Bangalore:
Urban India might have voted abysmally low. But what about those voters who didn't get to vote, despite being all set to?
Angry voters in Bangalore's Yaarab Nagar were outraged at not finding their names on the voter's list. This elections it looked as if those who could vote didn't turn up, many of those who wanted to vote found their names missing.
"Why is there no completely sacrosanct list that is maintained? Those names must never be tampered with. I think the only thing that should exclude you from the list should be death," said Prasad Bidapa, an image consultant.
Many in urban Bangalore are angry at what they say, is a right denied.
"Socio-economic weaker sections have suffered the brunt of these irregularities, whether one person or thousand person; their rights have been violated," said Krishna Byregowda, Congress Candidate, Bangalore South.
The State Election Commission has laid the blame at the voters door.
"Just because you voted last time does not mean you are necessarily there. If the BLO finds your door locked during 2.3,5 visits, there is a possibility of your name being deleted. If all that we have said is ignored, and someone comes to you and says 'I have an EPIC card and my name is missing', that's not fair," said M N Vidyashankar, Chief Electoral Officer.
If all these 'missing' people had been able to cast their vote, could the turnout have been different? Whoever be the cause, whatever be the reason, the 2009 elections have gone by with lesser numbers voting.