Pune Prepares for Lok Sabha Elections with Rigorous Candidate Scrutiny and Efforts to Boost Voter Turnout, 42 for Pune, 46 for Maval and 35 for Shirur constituency 

Pune is witnessing a flurry of activity as preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are in full swing, with a significant number of nominations filed across three key constituencies. The city of Pune itself has received 42 nominations, the Maval constituency 46, and the Shirur seat 35. A meticulous process is ongoing to vet the affidavits submitted by candidates, ensuring a thorough review before the final list is confirmed.

To address the lukewarm voter engagement seen in past elections, the Pune district administration is focusing on increasing voter turnout in 13 of the 21 assembly segments under its purview. These efforts come particularly after the 2019 elections where the Pune constituency saw a voter turnout of just 49.84%. Specific attention is being paid to areas like Shivajinagar, Kothrud, Wadgaonsheri, Pune Cantonment, Parvati, and Kasba Peth, where turnout previously ranged from 46% to 55%.

The district election office has taken proactive steps by issuing directives to enhance participation in constituencies with historically low turnout. Collaborations with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune Metro aim to mobilize voters effectively. Additionally, the election office has undertaken a significant cleanup of electoral rolls, removing 55,770 entries of deceased voters over the age of 80.

This election season also marks the introduction of ‘home voting’ for senior citizens over 85 years of age and persons with disabilities (PWDs). However, uptake has been modest, with only 290 applications for home voting received from seniors in the Baramati parliamentary constituency, despite there being 37,093 eligible voters in this age group.

As Pune gears up for these critical elections, the focus remains on ensuring a fair and inclusive voting process, with heightened efforts to encourage a strong democratic turnout.