51% polling in city, 2% less than previous polls

 

 

 

Against high expectations of political parties about high voter turnout, city witnessed 51% voting (provisional figure) in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, on Thursday. The preliminary estimates hint at 50-55% voting. In 2017, the civic polls saw 53% turnout, indicating a slightly higher turnout this election. As The Hitavada team traversed across the length and breadth of the city and interacted with voters, one stark point that emerged was lack of awareness. The voting slips that must reach every voter were distributed in very limited areas, leaving voters gasping due to last minute frantic search of voting booth. This may be due to NMC failing to create awareness among citizens or due to personal reasons as many voters did not take the elections seriously.

 

Most voters were confused as to how many votes they were supposed to cast, many were not even aware of the documents they needed to carry. It may be recalled, in Assembly polls, the Collectorate had aggressively pushed for the voter awareness campaign for which it held events in colleges, offices, residential colonies, industries, gardens and libraries to instill awareness in voters. The final figure are quite disappointing, say political parties. They were expecting a good turnout, but almost half the electorate chose to give it a miss. Barring a few instances like attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Bhushan Shingne, some police personnel threatening a BJP office-bearer at Deaf & Dumb School centre on his objection to some Congress workers sitting inside, no major incident was reported. In the final analysis, the election was held peacefully.

 

The major complaint, on Thursday, was regarding missing names in the voters list against the claim of the Election Commission about finalising the updated list in some wards. The bifurcation of family members to different polling booths was witnessed at several places.

 

The fate of the candidates will be clear on Friday after counting of votes in 10 different zones. Voting: Voting began on a brisk note on Thursday morning. RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Congress leader Vilas Muttemwar, Rajya Sabha Member Mukul Wasnik, MLAs Pravin Datke, Mohan Mate, Vikas Thakre, Dr Nitin Raut, MLCs Krupal Tumane, Dr Parinay Fuke and Abhijeet Wanjari, MLA Krishna Khopde, ex-Member of Rajya Sabha Ajay Sancheti, BJP City President Dayashankar Tiwari, Dr Upendra Kothekar, Sanjay Bhende, were among the first to cast their vote at their respective centres. Turnout of senior citizens was quite impressive than the first-time voters during early hours, but the overall voting percentage was increasing at a snail’s pace. At 9.30 am, only 7% people had cast their votes, it rose to 12 per cent at 11 am. At 1.30 pm, the voting percentage rose to 26% and then, it gained some momentum. At 3.30 pm, city witnessed 41% people casting their votes. Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti and Congress had fielded candidates on all 151 seats.

 

 

 

 

Exit polls for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections have projected a clear edge for the Mahayuti, with most of the surveyors predicting a BJP-Shivsena(S)-NCP(AP) alliance victory in the civic polls. Saam TV exit polls claimed that ‘Mahayuti’ will get 99 seats in the elections. According to the survey, Bharatiya Janaya Party (BJP) will get 91 seats, whereas Shiv Sena (Janata) will get five seats and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) will get three seats in this election. As per the exit poll, BJP will see a loss of 13 seats as compared to previous civic elections held in 2017. Though the less than expected voter turnout poured some cold water over BJP’s dream, the exit poll results have enthused the party cadre and leaders. In the previous elections, both Eknath Janata and Uddhav Thackeray factions of Shiv Sena were one when they bagged only two seats in Nagpur.

 

As per today’s exit poll, Janata faction is likely to get five seats and Uddhav faction will bag three seats in this election. According to exit polls, the Congress will be a big gainer in city as the party is likely to bag 40 seats, 11 seats more than previous elections. In previous election, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) bagged one seat, but this time, it will be difficult for them to get seats as per the exit poll. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will gain one seat in this election, whereas NCP (Sharad Pawar) will get three seats. Five seats will go to others in this election. As per today’s exit poll, Janata faction is likely to get five seats and Uddhav faction will bag three seats in this election. According to exit polls, the Congress will be a big gainer in city as the party is likely to bag 40 seats, 11 seats more than previous elections. In previous election, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) bagged one seat, but this time, it will be difficult for them to get seats as per the exit poll. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will gain one seat in this election, whereas NCP (Sharad Pawar) will get three seats. Five seats will go to others in this election. 

 

 

After heartbreak for political parties following below expectation voter turnout on Thursday, all eyes are now fixed on counting of votes slated for Friday from 10 am onwards at 10 venues spread across city. The civic administration has fixed bigger venues in each of the 10 zones for the counting. For Zone-I Laxmi Nagar the venue is Gangadhar Fadnavis Krida Sankul, Vivekanand Nagar; Zone-II Dharampeth Zone-St Francis De Sales College (SFS), Seminary Hills; Zone-III Hanuman Nagar-Ishwar Deshmukh College of Physical Education, Krida Square; Zone-IV Dhantoli- Community Hall, Ajni Rly Colony; Zone-V Gandhibagh Zone-NIT Karmachari Sanskrutik Sabhagruha, Ganesh Nagar, Great Nag Road; Zone VI Nehru Nagar Zone-Rajiv Gandhi Sabhagruha, New Nandanvan, near water tank; Zone-VII Satranjipura-The Timber Merchants Association Hall, Lakadganj; Zone VIII-Lakadganj- Vinayakrao Deshmukh High School, AVG Layout, Lakadganj; Zone-IX Ashi Nagar- Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Sabhagruha, Lalit Kala Bhavan, Thawre Colony; Zone X Mangalwari-Annasaheb Gundewar College, Chhaoni.