Mumbai saw a voter turnout of 52.27 percent on Monday, a drop from the 55.38 percent recorded in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The constituency of Mumbai South, known for its affluent residents, reported the lowest turnout at 47.7 percent. The day was marked by sultry weather and complaints about delays in the polling process.

Mumbai North registered 55.21 percent voting, while Mumbai North Central saw 51.42 percent turnout. Mumbai North East recorded 53.75 percent, Mumbai North West had 53.67 percent, and Mumbai South Central witnessed 51.88 percent voter participation. Despite the enthusiasm, delays at polling stations caused frustration among voters.

Many voters, including senior citizens, faced long waits. A senior citizen from Goregaon East mentioned waiting for an hour and a half to cast his vote. Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Sena (UBT), alleged deliberate delays by the Election Commission to slow down the process.

At several polling booths, voters had to endure long lines. Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha member from Sena (UBT), highlighted the lack of sufficient voting machines. She criticized the Election Commission for not providing enough facilities to handle the expected voter turnout.

Varsha Gaikwad, Congress candidate from Mumbai North Central, also received complaints about inadequate facilities at polling booths. She noted that the long queues and heat were testing the patience of voters, with some returning home without voting.

The high humidity and temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius added to the voters’ discomfort. Notable political contests included Union Minister Piyush Goyal against Bhushan Patil of Congress in Mumbai North, and Sanjay Dina Patil of Shiv Sena (UBT) against Mihir Kotecha of BJP in Mumbai North East.

In Mumbai North Central, Advocate Ujjwal Nikam of BJP faced Varsha Gaikwad of Congress. Amol Kirtikar of Shiv Sena (UBT) contested against Ravindra Waikar of Shiv Sena in Mumbai North West. Anil Desai of Shiv Sena (UBT) competed against Rahul Shewale of Shiv Sena in Mumbai South Central, and Arvind Sawant of Sena (UBT) was up against Yamini Jadhav of Shiv Sena in Mumbai South.

Prominent figures, including industrialists Anil Ambani, Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, and film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, and Shah Rukh Khan, were among those who cast their votes in Mumbai. Despite the celebrity turnout, the overall voting percentage in the 13 constituencies of Maharashtra stood at 54.22 percent.

The lower turnout has raised concerns about voter engagement and the efficiency of the polling process. The Election Commission faced criticism for not adequately preparing for the high voter turnout, leading to delays and dissatisfaction among voters.

Efforts are now focused on addressing the issues that led to the lower turnout and ensuring smoother polling processes in future elections. The response from political leaders and voters highlights the need for improved infrastructure and planning to handle large voter turnouts effectively.

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