All 10 Assembly segments in the island city recorded a marked decline in the number of voters,with the erstwhile mill hub Byculla (24%) witnessing the highest drop followed by Wadala (21%) and Mumbadevi (18%). Even in Dharavi,where the state government is planning an on site redevelopment,the voter numbers dropped by over 18,000. In contrast,suburbs have witnessed a marked increase in certain Assembly segments. The western suburb accounts for nine out of the 15 constituencies to have recorded a growth in voter base. In Versova,the number of voters has increased from 2.29 lakh (2009) to 2.72 lakh (2013),roughly by 19%. Other pockets to have witnessed growth in this part of the city include Dahisar (11%),Magathane (9%),Goregaon (7%),Dindoshi (5%),Andheri (West) (4%),Kandivali and Charkop (both 1%),and Malad (0.33%). Meanwhile,in the eastern suburbs,the voting population in Chandivali rose by 11%,from 3.44 lakh (2009) to 3.83 lakh (2013). The Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar and Anukshakti Nagar segments,where families affected by various public infrastructure projects were relocated,witnessed a 13% and 10% growth,respectively. Voter numbers also rose in Vikhroli,Chembur and Kurla (South Central). Political parties,however,were sceptical about the drop in the number of voters. Mumbai Congress chief Janardan Chandurkar said the CDs containing deleted voter names have been circulated to all Congress MLAs. We plan to verify all voter deletions through our own door-to-door survey. We have formed special teams for this purpose. If names of genuine voters have been deleted,we will help them fill up forms for re-inclusion, said Chandurkar. City BJP president Ashish Shelar alleged manipulation while updating voter rolls. If you go in to details of booth-wise deletions,you will find maximum deletions in booths where BJP was leading in previous elections, he said. Registration as a voter a call away For the first time in Mumbai,a call centre will help citizens register as voters or make changes to their existing voter identity cards. The initiative has been taken by the Collector of Mumbai island city. The call centre,which became operational Monday,will remain so for a month during which citizens can register their names in the voter list. The number (022-22621950) will have a 24-hour functional Integrated Voice Recording (IVR) and the call centre will be open during office hours. Maya Patole,deputy collector (election branch),said this was the first time that IVR was being used for voter registration. There are 30 channels at present. The idea behind the call centre is to facilitate citizens in the process of getting registered using technology. People tend to get discouraged from getting registered because they perceive the process to be a tedious one, said Patole.
