried

Low voter turnout in Noida assembly bypoll on Saturday gave left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worried.

Low voter turnout in Noida assembly bypoll on Saturday gave left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worried.

Urban areas, which are here considered a stronghold of the saffron party, saw few voters did coming out to vote at 400 polling stations.

Total 32.5% electorate exercised their franchise against 50% that had polled in 2012 UP assembly poll, when BJP's Dr Mahesh Sharma won this seat. Low voter turnout also left the Election Commission in shock.

"People did not take much interest in bypolls. Polling was 31% before 5 pm and we recorded overall only 32.5% till 6 pm," said Rajesh Yadav returning officer.

According to a rough estimate of election officers, urban areas only witnessed 20-30% voting, while the rural vote share is about 70%.

Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Kajal Sharma's husband and two-time MLA Bhagwan Sharma was upbeat with the high turnout at rural areas.
But BJP leaders claimed their candidate Vimla Batham would win this seat.

"There are about 3.23 lakh urban voters against 1.8 lakh rural out of total 5.5 lakh total votes. BJP would get 70% of votes in the urban areas. Besides, the BJP has votes polled in its favour at each 400 polling centers.

"But the SP might have got votes at few polling stations. The BJP would retain this seat without any doubt," said Dr Mahesh Sharma, BJP Member of Parliament from Gautam Budh Nagar.

Noida bypoll was held because local MLA Sharma was elected to Parliament some three months ago.