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Voter turnout was low in the elections to 10 municipal corporations across Maharashtra on Thursday. On an average, 42 per cent of votes were cast in the State. In Mumbai city, the number was 35 per cent.
The State Election Commissioner, Ms Neela Satyanarayan, said that polling across the State was peaceful, barring two minor incidents. The polling process was smooth but in a few polling stations in Nagpur, there were technical glitches in the electronic voting machines, which were later resolved.
In Mumbai city, between 7.30 and 9.30 am only 7 per cent of the voters cast their votes, while in neighbouring Thane it was slightly higher at 11.67 per cent.
Voter apathy was evident in Mumbai as only 15.45 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise till 11.30 am. By 1.30 pm, the number inched up to 25 per cent. Voting was on similar lines in other cities as well.
Even though all government offices, educational institutions and private offices had declared a holiday, there were hardly any queues seen at polling stations.
Ms Satyanarayan said that low voter turnout at 8,500 stations across the State was a cause for concern. She, however, added, “This time voters can't complain that their names were not present in the voters' list. The process of revising the list was carried out in October 2011 and the people were given adequate opportunity to enrol.”
Ms Satyanarayan added that in a number of booths, negative voting had taken place. Those voters who did not want to vote, were issued a prescribed form, which had to filled in and returned to the polling officer. “Such choice will push for electoral reform in the country,” she said.
The HDFC Chairman, Mr Deepak Parekh, told a news agency that he disapproved of the people's lukewarm response to the civic elections. Voting is a fundamental right and people must exercise their franchise during elections.
“Educated people don't come out and vote. The quality of life is going down in Mumbai and some desperate measures are needed,” he said.
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