GHMC elections: IT hub, adjoining areas score low in voting nos.

HYDERABAD: Fears of a low voter turnout in the IT corridor and surrounding areas of Greater Hyderabad have come true. Municipal divisions like Madhapur, Miyapur, Hafeezpet, Kondapur, Gachibowli, Chandanagar and Serilingampally have registered lowest polling in the just-concluded GHMC elections.
According to the final polling percentages released by the State Election Commission (SEC), Chandanagar circle recorded the second lowest voter turnout of 38.17%.Malakpet took the honours of recording the lowest polling at 33%.
Madhapur, Miyapur, Hafeezpet and Chandanagar come under Chandanagar municipal circle. While polling in Madhapur and Hafeezpet was 38%, Chandanagar had 39% turnout and in Miyapur only 36% voters exercised their franchise. These areas are dotted with IT offices and many software employees reside in these areas.
The other IT belt, Serilingampally, also witnessed poor response from the voters. Both Kondapur and Serilingamlaly municipal divisions had 41% each polling and 43% in Gachibowli.
“Many people had gone to their native villages and towns thanks to three days of holidays and those who stayed at home did not come out to vote. Urban lethargy in elections is not new. This election was no different insofar as voter apathy is concerned,” Ravindranath Buggarapu, who works in an MNC and a resident of Chandanagar, said. He said many of the employees were not even aware of the candidates in fray in their own divisions.
Municipal circles abutting the IT corridor such as Kukatpally fared better when compared to Serilingampally and Chandanagar by registering 44% polling. Many software employees reside in municipal divisions like Hydernagar and Kukatpally which recorded 37% and 48% polling respectively. Ramachandrapuram-Patancheru circle, which has a lot of employees residing there, topped with 65% turnout during the voting.
GHMC officials said all the divisions in the IT belt such as Kondapur, Serilingampally, Gachibowli and Chandanagar recorded more than 40% in 2016 civic elections except Madhapur and Miyapur which recorded less than 40%. Over 47% people voted in Gachibowli division. “The pandemic and work from home have impacted the polling,” an additional commissioner of GHMC said.