Nagpur : First phase of the voting in general elections began across country, including Nagpur where there was quite an enthusiasm among the voters. For the first-time voters, it was an enriching experience and they made it a point not to miss the chance to be part of the greatest event of democracy. Across city, the final count of polling is expected to be around 58 per cent going by the figures till 5 pm when the voting per cent was just above 53 per cent. But in real sense by 5 pm out of 21.60 lakh voters as many as 11.45 lakh had exercised their right and thousands were in queue patiently waiting for their turn.
The administration was busy finalising the voting percentage till Thursday midnight. The official figures will be released on Friday. Counting of votes is scheduled on May 23. In 2014, the final voting figure was 57.12 per cent but with addition of more than 4 lakh new voters, the actual voting recorded is going to be around 13 lakh as against 10.81 lakh in 2014. The dry weather and hot summer failed to dampen the spirits of the Nagpurians who braved the adversity as one saw a steady flow throughout the day across the city. Nagpur along with six other constituencies went to polls in Vidarbha during the first phase of 2019 general elections in the country. Barring minor arguments at one or two places, no untoward incident was reported and voting process concluded peacefully. With quick response team in position and heavy police bandobast on the spot, trouble makers did not took any risk. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Bhaiyyaji Joshi were among the first voters to cast their votes near RSS headquarters.
Dr Bhagwat reiterated his appeal to people to participate in voting process in large numbers and elect right candidates. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cast their votes at NMC School near Vanamati. Purohit, who patiently waited in the queue with family members awaiting his turn to vote, described the voting as “constitutional duty of everyone” and urged the voters to discharge their onerous duty. Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Nitin Gadkari and his opponent and Congress Party contestant Nana Patole cast their votes accompanied by their family members. Sena nominee from Ramtek Krupal Tumane, Congress candidate Kishor Gajbhiye, Rajya Sabha MP Dr Vikas Mahatme, former MPs Vilas Muttemwar, Datta Meghe, Ajay Sancheti, legislators, former ministers also visited their respective polling booth in morning hours only and exercised their franchise. Elderly voters made it a point not to miss the date with vote and as special arrangements were at polling booths they did not face much difficulty in exercising their franchise.
They did not have to stand in queue and hence most of elderly person who had difficulty in movement, a family member helped them to perform their duty of casting votes. At many places, the police personnel on duty including senior officers helped them. From morning, voters made it a point to line-up at polling booths as due to VVPAT it was expected that people would be required to stand in long queues for a while before their chance come to cast vote. Also knowing well that as the day progresses it will be difficult to move out of house, voters made it a point to cast their vote during first half of the day. As usual there were complaints about difficulty in finding names, missing names from the electoral rolls, absence of basic facilities at polling booth. Still electorate ensured that to be counted in democracy they have to cast their votes and hence they hopped from one place to another for locating their names. At Subhash Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Dharampeth and Mominpura areas there was heavy rush in first hours and nearly 20 per cent polling was recorded by 1 pm.
Thereafter there was steady progress across the city throughout the day. All the six constituencies witnessed brisk polling throughout the day and voting per cent matched evenly in the assembly segments. So by evening with still one hour to go at most of the booths in Mominpura, C P Berar High School there was no turnout of voters as polling machinery kept waiting for any late voters. Incidentally, these polling booths are in thickly populated areas of the city and usually witness heavy turnout. But as against this, in South Nagpur Assembly segments, booths at Manewada, Sakkardara and other nearby areas, there was a steady flow of voters towards closing time. The polling parties had to work extra time in South Nagpur areas as there was quite a number of voters inside the booths waiting for their turn. Also in Jaripatka after 3 pm there was sudden momentum as established parties geared up its booth level machinery and ensured sizable turnout of voters. A rough estimate going by the 5 pm figure, Nagpur Lok Sabha may have voting per cent above 60 per cent.
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