51.76% Voter Turnout in Mira Bhayandar Amid Peaceful Maharashtra Assembly Elections

The Mira Bhayandar assembly constituency (145) saw a steady voter turnout of 51.76% until 6 pm on election day, as voters exercised their democratic right amid tight security and heavy police deployment. The elections were largely peaceful, despite a few isolated incidents of minor skirmishes between supporters of independent candidate Geeta Jain and her BJP rival Narendra Mehta.

The constituency, which comprises 503 polling stations across the twin cities of Mira Bhayandar, had an electoral strength of 5,10,862 voters, including 2,43,072 female voters, 2,67,785 male voters, and five transgender voters. The turnout showed a noticeable increase compared to the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, when it stood at 48.41% with an electorate of 4,39,283.

Voting in the morning hours was slow, with the first round between 7 and 9 am seeing only a moderate turnout. However, voter participation picked up significantly from the afternoon, particularly after 3 pm, when the polling stations saw a surge in activity.

The Mira Bhayandar assembly segment is witnessing a fierce triangular contest reminiscent of the 2019 elections. Independent candidate Geeta Jain, who made a stunning victory against BJP’s sitting legislator Narendra Mehta by a margin of 15,526 votes in 2019, is once again in the fray. Jain, who was denied a BJP ticket in the previous election, is looking to repeat her success in this tight race. Mehta, aiming to reclaim his seat, is facing strong competition from both Jain and Muzaffar Hussain of Congress, who had secured 55,939 votes in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Ovala-Majiwada (146) assembly constituency, which is adjacent to Mira Bhayandar, saw a slightly higher voter turnout of 52.25% till 6 pm. The contest there is less heated, with Pratap Sarnaik of the Shiv Sena seeking re-election for the third consecutive term after his victory in 2019.

The election in Mira Bhayandar has been marked by a heavy police presence from the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police to ensure smooth voting and maintain peace. The polling process was smooth, except for the aforementioned minor altercations between rival supporters, which were swiftly controlled by the authorities.

As the clock ticks towards the vote counting scheduled for Saturday, all eyes are now on the results, with the Mira Bhayandar segment's outcome expected to play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the region in the upcoming term.