With 88%, Hoskote tops in voter turnout

BENGALURU: Of 112

assembly segments

under 14 constituencies that went to the polls on April 18,

Hoskote in Chikkaballapura seat

recorded the highest — 88% — turnout.


The assembly segment is located an hour’s drive from Bengaluru where assembly segments recorded a poor turnout. During the 2018 assembly polls too, the turnout here was 88.9% and in the 2013 assembly polls, it was a massive 90.9%.

What makes

Hoskote

voters come out in large numbers? Former chairman of Backward Classes Commission CS Dwarkanath, BSP candidate from Chikkaballapura seat in this election, says there’s an interesting back story.

“Hoskote seat had been witnessing a mega fight between two big families. Recently, it has been between MTB Nagaraj (Congress) and veteran BN Bache Gowda (BJP). Both can mobilise voters and resort to high-decibel campaigns making people politically aware. This could be a major reason for the high turnout,” he added. Dwarakanath said the entry of BSP and CPM into the battle this time could be another reason Hoskote is followed by Melkote (Mandya), recording 86%. Political experts say Melkote voters have been turning out in large numbers in previous polls too and this time it could be because of the big battle between Nikhil Kumaraswamy (JDS) and BJP-backed independent Sumalatha.