Mumbaikars exercise franchise in a big way

While voter turnout was pathetic till 3pm on Thursday — and as low as 20 per cent in some constituencies — it improved dramatically by evening. By the end of the day, the average turnout had touched 53 per cent, almost 12 per cent higher than in the 2009 general elections.

Of the six constituencies, two — Mumbai north-central and south-central — had recorded 55 per cent turnout each.

The figure was slightly better in the other 13 seats spread across other constituencies in the Mumbai region, Konkan, Nashik region, Khandesh and Marathawada. In Raigad, Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalna, Dindori Nashik and Palghar, turnout was around 60 per cent.

Mumbai traditionally has had low voter turnouts in elections in recent years, with the percentage hovering between 40 and 45. In constituencies such as Mumbai south — where just about 15 per cent had voted by Thursday noon — turnouts have been notoriously low in recent years. However, by 6pm, turnout had shot up to 54 per cent in this prestigious constituency.

Expectedly, the glamour brigade was out in full force in constituencies such as Mumbai south, north-central and northwest, with industrialists, celebrities and actors (including ageing, reigning and wannabe) flaunting their inked fingers, posing for cameras, or simply taking ‘selfies’ that were quickly posted on social media.

While many Bollywood stars are in Florida for the 15th edition of the International Indian Film Academy awards, quite a few turned out at polling booths in areas including Bandra-Pali Hill, Juhu and Andheri. They included Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Vidya Balan, Priety Zinta, Sonam Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, John Abraham, Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Milind Soman, Dino Morea, Dia Mirza, Varun Dhawan, Rahul Bose, Neha Dhupia, and Shilpa Shetty.

The voting percentage was much higher in booths near slum colonies as people came out early to exercise their franchise. Thursday had been declared as a holiday and most offices and factories were closed for the day.

The Congress had won five of the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai in the 2009 general elections, while its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had won one. In the ongoing elections, the two parties are facing a formidable challenge from the BJP-Shiv Sena, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) expected to win at least four seats. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has this time not put up candidates against the BJP in Mumbai north-central (Poonam Mahajan), Mumbai north (Gopal Shetty) and northeast (Kirit Somaiya), helping consolidate the NDA votes.

nithin@khaleejtimes.com

• India