In the 2018 Assembly election, which was held on Friday, 7 December, the state witnessed a turnout of 73.37%.
Among the 15 constituencies in Hyderabad, the highest voter turnout was observed in Secunderabad Cantonment (47.14 percent), Goshamahal (45.79 percent), Khairatabad (45.5 percent). (Ajay Tomar/South First)
In the polling for Telangana Assembly election on 30 November, as many as 107 out of the 119 constituencies in the state witnessed a lower voter turnout compared to the 2018 Assembly election.
The final voting percentage, after scrutiny by the Election Commission of India (ECI), stands at 71.34 percent, reflecting a decrease of about two percentage points from the 73.37 percent recorded in the 2018 election.
Notably, as many as 18 constituencies saw a decrease of less than one percentage point compared to the previous election, while only 12 constituencies registered an increase in voter participation.
Among the constituencies with increased voting, seven saw a rise of less than one percentage point, and five exhibited an increase of less than two percentage points.
Despite an overall decline in urban voting, six out of the 12 constituencies that saw an increase in voting percentages were urban.
Maheshwaram in Rangareddy saw a marginal increase of 0.04 percentage points, reaching 55.39 percent in the current election compared to 55.35 percent in 2018. Nampally experienced a slight uptick of 0.10 percentage points, recording 45.56 percent in this election versus 45.46 percent in 2018.
In the technology hub of the state, Serilingampally, there was a 0.13 percentage point increase, reaching 48.75 percent compared to 48.62 percent in 2018.
Similarly, Pargi constituency in Vikarabad district witnessed a 0.24 percentage point increase, reaching 76.70 percent compared to 76.46 percent in 2018. Malkajgiri demonstrated a more substantial increase of 0.82 percentage points, achieving 54.02 percent in this election compared to 53.20 percent in 2018.
Noteworthy is the Dubbaka Assembly constituency in Siddipet district, which had a by-poll in 2020, providing the second seat for the BJP in the Assembly. It saw a notable increase in vote share from 83.32 percent in the previous election to 87.51 percent in the current one.
In the aftermath of the 2022 bypoll triggered by the defection of Congress MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy to BJP, and his subsequent loss, and return to Congress for the current election, Munugode constituency has emerged as the frontrunner among the 119 constituencies in the state, boasting an impressive 91.89 percent voter turnout.
In contrast, Yakutpura recorded the lowest voter turnout with a polling percentage of 39.69 percent.
Prominent constituencies with substantial voter participation include Palair (90.89 percent), Alair (90.77 percent), Bhongir (89.91 percent), and Narsapur (88.80 percent). Additionally, 85 constituencies registered a voting percentage exceeding 75 percent.
Apart from Yakutpura, the constituencies with the lowest polling percentages are concentrated in urban Hyderabad, including Charminar (43.25 percent), Malakpet (41.32 percent), Bahadurpura (44.86 percent), Jubilee Hills (45.20 percent), and Chandrayangutta (45.26 percent).
As many as 10 constituencies witnessed less than 50 percent polling in this election.
Among the 15 constituencies in Hyderabad, the highest voter turnout was observed in Goshamahal (55.38 percent), Secunderabad (53.75 percent), Amberpet (52.50 percent), and Sanathnagar (51.96 percent). These contrasting figures highlight the diverse voter engagement across constituencies in the state.
The polling percentage in the state started at approximately 7.78 percent between 7 am and 9 am, gradually rising as the foggy morning transformed into a partially cloudy day.
By 11 am, the polling trend increased to about 20.64 percent, reaching 36.68 percent by 1 pm. By 3 pm, the poll percentage rose to around 51.89 percent, culminating at 63.94 percent by the end of polling at 5 pm.
In 2018, Palair (92.1 percent) and Madhira (92 percent) had the highest poll percentages, followed by Alair (91.5 percent). This year, Jangaon (83.34 percent), Narsampet (83 percent), and Dubbaka (82.75 percent) secured the top three spots in voter turnout.
Interestingly, the constituencies in urban Hyderabad, such as Malakpet (42.4 percent), Yakutpura (42.5 percent), and Nampally (45.5 percent) in 2018, maintained a similar trend of lower polling percentages, with a further decline this time around.
The state government, on 15 November, declared 30 November as a paid holiday for all employees and workers across the state to facilitate their participation in the voting process.
Despite this, historical patterns suggest that urban voters, particularly in Greater Hyderabad, may prioritise a prolonged weekend over exercising their voting rights.
Over the last three Assembly elections, most of Greater Hyderabad’s 24 urban constituencies have consistently registered a voter turnout ranging from 40 to 55 percent.
In the 2018 elections, held on Friday, 7 December, which was also designated as a paid holiday, a similar trend was observed.
Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj had urged voters, particularly those in Hyderabad, to turn out in large numbers on 30 November. He emphasised that voting is a constitutional duty, framing it as a festival of democracy that everyone should actively participate in. But to no avail.
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