Though, overall voter turnout in Gujarat was second highest in the history of general elections, a section of the society categorised as ‘others’ by the Election Commission of India (ECI) remained very low.
Against the overall polling of more than 63 per cent, voter turnout of ‘others’ was as low as 27 per cent. Gender-wise male voters in Gujarat voted heavily with 66.87 per cent and female voters registered 59.41 per cent voting.
According to the figure provided by ECI, there are 285 voters registered as ‘others’ — generally known as transsexual — in the State electoral roll. Of them only 77 exercise their franchise on April 30, during the seventh phase of 16th lok Sabha elections.
Though highest ‘others’ (62) registered as voters in Surat parliamentary constituency, but only nine of them cast their votes. Of the 34 ‘others’ in Vadodara constituency, 20 used their franchise, which is highest in number in Gujarat. In Bhavnagar 11 such votes registered followed by seven each in Navsari and Mehsana, Gandhinagar six, Bharuch five, Rajkot three and one each in Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Kheda, Panchmahal as well as Dahod.
Asked about the low voter turnout of ‘others’ compared to male and female in Gujarat, Gujarat’s Chief Electorate Officer Anita Karval said that EC had tried to reach maximum numbers of voters and as result of it there was more than 15 per cent jump in voting.
“Our efforts will continue to ensure that all the voters utilise their franchise in the upcoming elections that include ‘others’ also,” she said.