Huneza Khan, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: The third phase of ongoing general elections 2024 concluded with polls conducted across 93 seats in 11 states and union territories. People exercised their right to franchise in Madhya Pradesh’s nine Lok Sabha constituencies, including closely-watched Vidisha, Guna and Rajgarh. Voting was also held in the capital city of Bhopal, which witnessed its highest voter turnout in 40 years during the previous elections. Of the seven-phased elections, the third phase marked the completion of polling for 283 seats.
Madhya Pradesh comprises 29 Lok Sabha constituencies. Polling for 12 seats concluded in two phases on April 19 and 26. The remaining eight seats will undergo voting in the fourth phase on May 13. According to the Census 2011, the state has 7.27 crore population with 3.76 crore males and 3.51 crore females. It has 5.6 crore electorates, including 2.88 crore male voters and 2.72 crore female voters. With a turnout of 76.22%, the state saw the highest-ever voter turnout in the 2023 state assembly elections.
According to the Election Commission (EC) of India, the state reported a voter turnout of 65.68%, with notable percentages in various districts such as 55.77% in Morena, 52.91% in Bhind, 58.86% in Gwalior, 69.34% in Guna, 62.06% in Sagar, 70.35% in Vidisha, 60.99% in Bhopal and 72.99% in Rajgarh.
Betul recorded a turnout of 69.68%. The highest turnout of 75.39% was recorded in Sarangpur constituency in Rajgarh district. Lahar constituency in Bhind district registered the lowest (44.00%) turnout.
Bhopal saw a decline in voter turnout by 4.66% compared to the 2019 elections, which had a turnout of 65.65%. In the 2014 elections, the recorded a turnout of 57.79%, while in 2009, it was 44.69%.
So, what does these numbers suggest?
“It indicates a lack of excitement during the elections. The unexpected results of last year’s Assembly elections in three North Indian states (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan) disappointed voters. Concerns about EVMs (electronic voting machines), the integrity of the Election Commission (EC) and free and fair elections seem to have contributed to a decline in voter turnout,” Vijay Kumar, state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation or CPI(ML), told TwoCircles.net.
He said the absence of an election atmosphere is notable in this general election, with both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress failing to generate significant momentum.
The Congress, according to him, particularly appeared dull — with senior leaders displaying low enthusiasm and only contesting due to circumstances.
“This loss of trust in the electoral process stems from the perception that the BJP employs tactics to secure power regardless of people’s mandate. The Congress’s decision to field an unpopular candidate in Bhopal, a traditionally BJP stronghold, further suggests a lack of genuine interest in challenging the status quo,” said Kumar.
The BJP has fielded former Mayor Alok Sharma from Bhopal against Congress’s Arun Shrivastava.
|
Voter turnout in general elections in Bhopal constituency |
Voter turnout in state assembly elections |
||
|
Assembly Constituency |
Voter turnout % (2024) |
Voter turnout % (2019) |
Voter turnout % (2023) |
|
BERASIA |
70.23 |
76.05 |
78.91 |
|
BHOPAL UTTAR |
64.86 |
66.69 |
69.10 |
|
NARELA |
59.02 |
64.95 |
65.48 |
|
BHOPAL DAKSHINA PASHCIM |
52.31 |
59.48 |
59.11 |
|
BHOPAL MADHYA |
54.50 |
59.58 |
60.54 |
|
GOVINDPURA |
60.05 |
59.95 |
63.03 |
|
HUZUR |
64.50 |
67.34 |
70.64 |
|
SEHORE |
75.05 |
76.83 |
|
|
TOTAL |
60.99 |
65.70 |
59.19 |
(Comparative data of Bhopal constituency general elections 2024 and 2019. The data for 2024 is provisional)
*Sehore witnessed a voter turnout of 81.75%.
Anganwadi worker Pritiyusha (name changed) too noted the campaigning did not follow the usual fervor. “The decrease in voter turnout may be attributed to the perception that one party is already poised to emerge victorious,” she commented.
Disengagement of political parties
Social activist Yousuf Khan said the absence of party workers in the field was glaring in Bhopal where the BJP typically secures victory by significant margins. Candidates from all parties seemed under pressure and lacked confidence in anticipating a BJP victory.
“The Congress party was nearly absent from voter engagements and campaigning both on the ground as well as social media. Many Congress workers and leaders defected to the BJP within a short span of two months, disheartening party activists. They could not recover from the damage. It seemed that the grand old party contested elections in Bhopal for mere formality,” said Khan.
Several Congress leaders and party workers, including veteran leader Suresh Pachouri, defected to the BJP a couple of months ago.
The last time when the Congress won the seat was 1984 when KN Pradhan was elected. The BJP has been bagging the seat since 1989.
Veteran Congress leader Digvijay Singh, former chief minister, lost to BJP’s Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. She received 8,66,482 votes, while Singh got 5,01,660 votes.
Lack of interest in voters
Banne Khan, a daily wage laborer, expressed disillusionment with both the Congress and BJP for failing to engage with voters like him. Despite tall promises, he said, neither party addressed the needs of people like him or showed them respect.
With soaring inflation and stagnant wages, he feels deceived by politicians who only appear during elections and vanish afterward.
“We hear rumors of compensation to the Bhopal gas tragedy victims. Where is it? Regardless of which party wins, neither will improve our living conditions or provide necessities like housing and ration. The cost of essential goods remains high. Laborers are hungry and thirsty. Our wages never increase. Now, they are giving a small sum of money to women. Is it enough to run a household? We have lost hope and interest,” he said.
The BJP in Madhya Pradesh in the 2023 state assembly elections adopted a strategic approach. It concentrated on women voters by promising the Ladli Behna Yojna, a welfare scheme aimed at empowering women. Under this scheme, eligible women voters are entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs 1,250.
Consequently, 76.03% of women actively engaged in the electoral process, while the figure was at 74.3% in 2018.
Threat to democracy?
Kumar voiced his concerns about the role of the Opposition in the democratic process. The absence of a star campaigner of the Congress suggests zero confidence in the grand old party. While Rahul Gandhi rallied during the state assembly elections, his absence in the ongoing general elections raises questions about the party’s strategy.
He said although individual candidates might have done their best to woo voters, collective effort of the party is essential in a general election.
“The democratic process will be at risk and the country may slip towards fascism or dictatorship if the Opposition loses faith in elections or believes that victory is unattainable. While Rahul Gandhi may possess strong oratory skills and the Congress remains a major political party, effective ground efforts and organizational structure are indispensable for achieving success,” he concluded.
BJP’s star campaigner Narendra Modi led a road show in Bhopal for his party’s candidate Alok Sharma.
Huneza Khan is a journalist from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.