Maharashtra Assembly polls: Number of registered voters in Mumbai up by 53k from LS polls

Mumbai municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who is also the district election officer, said that the administration was working to curb the issue of urban apathy and ensure there was maximum voter turnout on the election day.

“The issue of urban apathy continues to be a serious concern. We have carried out intense campaigns to encourage people to come out and vote. We have also increased the total number of polling stations in high-rise buildings and approximately 9% of the total polling booths have been set up inside compounds of residential buildings and highrises,” Gagrani said on Monday.

“Various private stakeholders have also participated in the awareness drive. Several restaurant chains, retailers and multiplexes are offering discounts to consumers once they display their inked fingers. As a result, we are hopeful that these initiatives are going to play a role, by drawing more people to vote,” he added.

During the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, crowding and queues were recorded in multiple voting booths for prolonged periods. Keeping these situations in mind, officials maintained that BMC and ECI have arranged sitting areas, mobile toilets and water dispensers to cater to voters.

“We will be providing door-step pick up and drop facilities for specially-abled candidates and senior citizens,” Gagrani said. To ensure law and order situations are properly monitored, nearly 25,000 officers will be deployed on ground on election day.

76 poll stations identified as critical booths

The ECI has identified 76 polling stations as “critical”. Officials maintained that a polling station is identified as critical if the voter turnout is less than 10% than the average voter population from that booth. Of the 76 locations identified, 13 are in Mumbai city and 63 are in the suburban belt.

ECI data showed that out of the total critical booths in the island city, nine of them are in Colaba. In the suburban belt, nine critical booths are in Bandra (East), seven are identified each in Chandivali, and Dahisar, six have been identified in Borivali and Vile Parle, while five such constituencies have been identified at Magathane, Charkop and Mankhurd (Shivaji Nagar).

“Labelling a polling station or booth as ‘critical’ doesn’t mean doesn’t mean that there is a law and order issue. Any polling station which records 10% lesser voter turnout than the average voter size or if we see that more than 90% of votes are being directed to one single candidate from any booth, then it is recorded as ‘critical booth’,” said an official.

BMC seizes Rs 340 cr illegal freebies

Civic authorities have seized illegal freebies worth Rs 346.4 crore, which were being distributed by election candidates among people allegedly for gaining votes.
According to data shared by the BMC, jewellery and precious metals worth Rs 244.97 crore were seized by the authorities, followed by drugs worth Rs 48 crore, Rs 46 crore in cash, Rs 1.22 crore of alcohol and Rs 5 crore worth of other freebies.

“Distribution of any freebie is in violation of the code of conduct and these items were confiscated within the past one month after the Maharashtra Elections were announced by the ECI,” said an official.