In the second phase of polling, Uttar Pradesh witnessed a dismal turnout of just 54.85 per cent, the lowest in the country, sparking concerns among senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) regarding the lack of voters' enthusiasm.
A senior BJP leader, who extensively toured various regions including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and western UP, expressed bewilderment over the noticeable absence of interest among voters. "The enthusiasm is missing this time among the voters, and this has made our work very difficult to ascertain which side the wind is blowing," he stated.
His sentiments were mirrored by a lawmaker from the SP, who emphasised the low polling percentages as indicative of the prevalent disinterest among voters.
Despite vigorous campaign efforts, such as the BJP's slogan "Iss baar 400 paar" (This time, beyond 400) and SP's assertions of sweeping victories by the "INDIA Bloc," both parties find themselves confronted with a stark reality - a palpable absence of enthusiasm among the electorate. Even with the Election Commission distributing 1.66 crore voter slips to households five days before the elections, there seems to be a disconnect. The number of eligible voters in the second phase of LS polls stands at 1.67 crore.
Delving deeper into the issue, the BJP leader highlighted the detrimental impact of this lack of enthusiasm on party workers, noting, "there has to be a reaction to some action. This action is missing. Even the Muslims are silent. We know they will not vote for BJP, but there is no perceptible reaction from the members of the minority community. This has resulted in a lack of interest".
The SP has taken a cautious approach regarding Muslim and minority welfare, with one of its candidates from central UP stating a deliberate avoidance of meetings in Muslim-dominated areas. "This may give a reason to BJP to react and ultimately polarize the election," the candidate explained, echoing concerns raised by BJP lawmakers regarding the silence of Muslims.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting today morning showed concern over missing long lines in Muslim dominated areas. Even polling percentage witnessed a decline of around five per cent in Rampur. Statistical evidence further accentuates the gravity of the situation, with UP witnessing a decline in voter turnout compared to previous elections. In the first phase, UP registered a turnout of 61 per cent down from 66 per cent in 2019. The second phase, with a polling percentage of just 54.85 per cent, marks a significant decrease compared to 62.76 per cent in 2019. Notably, Mathura reported a mere 49 per cent polling, a substantial 12 per cent decrease from the previous election's 61.08 per cent. Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh attributed the low turnout to people's satisfaction with the present regime, citing a similar turnout of 50 per cent in 2009 when the Congress retained power.
We are confident that BJP will sweep the elections, but we need to improve the voting percentage," he asserted.
