Khadakwasla, Purandar polling turnout may tell on outcome in Baramati

Pune: Aggressive voter awareness campaigns and increased electors’ registration could not overcome urban voter apathy which combined with the heat affecting polling in Baramati parliamentary constituency which registered 59.5% turnout. It was about 2% less than 2019’s (61.

8%) and almost matched the 2014 election at 58.8%. Except Indapur, the remaining five assembly seats registered lesser turnout than the 2019 election.



At least 70 polling stations that registered a low turnout in the last election did so this time too. Baramati returning officer Kavita Dwivedi said that the data was updated on Wednesday after the postal ballots were added. On the day of voting, the figures were 56.

07%. “The low turnout could be attributed to excessive heat and general urban apathy,” Dwivedi added. The low voter turnout in the two key assembly seats of Khadakwasla and Purandar under Baramati Lok Sabha constituency could be a thorn in the Mahayuti ’s side.

The alliance has been banking heavily on these constituencies for a gain. The voting in Purandar was 53.9% and in Khadakwasla it stood at 51.

5%, data issued by the Election Commission showed on Wednesday. In Purandar too, Mahayuti was hopeful of a better voter turnout as former Shiv Sena MLA Vijay Shivtare, who has a huge following, had claimed active participation in campaigning, after a political drama. Sources from Purandar area said that they were expecting more voting after intense campaigning from both sides.

A local Shiv Sen.