Mumbai: While most of the metro cities in Maharashtra have seen a healthy increase in voter population between 2014 and 2019, a massive decrease of 4,77,568 lakh in voter population in Mumbai Suburban District (MSD) alone should be a cause of worry for political parties. Out of the 26 assembly constituencies in MSD, barring Bandra West, the rest of the 25 assembly constituencies have recorded a significant decrease in voter population in the last five years.
The overall voter population in MSD, in 2014 which was 77,41,800 lakh voters has come down to 72,64,232 lakh voters in 2019, a sharp decrease of 4,77,568 lakh voters in the last five years.
In sharp contrast for the first time in many years the Mumbai City District (MCD) which hitherto was known for decreasing voter population has shown an increase in voter population. Here, barring Malabar Hill assembly constituency, the rest of the nine assembly constituencies have shown a healthy increase in overall voter population in the last five years.
On the other hand, the voter population in MCD which was 24,57,696 lakh voters in 2014 has now increased to 25,09,846 lakh voters in 2019, an increase of 52,150 voters in the last five years.
Sources in the Election Commission of India (ECI) attribute the decrease in voter population in MSD to the possible result of the poll body’s drive to remove duplicate entries and names of deceased voters, or voters migrating to other parts of the state. We have already seen a sharp rise in voter population in Nalasopara assembly constituency in Palghar district and Panvel assembly constituency in Raigad district which are on the outskirts of Mumbai.
In the 26 assembly constituencies of MSD, the most significant decrease has been noticed in Dahisar assembly constituency where the voter population has decreased by 61,299 to 2,55,297 lakh voters in 2019. The significant decrease in some of the assembly constituencies is as follows – Magathane – decrease by 33,629 to 2,74,102 lakh voters, Chandivali – decrease by 38,356 to 3,79,343 lakh voters, Ghatkopar West – decrease by 31,821 to 2,71,345 lakh voters and Anushakti Nagar – decrease by 37,272 to 2,51,916 lakh voters in 2019.
The only assembly constituency in MSD that has shown an increase in voter population in the last five years is Bandra West. Here the voter population which was 2,86,425 lakh voters in 2014, has now increased to 2,97,716, a rise of 11,291 voters.
In the 10 assembly constituencies of MCD, the most significant increase in voter population of 18,783 voters has been recorded in Bhyculla assembly constituency. Here, the voter population which was 2,27,140 lakh, has increased to 2,45,923 lakh in 2019, a rise of 18,783 voters. The other significant increase in voter population in some assembly constituencies is as follows – Colaba – rise by 12,658 to 2,66,587 lakh voters and Dharavi (SC) – an rise of 11,178 to 2,50,251 lakh voters. However, the up-market Malabar Hill assembly constituency has seen a decrease in voter population by 15,196 voters. Here the voter population which was 2,77,596 lakh voters in 2014 has come down to 2,62,400 lakh voters in 2019.
The 17 assembly constituencies in Thane district are a contrast in themselves. Here some assembly constituencies have recorded substantial increase in the voter population. While, there are some assembly constituencies which have witnessed a sharp decrease in voter population. Overall, the voter population in these 17 constituencies which was 59,92,412 in 2014, has increased by 4,01,477 lakh to 63,93,889 lakh voters in the last five years.
Some of the assembly constituencies which have seen a substantial increase in voter population are as follows – Ovala Majiwada – an rise of 79,172 voters to 4,49,717 lakh voters in 2019, Kalyan Rural – rise by 75,662 to 4,24,976 lakh voters in 2019, Meera Bhayandar – rise by 72,222 to 4,37,178 lakh voters in 2019, Airoli – rise by 53,353 to 4,61,489 lakh voters, Kalyan West – rise by 55,979 to 4,52,924 lakh voters and Murbad – rise by 41,905 to 3,97,940 lakh voters in 2019.
In contrast the most significant decrease of 93,354 voters has been noticed in Ulhasnagar assembly constituency. Here the voter population which was 3,26,678 in 2014 has come down drastically to 2,33,324 lakh voters in 2019. In Ambernath (SC), the voter population which was 3,44,153 lakh in 2014 has come down to 3,15,581 lakh voters, a decrease by 28,572 voters. Whereas, in Bhiwandi East assembly the voter population which was 2,74,371 lakh has come down to 2,69,935 in 2019, a decrease by 4,436 voters.
