Mumbai
Updated : Apr 24, 2014, 03:46 PM IST
With less than two hours to go, Mumbai has failed to make an electoral history. Unlike violence-prone Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir, the voters of the maximum city preferred to stay at home to enjoy an extra holiday and refused to be part of the great Indian democratic exercise.
In phase six of Lok Sabha Elections, 117 constituencies from 12 states are polling today. Brisk voting has been witnessed in many states like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh etc. However, Maharashtra and particularly Mumbai showcased a low voter-turnout.
Till 11 am, the turnout in Mumbai North constituency was 17.9 percent, it was 16.7 percent in Mumbai North-West constituency. Mumbai North East constituency witnessed 15.2percent turnout while just 15.5 percent of the electorate cast their votes in Mumbai North Central consituency.
Even after the efforts of various groups, celebrities, in creating awareness among the Mumbaikars to come out and vote, the figures remain dismally low. Numerous strategies by media groups like selfies, social media campaigns, and discounts by restaurants for voters havent helped. Mumbai continues to show a laidback attitude when it comes to voting.
Mumbai's average performance at 1 pm was at a shocking 25 percent whereas states like Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Puducherry have seen respective turnouts of about 40 percent, 37 percent and 51 percent.
The turnout at 1 pm according to constituencies are- Mumbai North: 29.14 percent, Mumbai North-West: 25.7 percent, Mumbai North-East: 26.5 percent, Mumbai North Central: 24%.
Even in 2009, the voter turnout touched rock-bottom in Mumbai with just 41.4%. It was the worst in the history of the city. However, in 2014, most of the cities across India showcased high ballot figures. Now with just a few hours left, let's hope Mumbai reaches a decent mark in its turnout.