LOW TURNOUT
a strange trend was observed throughout the day in the second phase in which the number of voters from all communities and classes supporting the INDIA bloc kept on increasing at every booth. On the other hand, the number of BJP voters kept on decreasing, he said.
Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Avinash Pande said, “.... In all the constituencies, there was a lot of excitement among the people to vote for change. The way voting happened in the first and second phases, it is very clear that the candidates of the INDIA alliance are winning by a good majority. The reason for that is there is dissatisfaction among the people, especially among youth. They’re totally disappointed with the present government. They want a change...” Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary said the NDA has set a target of winning 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh.
“It is an ambitious target. The PM himself has put this target before a government seeking a third straight term and the alliance partners. We are working hard and getting the support of voters in both phases of polling,” he said.
Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said the NDA ensured that its supporters cast their votes whereas the Opposition parties failed to motivate their supporters leading to a decline in the turnout. During his visit to Uttar Pradesh in the first week of March, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar had said the polling percentage in UP was 9% below the national average (67%). “We are working to increase the polling percentage,” he had said.
“To increase polling, the ECI has made a voter turnout implementation plan. We have counted constituencies and booths where polling is low. Officers have been directed to find out why polling is low on particular booths. The district magistrates will visit the area to hold a dialogue with the voters. They will request the voters to exercise their franchise rights,” he had said.
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