Low turnout is bane of India’s elections: Qureshi

Raising concern over low turnout of voters during assembly and parliamentary elections, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi on Saturday said that low turnout has been the bane of India’s elections as it raises questions on elected representatives’ legitimacy.

“We considered voter education an imperative in this regard as we had seen enormous public apathy, especially among the educated urban middle class, which not only abstained from voting but used to brag about this. Our major is challenge was to make not voting an act of embarrassment,” Qureshi said, while speaking at an event to mark Kalam’s birthday.