Mumbai: Showing more enthusiasm among voters this time, the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls observed 55 voting percentage on Tuesday, a rise of 11 per cent compared to 2012. In a race to claim success in the polls for their respective parties, Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the increased voting would benefit them. Sena leaders said Mumbaikars have voted in their favour considering works done by them while BJP has claimed that the higher vote percentage is a sign of anti-incumbency against Sena, which would go in its favour. At the same, 26 zilla parishads and panchayat samitis saw 69.43 voting per cent.
It was a positive sign for Mumbai that more number of voters exercised their right on Tuesday than usual. In the 2012 BMC polls, 44.75 per cent voting was recorded. The city has always seen low voter turnout compared to other parts of Maharashra. However, as per sources in the political parties, there were 10 to 11 lakh voters missing from the voter list this time. This has, in fact, eroded 10 per cent of the voters though the overall voters turnout is more than the past polls.
Overwhelmed with the response by the voters, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked all citizens. “Thank you Mumbai for the record voting percentage & people from all Municipal Corporations & ZP for participating in festival of democracy!” he wrote on Twitter. The CM held more than 11 rallies exclusively in Mumbai for the polls. He alone managed the entire campaign and was the face of the Mumbai BJP’s election campaign.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also thanked all voters after exercising his right Tuesday morning. “I thank all the voters. I am confident that we will get the blessing of the people, looking at the way voting has been conducted,” he said.
Immediately claiming credit for the increased voting, BJP spokesperson Shweta Shalini said it was expected. “There is so much anti-establishment feelings among the people that they have come out in a huge number to vote for BJP. We will gain 100 per cent from the increased voting percentage, as the people have cast votes for BJP,” Ms Shalini said. This election was touted to be an election of prestige for BJP, as for the first time in 25 years, it is contesting the polls for Mumbai’s civic body independently. However, Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai refused to agree that the increased votes were a sign of anti-incumbency. “The increased votes will benefit us because Shiv Sena has done works for the city. The Mumbaikars have really responded well to our campaign and voted for us,” Mr Desai said. For Sena, the election was a question of both pride and a challenge — to rule BMC for another five years when their ally in the state and the Centre is stronger.
In the 2012 zilla parishad elections, NCP stood as the number one party with 518 seats, Congress won 438, Shiv Sena was third with 241 and BJP remained fourth with 187 seats.
