Mumbai Civic Polls Gain Momentum: Nearly 30% Voting Recorded by Early Afternoon

Mumbai: Polling for the high-profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections picked up pace as the day progressed on Thursday, with Mumbai registering close to 30 per cent voter turnout by early afternoon. According to election officials, around 29.96 per cent of eligible voters had exercised their franchise till 1:30 pm, indicating a gradual rise in participation after a slow start in the morning.

Voting began at 7:30 am across all 227 wards of the city, covering more than 10,200 polling booths. The initial hours witnessed limited enthusiasm, with turnout remaining below 7 per cent till 9:30 am. However, as the morning wore on, participation improved, crossing 17 per cent by late morning and showing a steady upward trend by noon.

Election authorities attributed the increase to office-goers stepping out during breaks, senior citizens voting early, and first-time voters showing keen interest in the civic polls. Long queues were seen at several polling centres in residential pockets, especially in suburban areas, despite the heat.

The elections are being held after a long gap of nearly four years, making the contest politically significant for all major parties. Over 1.03 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 227 corporator seats in India’s richest municipal body.