Voters apathy: Karnataka mulls survey to find out reasons

"It is a matter of great concern that the voter turnout remained low in Bangalore in all elections and yesterday's election to the City Corporation was no exception," Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa told reporters here.

Despite the government implementing several development works, the voting per cent has not crossed 50 per cent so far, he said pointing to the little over 45 per cent of the 67 lakh electorate turning up to vote yesterday.

Yeddyurappa said it was only the middle class segment and slum dwellers who come out and vote and added the faulty electoral rolls had also contributed to the electorate's disinterest in coming to polling booths.

Gram Panchayat polls across the state due next month would be as scheduled and the government would soon write to the State Election Commission (SEC) to set a date for it, he said. He rejected opposition's charge that the government planned to put off the election.
Yeddyurappa said the term of gram panchayats would end by first week of next month and till elections are held, administrators would be appointed.