Low turnout in eight constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh: fronts checking reasons

NEW DELHI: The fronts have different reactions to the low turnout in the eight constituencies of western Uttar Pradesh where the first phase of voting took place last Friday.

66.58 percent in 2019 has reduced to 60.25 percent this time. Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit constituencies went to the booth. The elections were held in 102 constituencies in the country in the first phase. In 2019, 70.71 percent votes were recorded in the first phase, while this time it has reduced to 66.38 percent. A decrease of more than four percent. This has also been discussed.

A win in the 80-constituency Uttar Pradesh is crucial for both the NDA and 'India' fronts. Voting is going to be held in 72 seats. Voting is done in seven stages. The question of who will benefit from the decreased voter turnout in the first phase has become a hotly debated topic in political circles. A section of political observers believe that this is a sign that there is no special wave and that the same trend may repeat itself in the next stages. Political experts say that no big miracles should be expected and NDA will win more seats though by a small margin. Bad candidates, disaffection with some parties, turning away of some communities and extreme heat in north India may have affected the voter turnout. In 2019, people went to the booth in large numbers as Indian warplanes attacked terror centers in Pakistan's Balakot and nationalism flared because of it. The lack of such emotional issues this time is also considered to be the reason for the low turnout.

Leaders with claims

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's reaction was that Congress and Samajwadi Party were swept away in the first phase of UP. Amit Shah said this at the campaign meeting of BJP candidate and Bollywood actress Hema Malini in Mathura. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's response was that the wind of change is blowing in the country.