Bangalore, May 7, 2013:
Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), a citizen’s initiative aimed at building a better Bangalore, has commended citizens of Bangalore for the impressive voter turnout witnessed during the assembly elections for which polling was held on May five.
Bangalore saw a voter turnout of 58.27% – an 11.05% increase over the previous assembly elections held in 2008. More than 10 lakh additional voters, of which a large number were newly registered voters, participated in this election.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, President B.PAC said, “We are extremely pleased at the impressive increase of 11.05% in voter turnout as compared to the last elections. We believe this reflects the fact that Bangaloreans are more conscious of their responsibilities and more willing than ever to take charge of their destiny. I would like to thank the thousands of B.PAC volunteers, our partners such as Smart Vote, Namma Bengaluru Foundation, the media and various other stakeholders, who have worked tirelessly over many months to highlight issues and motivate voters. This result is a tribute to their efforts. Interestingly, Bangalore is one among three districts where female voters are in the majority (67.58%)”.
T V Mohandas Pai, Vice President B.PAC, said that the (election) day had been hugely disappointing for many registered voters unable to exercise their franchise on account of inconsistencies in electoral lists. “These barriers that prevent people from participating in a more inclusive and engaged democratic process must be removed. I appeal to the authorities to urgently address this issue”.
B.PAC along with its partners, Smart Vote, Daksh and Namma Bengaluru Foundation has been at the forefront of efforts aimed at promoting greater citizen involvement in the democratic process. Over the last couple of months, B.PAC and its partners undertook an aggressive voter registration drive in more than 20 corporate campuses, colleges as well as various RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations) to maximise citizen participation in the elections.
More than 600,000 new registrations were received in a matter of a few weeks. This was followed by public outreach activities such as the ‘March for Bangalore,’ an intensive media campaign, ‘flash mobs’ and street plays organized at various locations, which were aimed at persuading citizens to come out and vote during these elections.
Making reference to B.PAC’s longer-term objective and its Agenda for Bangalore (AfB), Pai added, “The next phase of our work is arguably the more challenging one – that of improving governance in the city. And, we look forward to working in close partnership with the citizens, our supporters and the political leadership to remake our city.”
