Chandigarh MC polls: will voter turnout surpass previous figures this time?

In the last two polls in 2006 and 2011, the city registered a turnout of 50% and 59%, respectively. While there was an increase in the polling percentage, it was not much. As per the trend, ward 1 (Sectors 1 to 11) has always witnessed the lowest turnout, but colonies and southern sectors witnessed high turnover of voting in past elections. In 1996, the voter turnout was 45.77%.

In the last two polls in 2006 and 2011, the city registered a turnout of 50% and 59%, respectively. While there was an increase in the polling percentage, it was not much. As per the trend, ward 1 (Sectors 1 to 11) has always witnessed the lowest turnout, but colonies and southern sectors witnessed high turnover of voting in past elections. In 1996, the voter turnout was 45.77%.

Municipal corporation office in Chandigarh. (HT File Photo)

In fact, the figure plummeted to 31.80 per cent in 2001, and again in 2006, only to return to a somewhat face-saving 45.2 per cent, but in elections held in 2011, the turnout was 59%.

Voting percentage is most dismal in northern sectors, an area supposedly where the city’s influential and the rich reside. Ward 1 (Sectors 1 to 11) had the lowest turnout of 52% in 2011.

So, is it going to be any different this time?

Candidates and election officials are pulling out all stops to buck the trend. Carrying out door-to-door campaigns, they are stressing the importance of your vote. And, hoping that the educated do step out of their homes to elect the “educated”.

The colonies and southern sectors witnessed high turnover of voting in past elections.

Congress candidate from ward 1, Harmohinder Singh Lukcy maintained that the ward had always witnessed low turnout.

“We are not only asking voters to vote in our favour, but also insisting them to exercise their right to vote,” he said.

Sector-49 Resident Welfare Association president VK Bali said the voter turnout in a literate city like Chandgarh, where literacy rate is the second highest in country, was alarming in the past few MC elections.

“Residents staying in posh sectors of city show little enthusiasm. Voters prefer to use the holiday to catch up with others,” he claimed.

PU’s sociology department professor Manjit said, “The middle class and elites in India are highly sensitive to the malfunctioning of the institutions of governance. They always criticise the inefficiency of those who run the affairs of administration after securing popular mandate of the voters. However, their voting record based on past trends is dismal.”