This is an archive article published on May 1, 2024
1,036 transgender voters register in Mumbai this year, a 73% rise over 2019
In 2019, 600 transgender voters had registered themselves in Mumbai, out of which 494 were from the suburbs, which was the highest in Maharashtra, and 106 from the city.
Mumbai has recorded a 73 per cent rise in registration of transgender or ‘third gender’ voters for the Lok Sabha polls this year. According to Election Commission of India (ECI) data, 1,036 transgender voters have registered in Mumbai this year, out of which 812 are from suburban Mumbai while 224 are from Mumbai city.
In 2019, 600 transgender voters had registered themselves in Mumbai, out of which 494 were from the suburbs, which was the highest in Maharashtra, and 106 from the city.
According to ECI data for this year, 411 transgender voters have registered from the suburban Mumbai North constituency. Malad West, which falls under this constituency, saw the registration of 339 transgender voters, which is the highest in Mumbai.
From Mumbai North East constituency, 236 transgender voters have registered. The highest registration in this constituency took place from Ghatkopar East with 120 transgenders voters.
Meanwhile, in the island city, 77 transgender voters have registered from Sion Koliwada, followed by 65 in Mahim.
Mumbai Suburban Collector Rajendra Kshirsagar told The Indian Express on Wednesday that the actual number of transgender voters is much more.
“Not everyone who belong to the third gender register themselves under this category. Due to social stigmas attached, many of them continue to register themselves under the known categories of male/female. Therefore, I would say that the actual number of voters belonging to third gender would be higher than the numbers we have,” Kshirsagar said.
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He also said that owing to the government’s collective effort with self-help community groups and NGOs, the number of registered voters from the third gender has seen a rise. “This year we had arranged multiple programmes including setting up camps in their localities, resulting in more voters’ registration,” Kshirsagar said.
Manisha Goel, who runs a self-help group that worked with members from the transgender community, said, “Many people from the community are becoming aware about their rights, especially with the growth of social media. They also realise how important it is for them to vote, making them keen to register themselves for voting as well as in terms of fighting elections. In 2019, we had seen several candidates from the third gender contesting the polls as well,” Goel said.
The ECI data also shows that Mumbai this year has registered 53.24 lakh male voters and 45.68 lakh female voters. The country’s financial capital goes to polls in the third phase on May 20.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
