Pune's Upscale Neighborhoods Record Low Voter Turnout in Civic Polls
Voter turnout remained relatively low till the afternoon on Thursday during the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. This trend was particularly noticeable in affluent neighborhoods across the city.
Affluent areas like Bund Garden–Boat Club Road, Vimannagar, and Kalyaninagar reported sluggish participation. This pattern mirrored previous civic polls in the city.
Citywide Turnout and Ward-Wise Disparities
PMC data till 3:30 pm on Thursday revealed a citywide turnout of 37%. However, wide variations existed across different wards.
Several polling panels covering upscale and mixed-income areas trailed behind the city's average at that point. Participation had improved since the forenoon but remained below expectations.
Voting continued till late evening across Pune.
Specific Ward Turnout Figures
The Pune Station–Jay Jawannagar ward, which includes the Bund Garden–Boat Club Road area, recorded a turnout of 31.5% till 3:30 pm.
The Koregaon Park–Ghorpadi–Mundhwa ward reported 33.9% turnout. Both figures lagged behind several other parts of the city at that time.
Turnout in some eastern pockets performed slightly better, though still on the lower side.
- The Vimannagar–Lohegaon ward recorded 39.3% turnout.
- The Kalyaninagar–Wadgaon Sheri ward stood at 38.5% by 3:30 pm.
Both these wards were marginally above the city average of 37% at that point.
The Aundh–Bopodi ward also reported sparse activity till afternoon. It recorded a voter turnout of just 29.5% by 3:30 pm.
The Mohammadwadi-Undri ward had a voter turnout of 37.9% till 3:30 pm.
Residents and Activists Express Concern
Residents and civic activists from all these localities flagged poor participation at individual booths.
Gautam Idnani administers a 200-member citizens' civic issues group covering the Boat Club Road to Koregaon Park stretch. He shared his disheartening experience at a polling station in the Bund Garden area.
"My polling booth is at Anjuman Urdu High School in Bund Garden," Idnani said. "Only 43 of nearly 900 voters in the centre had voted when I went there around 10:30 am. It was very disappointing."
He noted that turnout in these neighborhoods has historically remained weak.
"Polling at centres like Wadia College and Anjuman school rarely goes beyond 20%–25%," Idnani added. "It is pathetic. We keep urging residents to vote, regardless of political preferences, but civic elections just don't draw them out."
Kalyaninagar Reports Limited Participation
Abhijeet Patel serves as a committee member of the Kalyani Nagar Residents Association. He told TOI that voter participation at the area's main polling centre was limited.
"Turnout at the main centre in Kalyaninagar was around 20% till afternoon," Patel said. "This is at Erin N Nagarvala School, where the majority of voting happens."
He pointed to a familiar hierarchy in voter engagement.
"Turnout is usually higher during Lok Sabha elections because national issues resonate more," Patel explained. "It drops during assembly polls and is even lower during local body elections."
Upscale Housing Societies See Lower Than Expected Turnout
Despite convenient locations, turnout at upscale housing societies in Hadapsar remained lower than expected. This includes areas like Magarpatta and Amanora.
Smita Pandey is a voter at Magarpatta. She shared her experience.
"My husband and I went early morning to cast our vote when there was no rush," Pandey said. "However, the turnout was low even till early afternoon — although the polling booth is conveniently close to the residences."
The overall picture from Thursday's elections shows a clear pattern of lower engagement in Pune's more affluent neighborhoods during civic polls.
