The Election Commission’s (EC) determined efforts to boost voter turnout in Maharashtra’s urban areas met with limited success, as the state recorded a turnout of just 58.25% by 5 pm on Wednesday, falling short of the 61.1% seen in 2019. Despite scheduling polling mid-week and implementing measures to make voting more accessible, cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Thane showed continued apathy toward the democratic exercise.
Mumbai’s Persistent Apathy
Mumbai City district, which comprises 10 Assembly seats, recorded a dismal average voter turnout of 49.07% by 5 pm, barely an improvement over the 48.22% turnout in 2019. Colaba constituency exemplified the trend, with a turnout of 41.64%, marginally better than the 40.1% recorded five years ago.
The suburban districts of Mumbai fared only slightly better. In the 26 Assembly seats of Mumbai Suburban district, the voter turnout was 51.76%, a negligible increase from 51.28% in 2019. Thane district’s 18 seats saw a turnout of 49.76%, while Pune district, with 21 Assembly seats, recorded 54.09%, highlighting the lack of enthusiasm in urban Maharashtra.
EC’s Disappointment
In a statement, the EC expressed disappointment over the low voter turnout in urban areas, despite extensive efforts to encourage participation. “Despite a range of measures 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 statement read.
The EC had placed special emphasis on combating urban apathy, setting up polling stations in high-rise buildings, offering facilities such as benches, wheelchairs, and volunteers to assist voters, and launching awareness campaigns featuring film celebrities and national icons. Yet, these efforts failed to translate into significant improvements.
Historical Urban Apathy
Urban Maharashtra’s low turnout has been a persistent issue. In the 2019 Assembly elections, 62 of the state’s 64 urban seats recorded turnout below the state average. Similarly, during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, six parliamentary constituencies in Maharashtra, including Kalyan, Pune, Thane, and Mumbai’s North Central, South, and South Central seats, ranked among the country’s worst performers for voter turnout.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had consciously scheduled Maharashtra’s polling day mid-week, hoping this would encourage greater participation. However, the results suggest that urban voters remained largely disengaged.
Jharkhand Contrasts with Maharashtra
In contrast to Maharashtra, the second phase of Jharkhand’s Assembly elections saw a higher turnout, with 68% of voters participating in 38 constituencies, surpassing the 67.04% recorded in 2019. Phase I, held on November 13, also recorded a turnout higher than that of the previous election.
Broader Polling Highlights
In addition to Maharashtra, voting was held for the Nanded Lok Sabha seat and 15 Assembly bypolls across the country, including nine in Uttar Pradesh. The EC took disciplinary action in several cases of voter suppression, suspending five police personnel for flouting guidelines and removing others from duty.
These actions followed complaints, particularly from the Samajwadi Party (SP), alleging that voters from specific communities were being prevented from casting their votes in districts like Kanpur, Muzaffarnagar, and Moradabad. SP President Akhilesh Yadav called for the suspension of officers involved, citing video evidence of voter card and Aadhaar checks being used to intimidate electors.
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Polling also occurred for Assembly bypolls in Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand, with no major disruptions reported.
Reflection on Urban Voter Engagement
The continued lack of voter engagement in Maharashtra’s urban centres raises important questions about the effectiveness of existing strategies to combat apathy. Analysts point to factors such as a lack of compelling candidates, dissatisfaction with governance, and the challenges of weekday voting as possible reasons for low participation.
As the EC prepares for future elections, the need for innovative approaches to connect with urban voters has become more pressing than ever. While measures like accessibility improvements and awareness campaigns are steps in the right direction, they must be complemented by initiatives that address the deeper socio-political disengagement in urban India.
Looking Ahead
With the final turnout figures yet to be released, the EC will likely scrutinise the reasons behind Maharashtra’s poor showing, especially when compared to Jharkhand’s success in boosting voter participation. Ensuring vibrant participation in the democratic process will require not just logistical enhancements but also efforts to restore urban voters’ trust in the system and inspire them to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
