The turnout of women voters increased in 2019 general elections in the State compared with 2014. Women voters outnumbered men in more than 100 of the 175 Assembly constituencies in the State. There is an increase of 1.36% in women voter turnout this election compared to 2014, which is likely to make an impact on the poll outcome.
And, in terms of absolute numbers, women voters, who exercised their franchised, exceeded men by 13.75 lakh in this election, which rekindled hopes of political parties such as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that are heavily banking on the women voters. The YSR Congress Party is also confident that women voters cast their votes in its favour.
Women electors turned up in good numbers in most of the districts in the State. However, there are a couple of districts, which registered marginal fall.
In Srikakulam, women electors, who cast their votes was 77.31% in 2019 and 77.19% in 2014. In Krishna, the turnout stood at 80.55% this election compared to 79.46% in the last elections. In West Godavari, there is a marginal fall in the turnout. The percentage was 81.81% in 2014, and it slipped to 80.55% this year.
In Chittoor district, home district of TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu, the increase was 2.4% compared to last elections. In comparison, an increase of 0.89% was registered in Kadapa district, home place of YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. But, there is a twist in the women turnout if Chittoor and Kadapa trend were any indication.
In Kadapa district, the total turnout was 76.83% in 2014, while the women voters, who cast their votes was 77.27%. Similarly, the women voter turnout stood at 78.16% compared to total turnout of 77.21% this election. Likewise, the total turnout was 81.03% in Chittoor district, while the women turnout was 80.95% in 2019. Compared to it, the women turnout was 78.54% compared to total turnout of 78.74% in 2014.
Patient wait
It indicates that the men and third gender voters have turned up in high numbers compared to women in Chittoor district.
The women electors stood in long queues to exercise their franchise till midnight. They braved scorching sun and waited patiently for the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to work. The TDP leaders were overwhelmed with the response. They feel that the electors have responded to the appeal of Mr. Naidu to return to the polling stations and exercise their franchise. Telugu Desam Party leaders such as J. C. Diwakar Reddy said they could strike a chord with women voters with the implementation of the DWACRA loan waiver and Pasupu Kumkuma, a capital infusion scheme. Mr. Jagan, however, on the day of elections said that the big turnout of women voters was an expression of resentment against the State government and voting with vengeance.