While the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) efficient arrangements ensured largely smooth and hassle-free voting in North Mumbai, some expressed concerns about the shuffling of polling booth locations. Many found their usual booths had been relocated, leading to confusion and inconvenience, especially in the Malad and Charkop Assembly constituencies. While this did not disrupt the overall voting process, it caused difficulties for some, especially senior citizens and those unfamiliar with the changes. Abdul Majeed, 55, a resident of Julius Wadi in Malwani, expressed frustration, saying that his family of four used to cast their vote at Mount Mary School. However, this time, the polling centres for three family members were changed to Ramzan Ali School, while his son’s centre was shifted to INS Hamla, Marve. “We had raised a complaint about this to the election office in Kandivli and were assured the issue would be corrected before the elections, but nothing was done,” Majeed said. “On the one hand, the ECI encourages people to vote through voice calls and messages, but on the other, it overlooks the challenges voters face. It should make voting easier, not create difficulties by arbitrarily changing booths and polling centres. Such inconveniences discourage even those who are eager to vote.” Anwar Shaikh said, “I used to vote at Malwani No. 7, while my wife's polling station was Malwani No. 1. I cast my vote and then accompanied her to the spot where she usually goes to vote, only to find that her station had been shifted to another location. Since I knew the address and had a bike, I was able take her there. However, many people were left confused due to the sudden change in polling stations.” He added, “There is no need to change polling stations unnecessarily. If this was done to accommodate more booths due to an increase in voters, I request the ECI not relocate old voters.” ‘Voted for stability’ First-time voter Saily Bhosle, 18, a Magathane resident, said, “I was confused about whom to vote for, but then I listened to people of my generation who emphasised the importance of a stable government that works for the welfare of the people.” Emphrain Sayyed, 18, “Those who work for the progress of the country, regional development and education are the ones every citizen, including myself, should vote for—and that's exactly what I did today. I will continue to vote for governments that prioritise the country's welfare.”
21 November,2024 03:13 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanA day after the Maharashtra elections 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will win 160 to 165 seats out of the total 288 and provide a stable government in the state, reported PTI. The Rajya Sabha member also said the MVA leaders will be meeting on Thursday, ahead of the counting of votes which will take place on Saturday. After the polling concluded on Wednesday, most exit polls predicted victory for the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra while some gave an edge to the MVA coalition in the western state, reported PTI. "We and our allies, including smaller parties like the PWP, Samajwadi Party, the Left parties are crossing the majority mark. We are winning 160-165 seats. There will be a stable government in the state. I can say it very confidently," Raut told reporters. The MVA comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). The ruling Mahayuti consists of the BJP, CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and NCP of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. While the Mahayuti alliance is making a determined bid to retain power, the opposition MVA coalition is hoping to continue its good showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the state. An estimated 65 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Maharashtra elections 2024 on Wednesday, as per the provisional figures, compared to 61.74 per cent in the 2019 state polls. Exit polls do not reflect people's sentiment, MVA will win with comfortable majority: Chennithala Maharashtra AICC in-charge Ramesh Chennithala rejected on Wednesday the exit polls on the possible outcome of the Maharashtra elections 2024, asserting that Maha Vikas Aghadi is poised to clinch a comfortable majority. "Exit polls do not reflect the sentiments of people," Chennithala said after several pollsters gave a clear edge to the BJP-led alliances in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls, while some put the MVA coalition ahead in the western state, reported PTI. Most of the exit polls that predicted a landslide victory for the NDA after Lok Sabha elections and those predicted Congress' win in Haryana didn't turn out to be true, he said. "We will win Maharashtra polls with a comfortable majority. We don't believe in exit polls. Look at the Parliamentary elections and Haryana elections. The exit polls do not reflect people's sentiments," Chennithala told PTI. The ground reality is MVA scoring the majority and forming a government in Maharashtra, he said. MVA comprises Shiv Sena, headed by Uddhav Thackeray, Congress, and NCP (SP). (With inputs from PTI)
21 November,2024 01:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPolice seized 10,080 kg of silver from a truck in Maharashtra's Dhule district on the day of polling for the Maharashtra elections 2024, an official said, reported news agency PTI. Polling for 288 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra was held between 7 am and 6 pm on Wednesday. The seizure was made from the truck headed towards Nagpur under Thalner police station limits at around 6 am on Wednesday during a routine check-up, Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik, Dattatray Karale said, reported PTI. Poll expenditure observers and the Income Tax department have been informed by the police. Prima facie, the silver is owned by a bank, the official said, adding further action will be taken after verification, reported PTI. Since October 15, state and central agencies have seized assets of Rs 706.98 crore as part of enforcement activities. These include illegal cash, liquor, narcotics and precious metals, poll authorities said on Wednesday. 40 booked for vandalising polling booths, EVMs during assembly poll voting in Maharashtra's Beed Police have registered a case against around 40 persons after they allegedly vandalised three polling booths at Ghatnandur in Maharashtra's Beed district and damaged some EVMs when voting for the Maharashtra elections 2024 was underway a day ago, officials said, reported PTI. Some police personnel were injured in the attack by the accused, who carried wooden sticks and sharp-edged weapons with them, they said. The case was registered at Ambajogai Rural police station, around 220 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, for the incidents that occurred at Ghatnandur in Parli assembly constituency, an official said, reported PTI. Polling for the 288-member state legislative assembly was held on Wednesday. "A video of Madhav Jadhav, a local leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), being beaten up at Kanherwadi village in the constituency had earlier gone viral. Following that, 50 to 60 persons came with wooden sticks and weapons, and vandalised the polling booths set up in Someshwar School, a Zilla Parishad (ZP) school and another ZP school for girls around 1.30 pm on Wednesday," the official said, reported PTI. They also attacked some police personnel guarding the booths, in which they suffered injuries, he said. Some EVMs at these polling stations were vandalised and the administration quickly got these machines replaced so that voting continues unhindered. Since the votes cast on the replaced machines were safe, they will be counted on the day of results, the collector said on Wednesday, reported PTI. Based on a complaint, a case was registered against the accused on the charges of attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, use of criminal force against a public servant under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other sections of the Representation of the People Act, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
21 November,2024 01:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFourteen persons were injured after a tempo hit a private bus on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra's Raigad district in the early hours of Thursday, a police official said, reported PTI. The incident took place at around 3 am when the bus carrying 11 persons was on way to Mumbai from Sangola, reported PTI. The brakes of a tempo transporting chickens failed following which the vehicle hit the bus from behind, the official said. The bus veered off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, overturned and fell into a 20-foot-deep ditch on the roadside, he said, reported PTI. Eleven persons onboard the bus, including the driver, and three tempo occupants were injured, the official said, reported PTI. The bus passengers were later rescued. They were treated for minor injuries at a civic-run hospital in Khopoli and later allowed to go. The three tempo occupants received serious injuries. They were undergoing treatment at the MGM Hospital in Kalamboli near Panvel, the official said, reported PTI. The Khopoli police were conducting a probe into the incident, the official added. One dead, seven injured as ST bus hits truck on Mumbai-Pune Expressway In October, a police official said that one passenger died and at least seven others were injured after a state-run bus they were travelling in collided with a truck on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, reported PTI. The incident took place near Lonavala in Pune district around 3 am, he said. "The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus from Pathardi depot (in Ahmednagar) was on its way to Mumbai when it collided with a truck from behind. Both the vehicles were going in the same direction," he said, reported PTI. A male passenger, identified as Vishwanath Bhagwan Waghmare, died in the incident, while seven to eight passengers suffered injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, the official said, adding that traffic on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway route was disrupted for some time, but the authorities soon cleared it. (With inputs from PTI)
21 November,2024 01:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, speaking to ANI on Wednesday, expressed confidence in winning the Maharashtra Assembly elections. He stated that public anger against the BJP-led administration and its alliance was evident. "In Maharashtra, people are angry with the BJP and its alliance. This anger has been reflected in their votes. The vote percentage has increased," he said. Addressing allegations of involvement in a Bitcoin scam, Patole remarked that the BJP's actions had not only failed to intimidate but had also generated sympathy for his party. "The people are laughing at this move by the BJP. We have gained public sympathy. The people of Maharashtra know my character. Regarding the audio shared by BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, people believe the BJP is acting out of fear of defeat. We filed an FIR last night," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Bharartiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sudhanshu Trivedi held a press conference accusing Congress leader Nana Patole and NCP MP Supriya Sule of conspiring to use illegal Bitcoin transactions to influence the election results in favour of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Trivedi also presented an alleged audio clip linked to these transactions, claiming it involved "big names." "An accused dealer contacts a former police officer, previously jailed, stating his intention to conduct Bitcoin transactions in cash. The officer refuses, but the dealer tries to convince him, claiming that a few 'big people' are involved, allegedly naming Nana Patole and Supriya Sule. When the officer expresses doubt, the dealer sends him audio clips," Trivedi said. He continued, "According to the dealer, the audio clips mention a need for money for elections. We now have five questions for the Congress Party: First, are you involved in Bitcoin transactions? Second, are you in contact with individuals named Gaurav Gupta or Mehta? Third, are the chats in question those of your leaders? Fourth, is the audio in the clips authentic? Fifth, who are the 'big people' mentioned?" Additionally, retired IPS officer Ravindranath Patil from Pune accused Supriya Sule and Nana Patole of involvement in a cryptocurrency fraud case dating back to 2018. He alleged that funds from this fraud were used to finance election campaigns. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 November,2024 12:51 PM IST | Mumbai | ANICongress leader and candidate from Latur city constituency Amit Deshmukh said on Wednesday that voters in Latur district had supported the party and Maha VIkas Agadhi government will be formed in the state. "In Latur, I went to several areas and spoke to voters. I could see them standing by Congress with a lot of excitement. I feel that in Latur Congress will win all the seats," Deshmukh told ANI. Latur district consists of 6 assembly seats, including one reserved seat. "Voting percentage has been good...this is a vote for change and in Maharashtra, Maha Vikas Aghadi's govt will be formed," he said. Deshmukh was in the electoral contest against Bharatiya Janata Party's Archana Chakurkar. The voting for assembly polls concluded earlier today at 6 om, with a fiery battle between the two major alliances, Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA). Maharashtra polled 58.22 per cent votes till 5 pm on Wednesday. Mahayuti includes BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). The majority mark in Maharashtra assembly is 145 in 288-member assembly. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 November,2024 12:48 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIWhile a few polling stations in Kurla experienced crowding and residents of redeveloping buildings complained about not receiving election slips, the voting process was otherwise smooth. Activists from the Kurla Dairy area also gathered to cast their votes in support of greenery. “This time, the polling booths were spread out, with some even set up on the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar playground. However, the classrooms and narrow corridors at the SKP Walawalkar School were still jam-packed, with long queues moving very slowly. The wait time was lengthy,” said resident Farida Alam. Abhishek Agarwal; Disha Agarwal; Vivek Gharat and Jitendra Gupta Another resident, Janak Gala, added, “The SKP School setup was the same as every year, with no big changes despite the booths being spread out. There is a need for further distribution of polling booths. There was crowding, no doubt, but it was less compared to previous years, and the conditions were much better.” Residents of Kurla, who have launched a citizen movement called Lok Chalwal, urged people to vote to preserve greenery and protect nature. “It is important to save the green lung of Kurla,” said group coordinator Kiran Pailwan. The group even distributed T-shirts to the first 50 first-time voters aged 18-22, encouraging them to post selfies within the group. The Nehru Nagar police in Kurla summoned a member of Lok Chalwal for questioning. Nilesh Kamble, a member of Lok Chalwal, said, “We were taking group photos near Kadam Nath Marg in Nehru Nagar, Kurla. Someone informed the police that we were campaigning for a political party. The police recorded our written statement, and the entire process took three hours.” No polling booth details for redeveloping buildings? The social media made the EC number 1950 viral to get polling details by sending SMS on this number by simply typing Voter ID number on voter card. Surprisingly, the SMS that is received immediately fails to give the polling booth number and address. Our building at Kurla west along LBS Marg has been pulled down for redevelopment. So no polling booth details were received by voters. This led to problems, said Jitendra Gupta (pic) Where is Hindi? “I am sure everyone has voted today. However, have you noticed one thing? After voting, the VVPAT machine displays the candidate's name on the paper in Marathi, English, and surprisingly in Urdu. Has the Election Commission forgotten that our national language is Hindi? Therefore, a written complaint needs to be filed with the Election Commission officials at the booth, said Nehru Nagar Kurla resident Vivek Gharat. (pic) Election slips came in late First time voter Disha Lalit Agrawal (pic) said she felt proud to give her first vote, but said election slips need to come in time. “I thank the Maharashtra election commission for giving me a chance to select the right candidate but a humble request to the election commission department to provide the election slip on time because I faced some problem with getting election slip,” she said. Online voting should be tried Another first time voter Abhishek Agarwal (pic) said he was very excited to vote, but getting in the queue and reaching the spot can be discouraging. “Technology is so advanced that we should also explore the method of safe and secure online voting. The Gen Next numbers and participation in the election process will increase.” 2,97,000Approx. No. of voters in Kurla
21 November,2024 11:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA fire official said that a massive fire broke out on Thursday morning in a warehouse where carpets were kept in Maharashtra's Palghar district, reported news agency PTI. So far, no person was reported to be injured, he said, adding that goods stored in the godown were destroyed in the fire. The blaze erupted at around 7 am in the warehouse of a company making PVC carpets at Boisar in Mahagaon area, Boisar MIDC fire station officer Vaibhav Tandel told PTI while sharing at update on the Palghar fire. Following an alert, four fire engines from Boisar and nearby places were rushed to the spot. The blaze was brought under control at around 9.30 am, he said, adding cooling operations were currently underway, reported PTI. A probe was on to ascertain the cause of the fire, he said while sharing at update on the Palghar fire. Man injured in fire in Mumbai building A 60-year-old man suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out in a seven-storey building in Mumbai's Chembur area, officials said on November 14, reported PTI. The blaze erupted at around 10.45 pm on November 13 and it was confined to a room of building number six in the MHADA Colony at Vashi Naka in Chembur, they said, reported PTI. After receiving a call, the fire brigade rushed to the spot. The blaze was doused after efforts for about half-an-hour, a civic official said, reported PTI. A person, identified as Nafir Sayyad, received burn injuries on his hands, face and neck. He was admitted to the Sion Hospital and his condition was stable, the official said, reported PTI. The fire was confined to a gas cylinder, clothes and other household articles in the room. Its cause was not yet known, another civic official said. (With inputs from PTI)
21 November,2024 11:17 AM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentOn Thursday, Mumbaikars experienced cooler weather and hazy skies. However, the latest Mumbai weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated a slight drop in temperatures. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the Santacruz observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 34.3 degrees Celcius. The Met Department data showed that the Colaba observatory recorded a temperature of 33.3 degrees. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates by the IMD, the maximum temperature will likely be around 34 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature will likely be around 20 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity is 40 per cent. The sun rose at 06:50 AM and will set at 5:59 PM. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather update forecasts a "clear sky" for the city and its suburbs over the next 24 hours. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'moderate' category On November 21, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality remained in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 125 at 10:05 AM. Many areas across Mumbai—per the SAMEER app dashboard—showed 'moderate' AQI. Deonar recorded 'poor' air quality with an AQI of 204. Borivali and Colaba's recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 170 and 128, respectively. Chembur, Deonar and Mulund recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 119, 164 and 119. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'moderate' category with an AQI of 126, while Thane registered a 'moderate' AQI of 146. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'. Meanwhile, as air pollution levels continue to rise in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revised guidelines issued last year for construction sites. The civic body will also form squads at the ward level to visit construction sites and act if guidelines are flouted. Sensor-based air pollution monitoring systems will be installed at all construction project work sites and immediate action to be taken if pollution levels are detected above the limit.
21 November,2024 10:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDespite a slew of measures and voter awareness campaigns by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to tackle urban apathy, efforts to motivate Mumbaikars to step out and vote appear to have yielded. The island city and suburbs recorded a lacklustre voter turnout of 53.18 per cent by the end of election day, reflecting the persistent challenge of engaging urban voters. The Mumbai Suburbs saw a slight uptick in voter turnout during the 2024 state Assembly elections, with participation reaching 55.10 per cent until 10.30 pm, marginally higher than 51.28 per cent in 2019. Mumbai City recorded 51.27 per cent, a minor improvement over 48.22 per cent in the previous Assembly elections. The footfall at polling booths across the city and suburbs is still considered dismal. Efforts fall short This year, the ECI had launched extensive voter awareness campaigns and implemented structural changes to boost turnout, including appointing municipal commissioners as district election officers for the first time and ensuring better infrastructure at polling booths. However, these efforts seemed to have done little to inspire a significant increase in voter participation. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, while announcing poll dates earlier this year, had highlighted “urban apathy” as a key concern, particularly in metro cities like Mumbai. The polling day, scheduled mid-week, was aimed at ensuring better participation, but the response remained tepid. A handful of voters are seen at a polling centre in Damu Nagar, Kandivli East on Wednesday. Pic/Nimesh Dave A historical struggle Mumbai has historically struggled with low voter turnout. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the city recorded a turnout of 55.4 per cent, which dropped to 52.4 per cent in 2024. Even in Assembly elections, the trend is consistent. Such numbers highlight the long-standing issue of voter disengagement in one of India’s most vibrant cities. In the 2019 Assembly elections, Mumbai recorded a voter turnout of 50.67 per cent, slightly lower than the 51.42 per cent seen in the 2014 polls. Before 2014, however, Mumbai consistently struggled to reach even 50 per cent turnout in Assembly elections. The 2009 state polls recorded a turnout of 46.1 per cent, while the 2004 elections saw a modest increase to 48.4 per cent. In the 1999 Assembly polls, the city registered a voter turnout of just 44.9 per cent, reflecting historically low levels of electoral participation in the region. Awareness campaigns This year, workplaces were directed to grant employees paid leave to ensure they had the opportunity to cast their votes. Polling stations were upgraded with essential amenities, including ramps for persons with disabilities, designated waiting areas, and drinking water facilities, to create a more voter-friendly environment. Additionally, officials engaged in community outreach by collaborating with local groups and Advanced Locality Managements (ALMs) to connect with residents in elite housing societies and motivate them to participate in the democratic process. Despite these efforts, turnout has barely budged. Former Congress corporator and MVA candidate Asif Zakaria pointed to a pattern: “Turnout tends to be slightly better during Lok Sabha elections, dips in Assembly polls, and worsens further in municipal elections. This time, even with efforts from the ECI and candidates, urban apathy remains a stubborn issue.” Mumbai has about 1,02,29,708 eligible voters, comprising 25,43,610 in the city and 76,86,098 in the suburban district. Additionally, each polling station in Mumbai has been equipped with assured minimum facilities for voters—drinking water, designated seating arrangements for persons in queues, waiting rooms, fans, adequate lights, clean toilets and bins as well as wheelchairs and ramps for persons with disabilities (PwD), and more. Mumbai has 36 Assembly seats, 10 in the island city and 26 in the suburban district. A total of 10,117 voting booths have been set up—2,538 in the island city and 7,579 in the suburban district. Experts argue that while institutional measures are essential, voter participation ultimately hinges on individual responsibility. As Zakaria aptly put it: “Many choose not to vote and then crib and complain. The solution starts with taking that step out of the door.” ‘Voters had tough time’ While many have praised the ECI for its efforts to boost voter turnout, Aslam Shaikh, a three-time MLA from Malad West and an MVA candidate, criticised the commission for poor management. “The measures taken by the ECI are commendable, but voters face numerous issues during elections, such as missing names, errors in names and gender, and distant polling centres,” he stated. “Even on Wednesday, I received many such complaints. While I was able to assist citizens in areas where I was present, I couldn't be everywhere, meaning many people likely missed out on voting.” 50.67 per centMumbai’s turnout in 2019 Assembly elections 53.18 per centMumbai’s turnout in 2024 Assembly elections (till press time) 60.50 per centBorivli Constituency with highest city turnout 44.49 per centColaba Constituency with lowest city turnout
21 November,2024 10:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghQuick and efficient: While there were long queues and numerous issues during the Parliamentary elections held in May earlier this year, the voting process this time was faster and smoother, with no major complaints from most citizens. This time, polling booths were more widely distributed compared to the previous election. The aim was to utilise open spaces and playgrounds where adequate arrangements and amenities could be easily provided, such as waiting halls with shade, baby crèche rooms, sanitation facilities for women, mobile toilets, medical rooms, water supply, high-quality wheelchairs, accessible ramps, and sufficient seating. Election Commission also arranged transport for disabled and senior citizens where required. In an innovative and inclusive move, Divyang individuals and citizens aged 85 and above benefited from “low-floor deck AC buses” arranged free of cost across Mumbai. “The smooth and efficient voting process speaks volumes about the meticulous planning and execution by the authorities. From streamlined identification procedures to clear guidance at every step, the experience was truly impressive. The security arrangements were commendable, with personnel maintaining order while being approachable and courteous,” said Prerit Udasi, a Bandra Carter Road resident whose polling booth was at Rizvi College. “This time, there were no hassles, and I was out of the booth in 10 minutes. Last time, the queues were endless, and we had to stand for nearly an hour. The arrangements were also much better,” said Avneesh Rajan, a resident of Mulund East. Widely distributed polling booths in Byculla. Pics/Rajendra B. Aklekar “I completed my voting in less than a minute. It was a very easy process,” added Chirag Shah, a resident of Thane. Senior citizen Mansoor Umer Darvesh from Jogeshwari shared, “I visited several polling centres in the suburbs today, and there was hardly any rush at any time.” During the Parliamentary elections, the polls were held in five phases and there were numerous complaints of chaos and many had returned due to long queues and the slow process. On that day, Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. An angry Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray had alleged that voting had been delayed at several places in Mumbai and that the Election Commission of India was doing this deliberately at the behest of the Narendra Modi government. This time, in a period of less than four months, the Election Commission assessed the situation and planned it out well resulting in the fast and quick process on Wednesday. BMC Chief and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani acknowledged the positive feedback, saying, “To boost turnout, we took measures to make polling stations more accessible and voter-friendly. After assessing complaints about long queues during the Parliamentary elections, we increased the number of polling booths from 8,900 to 10,117 and rationalised their locations. We also provided essential amenities like water, toilets, waiting rooms, chairs, and ramps for disabled voters.” Gagrani highlighted that Mumbai’s voter count now stands at 1.02 crore, with around one lakh people, including 60,000 BMC employees and 25,696 police officers, on election duty on November 20. He added that over 3 lakh voters—53,372 in Mumbai city and 2,91,087 in the suburbs—were added to the rolls, while 43,020 were deleted since the Parliamentary elections in May this year. “The Chief Election Commissioner spent significant time in Maharashtra and Mumbai, planning and assessing the process. His role was crucial to the entire election’s success. Three key factors contributed to the smooth conduct of this election. First, the involvement of senior-most officials in a city like Mumbai made a difference. The BMC commissioner, who served as the district election officer for Mumbai, deserves credit for providing all the necessary amenities. Second, the role of both collectors was pivotal. They put in considerable effort to rationalise and streamline the process. It was ensured that the number of voters at each booth did not exceed 1,300. Additional booths were created wherever necessary. Third, we collaborated with housing societies to set up booths, which significantly helped. Additionally, a conscious effort was made to establish permanent booths instead of temporary ones to ensure adequate amenities. The number of polling stations in an area was reduced from 35 to 20, with the rest adjusted to nearby locations. This measure helped prevent crowding,” Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam said. 10,117No. of polling booths in city 1.02crMumbai’s voter count People wait in line to vote in Malad West on Wednesday. Pic/Nimesh Dave
21 November,2024 10:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarADVERTISEMENT
