Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 21st November 2024: Yesterday, voting concluded for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections, with results expected on 23rd November. Across all 21 constituencies in Pune District, a voter turnout of 61.05% was recorded, an improvement from the 57.85% seen in the last Maharashtra Elections. On a state level, Maharashtra achieved a 65.02% voter turnout, up from 61.6% in 2019.
However, Pune District performed poorly compared to the state average, with urban areas showing lower voter participation than rural ones. Indapur Assembly Constituency led with the highest turnout at 76.10%, followed by Maval, Baramati, and Daund. Hadapsar Assembly Constituency recorded the lowest participation at 50.11%, with Pimpri, Pune Cantonment, and Shivajinagar also experiencing lower voter engagement.
Pune District comprises four Lok Sabha constituencies—Pune, Maval, Shirur, and Baramati—which include the 21 Assembly constituencies. Pune and Maval Lok Sabha constituencies, containing urban areas such as Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad cities, saw the lowest turnout. Political experts have attributed the lower turnout in urban areas compared to rural areas to urban apathy.
Below is a breakdown of voter turnout by Lok Sabha constituency.
Pune Lok Sabha Constituency
With six Assembly constituencies—Kasba Peth, Kothrud, Shivajinagar, Pune Cantonment, Vadgaonsheri, and Parvati—the voter turnout for the Pune Lok Sabha Constituency was 54.27%. Among these, Kasba Peth recorded the highest turnout at 58.76%, while Shivajinagar had the lowest turnout at 50.90%. Pune Lok Sabha Constituency had the lowest voter turnout, with most of the urban areas falling within this constituency.
Maval Lok Sabha Constituency
Maval Lok Sabha Constituency consists of six Assembly constituencies: Pimpri, Chinchwad, Maval, Karjat, Uran, and Panvel. However, only Pimpri, Chinchwad, and Maval are in the Pune District, with the others located in the Raigad District. In Pune District, Maval Lok Sabha Constituency had a voter turnout of 60.00%. Among these, Maval recorded the highest turnout at 72.10%, while Pimpri had the lowest at 51.19%. It is important to note that Maval, which is largely rural, saw a higher turnout compared to Pimpri and Chinchwad (56.73%), which are urban areas.
Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency
Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency comprises six Assembly constituencies: Junnar, Ambegaon, Khed Alandi, Shirur, Bhosari, and Hadapsar. The voter turnout for this constituency was 64.28%. Among these, Ambegaon recorded the highest turnout at 70.01%, while Hadapsar had the lowest turnout at 50.11%. Although Shirur Lok Sabha Constituency is largely rural, it includes urban areas in Hadapsar and Bhosari. Both Hadapsar and Bhosari had the lowest voter turnout in this constituency, reinforcing the trend of higher turnout in rural areas.
Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency
Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency includes six Assembly constituencies: Daund, Indapur, Baramati, Purandar, Bhor, and Khadakwasla. The voter turnout for this constituency was 67.49%. Indapur recorded the highest turnout at 76.10%, while Khadakwasla had the lowest at 56.53%. In the Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency, Khadakwasla and Bhor have some urban areas, which contributed to the lower voter turnout in those constituencies.
What is Urban Apathy?
Urban apathy, where people show little interest in community issues, is closely connected to low voter turnout in cities. The busy, individual-focused lifestyle in urban areas often leads to feelings of disconnection, making people less likely to participate in activities like voting. Factors such as stress, overcrowding, and focusing on personal survival over community needs add to this disengagement. To fix this, encouraging community involvement through education, local events, and public spaces can help people feel more connected. Promoting civic duties and explaining the importance of voting are also key steps. Apathy and low voter turnout grow in places where people feel isolated or ignored in the political process.
Other Reasons for Low Voter Turnout
Urban apathy plays a significant role in low voter turnout, but other factors contribute as well. Many voters face challenges such as not being listed on voter rolls, long waiting times, and restrictions like the ban on phones inside polling booths, which can deter participation. Logistical issues, like the difficulty of accessing distant polling stations or crowded voting locations, also play a part. Furthermore, the political turmoil in the last term of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, marked by rebellions and unconventional alliances to form the government, has left many voters disillusioned and frustrated with nearly all political parties. This frustration, combined with a feeling of disconnection from the political process and the belief that their vote might not matter, has contributed to the lower voter turnout in urban areas.
