Voters’ apathy, NOTA campaign impact voter turnout in Indore; Khandwa records highest polling 

K K Jha

Indore: The palpable apathy of voters and  absence of the Congress candidate in the electoral contest, coupled with a vigorous campaign by Congress leaders advocating for NOTA, seems to have significantly impacted the voter turnout for the Indore Lok Sabha seat. Among the eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh that went to polls on Monday in the fourth phase of the elections, Indore recorded the lowest voter turnout at 61.75%, with Khargone registering the highest at 75.79%. This marks a notable decline from the previous Lok Sabha elections, where Indore saw a turnout of 69.3%.
Scattered rains in the final hour of voting, along with reports of sporadic clashes between BJP and Congress workers, added to the challenges of the polling process. Incidents of tension, such as those at Sugni Devi College premises, were swiftly addressed by the arrival of police personnel.
Despite these hurdles, some remarkable instances of civic participation were witnessed. Approximately 70 visually impaired girls from the Mahesh Blind Welfare Association exercised their franchise at the Green Field School polling station. Additionally, there were reports of voters traveling from as far as America to cast their votes.
The unexpected withdrawal of Congress candidate Akshay Kanti Bam just days before the election left the party scrambling to field an alternative candidate, leading to a heightened NOTA campaign. Many speculate that a significant portion of voters in Indore opted for NOTA in response.
Technical glitches were reported at some polling booths, leading to the replacement of approximately 25 machines out of 2,500 in the district. However, despite these challenges, there was an encouraging turnout of enthusiastic first-time voters, who proudly shared selfies showcasing their inked fingers.
In a bid to ensure maximum participation, Collector Ashish Singh issued directives for action against institutions failing to grant leave for polling, emphasizing that legal measures would be taken against businesses denying paid leave to employees. As a result, enforcement actions were carried out at establishments like Starbucks Cafe and a call center in Vijay Nagar.