52.94% turnout recorded in Mumbai civic polls; down from 55.53% in 2017

Police personnel standing guard as people wait in a queue to cast votes during the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) elections, at a polling station on January 15. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

• Mumbai civic polls saw 52.94 percent turnout, down from 55.53 percent in 2017
• Ward 114 in Bhandup had the highest turnout at 64.53%, Colaba the lowest at 20.88%
• In parts of south Mumbai, there was hardly any crowd or queue at several stations

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A voter turnout of 52.94 per cent was recorded in the Mumbai civic polls, down from 55.53 per cent in the last elections in 2017, officials said on Friday.

According to data released by the civic body, ward number 114 in suburban Bhandup recorded the highest turnout at 64.53 per cent, while ward number 227 in south Mumbai’s Colaba area reported the lowest turnout at 20.88 per cent.

Of the over 1.03 crore eligible voters in the metropolis, 52.94 per cent exercised their franchise on Thursday between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm, they said. More than 15 hours after the polling, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared the final voter turnout.

Officials said counting of votes will start at 10 am at 25 designated counting centres across Mumbai.

The turnout on Thursday showed a steady rise, with 6.98 per cent voting till 9.30 am, 17.73 per cent till 11.30 am, 29.96 per cent till 1.30 pm and 41.08 per cent till 3.30 pm, officials said.

In the morning, short queues were seen at most polling stations. However, many booths witnessed noticeable lines by midday, with longer waiting times, while moderate crowds were reported in the afternoon and evening. Several prominent figures cast their ballots during the day.

In parts of south Mumbai, among the city’s poshest areas, there was hardly any crowd or queue at several polling stations.

Though a public holiday was declared, several private companies had given employees a few hours’ window to cast their votes.

Political party functionaries said there was a steady flow of voters in slum-dominated areas since morning, while in some localities, turnout improved in the afternoon, when women voters generally stepped out after completing household chores The election to the 227-member BMC, which governs India’s richest municipal corporation with a budget of Rs 74,400 crore, is being held after a long gap, making it a key political contest. Nearly 1,700 candidates are in the fray this time.

The last BMC polls were held in 2017 with a voter turnout of 55.53 per cent, and the term of the elected body ended in March 2022.