Old City voter turnout sees decline from 2018 polls at 36.9 per cent; voters blame parties’ apathy

Hyderabad: The voter turnout in the Old City for the Telangana Assembly elections is 36.9 per cent, considerably less than the 48.36 per cent turnout in the area in the 2018 elections.

“Just given up,” said a voter, when asked their opinion about why the voter turnout in the Old City was less this election. After talking to more Old City residents, fear of being targeted, lack of an alternative and no hope in the present government were some of the reasons that kept people from the Old City from voting.

The Old City of Hyderabad has seven Assembly segments: Malakpet, Karwan, Goshamahal, Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Yakutpura and Bahadurpura. The lowest voter turnout in the city was recorded in these seven Assembly constituencies.

The voting percentage of other areas is Nampally at 32.40 per cent, Charminar at 34.02 per cent, Malakpet at 36.90 per cent, Bahadurpura at 39.11 per cent, and Chandrayangutta at 39 per cent. The lowest voter turnout among the seven was 27.89 per cent in Yakutpura.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, the voting percentage in Malakpet was 42.4 per cent followed by Yakutpura at 42.5 per cent and Nampally at 45.5 per cent. Interestingly, nothing much has changed even this time, except a further fall in polling percentage from those constituencies.

Where is the fight?

“Why should we vote? Who are the candidates? Is there really a fight?” were the questions many Old City residents asked regarding this year’s elections.

People said they were expecting strong candidates from the Indian National Congress but were disappointed with the candidates. People said that they expected the Congress party to put up a strong fight but that has not happened. This is also being seen as one of the reasons for many not willing to come out and vote.

“We wanted change but is there a political party who is going to field strong candidates in this area? We have to live here. Why should we risk our lives when the candidates are not strong?” a senior doctor said.

Civic issues ignored

Civic issues plaguing the area continue to pose a problem for the residents, irrespective of the government. Mir Kaisar, who runs a flour mill, and has been living in the area for more than two decades, said, “Despite repeated complaints to the GHMC, civic authorities and local leaders, there has been no change in the civic situation in our constituency since the last 25 years – drainage, flooding, garbage, street lights, terribly narrow roads and lanes encroached by houses and shops – everything is in a bad shape. Even if it is to just lure the voters the politicians have made no changes. We don’t hope for a better situation irrespective of whoever wins from the constituency.”

Stand of Jamaat

The Jamaat in its dictate to the people directed votes for All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, but people have not been so keen on it. A businessman from the area said, “The jamaat on one side gave a dictate that for these seven seats we must vote for AIMIM. No reason was given. The AIMIM has been in these parts forever. Is there any development in the Old City? Why should we vote again for them?”

Youth lost faith in the system

Throughout the campaigning, many youths from the OId City have expressed their anger against the government, current and previous, for the lack of development. Whether it is infrastructure, educational institutions or any other kind of development, all of them have been witnessed in other parts of Hyderabad.

Countering the senior citizens and the Jamaat’s dictate youngsters have shown little interest in venturing out and voting.

IT employee T Sriharsha (name changed) said, “There is a clear lack of political will to improve the backward, under-developed Old City area. For decades, the same party ruled here and they are confident that whether they address the civic issues or not or they develop Old City or not, they will secure minority votes. They are confident that they will win the elections as most of the people are not much educated, neither do they question the unapproachable politicians or leaders about basic infrastructure development in this area.”

Strict policing and division of booths

There were other reasons too that kept Old City from voting. The voters complained that the police and additional central forces in the Old City are more vigilant than usual. It has been difficult for people to move out as there were incidents of lathi charge in Yakutpura.

In booth allocations too there were problems. In some families, the young voters were allotted one booth while the parents had another. This is also said as one of the reasons for less voter turnout. Many had asked, “Why did they divide our votes in different booths? We are not going out.”

Voter turnout in Old City constituencies in the 2018 and 2023 Assembly Elections respectively:

The voter turnout in the Old City has shown the indignation of the voters towards the political parties indifferent towards them and their area.