Low Voter Turnout Recorded in Mumbai Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Amid Bollywood Celebrity Presence

Low voter turnout was observed in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 held in Mumbai as citizens cast their ballots amidst the presence of numerous Bollywood celebrities advocating for electoral participation. Despite the encouragement from actors like Anupam Kher, Shilpa Shetty, Anil Kapoor, and Hritik Roshan, the response remained restrained across the six constituencies in Mumbai, with a voter share below 40% by 3 pm.

In Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, voters exhibited a lackluster response, with the overall voter turnout being the lowest in the state at 38.77% as per the data released by the Election Commission. In Mumbai, the participation figure in key constituencies is notably below the 40% mark, indicating a tepid electoral engagement.

Interestingly, the Dindori Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra recorded the highest voter turnout of 45.95% by 3 pm. However, the trend of subdued polling continued in constituencies like Bhiwandi, Dhule, Kalyan, Nashik, and Thane, all registering a voting percentage of less than 40% till the afternoon.

Across the 49 parliamentary seats that went to polls in the fifth phase, the consolidated voter percentage was noted at 47.53% by 3 pm. Different states displayed varying levels of participation, with West Bengal leading at 62.72%, closely followed by Ladakh at 61.26%.

Reports emerged of minor EVM malfunctioning in polling booths in Odisha and West Bengal, causing some disruptions to the voting process. In Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, the voter percentage stood between 34.62% to 48.51% till the afternoon.

In West Bengal, instances of violence between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party affected the polling process in several parliamentary constituencies. Clashes were reported in Barrackpore, Bongaon, and Arambagh, underscoring the charged electoral atmosphere in the state.