Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Urban apathy continues to haunt Mumbai, Thane and Pune

Mumbai: Urban apathy was witnessed in the financial capital of Mumbai once again despite the requests by the Election Commission of India to the people of the 'Urbs Prima in Indis' in large numbers.

The average voting in the 36 districts of Maharashtra is 65.11 per cent, according to latest reports.

Urban apathy was witnessed as the twin districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban recorded 52.07 per cent and 55.77 per cent respectively.

In the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Thane district recorded 56.05 percent.

However, Palghar with 65.96 per cent and Raigad 65.97 of turnout was above the average.

The Pune district, the cultural capital of the state, recorded 60.70 per cent.

“Despite a range of measures by the Commission for ease of voting, and motivational campaigns, urban voters in the state continued their dismal record of low participation in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Thane,” the ECI said, expressing concern over the low turnout despite making necessary arrangements.

Special emphasis was placed on combating urban apathy owing to the trend of low voter turnout witnessed in urban centres in Maharashtra in past state and parliamentary elections.

More than 1,185 polling stations were set up in high rise buildings and societies and as per directions from Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, all basic facilities were provided at polling stations including benches for voters in queue, volunteers and wheelchairs.

Various awareness and mass mobilisation campaigns were organized ahead of the polls involving film celebrities, ECI's state and national icons to nudge the urban and young voters.

Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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