Ward housing Colaba records lowest turnout at 15.73 %
While one had a long queue, mostly of domestic and other workers, the other one with voters from highrises and other housing societies of Cuffe Parade, saw people trickling in and out.
In many parts of South Mumbai, the Election Commission had set up polling stations in housing societies-over 700 across the city-to make voting easier and increase participation.
Vanita Kamble, a 35-year-old cook working in Cuffe Parade highrises in South Mumbai, finished her work early to make it just in time to vote on Thursday evening.
Around 5pm, Kamble was at the end of a long queue at the Sea Lord building voting centre of ward 226 in the South Mumbai locality.
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“We are citizens of the country, voting is our duty,” Kamble said, adding that she was voting for issues including better public schools for her children.
The centre had two polling booths which gave a starkly different picture.
While one had a long queue, mostly of domestic and other workers, the other one with voters from highrises and other housing societies of Cuffe Parade, saw people trickling in and out.
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“We have always voted, no matter if it is the Lok Sabha, Assembly or BMC polls. We cannot say that because we face less inconveniences, we will not care. There are issues which affect us too, like bad roads, bad air quality,” said an 80-year-old Cuffe Parade resident, who voted at a polling station at another highrise.
Ward 227, comprising Colaba, had the lowest voter participation at 15.73 per cent till 3.30pm, much lower than the city’s overall average of 41.08 per cent.
South Mumbai has been recording low voter participation over years.
In the 2017 BMC elections, ward 227 had recorded the lowest turnout at 28.25 per cent, marginally higher than 23.47 per cent in 2012.
The Lok Sabha polls saw the voter turnout at 47.70 per cent. Colaba clocked the lowest polling percentage at 33.44 per cent in the Assembly polls.
In many parts of South Mumbai, the Election Commission had set up polling stations in housing societies-over 700 across the city-to make voting easier and increase participation.
The A ward is the smallest of the city, with only three corporator constituencies – 225, 226 and 227, housing high net worth individuals and prominent institutions.
Ward 225 which includes areas like Marine Drive, Fort, saw voting participation of 35.25 per cent, ward 226 which includes areas of Cuffe Parade was at 38.55 per cent.
In many parts of South Mumbai, the Election Commission had set up polling stations in housing societies-over 700 across the city-to make voting easier and increase participation.
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