Mumbai: Bhandup West has set a new benchmark in Mumbai’s election history by recording the highest voter turnout among the city’s 36 assembly constituencies, with 61.1% of eligible voters casting their ballots. This figure surpasses the previous record of 56.2% in 2019 and 55.4% in 2014, marking a significant increase in voter participation.
Borivali and Mulund constituencies followed closely, both achieving a voter turnout of 60.5%. The high turnout in Bhandup West has been attributed to the intense three-way political battle between the three factions of the Shiv Sena: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), and Raj Thackeray's MNS. All three parties focused heavily on mobilizing their core voters, especially in this largely Marathi-speaking constituency.
The presence of newly developed high-rise buildings near Nahur and Mulund, areas traditionally considered BJP strongholds, also contributed to the higher voter engagement. The contest in Bhandup West featured incumbent MLA Ramesh Korgaonkar of Shiv Sena (UBT) against Ashok Patil of Shiv Sena and Shirish Sawant of MNS.
Polling stations in areas like Nardas Nagar, Hanuman Tekdi, and Tembipada saw notable voter turnout, particularly from the constituency’s slum areas. Local resident Sandesh Kamble highlighted the significant electoral participation of Bhandup's slum population, which has consistently shown robust voter engagement in support of their leaders. Over 70% of the constituency is made up of Marathi-speaking voters, a large portion of whom are loyal to the Shiv Sena parties.
Women voters also played a crucial role in the high turnout, with many citing the benefits of the Ladki Bahin scheme as a motivating factor for their participation. Supporters of the Shiv Sena (UBT) indicated that women voters expected to receive Rs 3,000 in their accounts if Uddhav Thackeray wins, further driving the surge in female voter turnout.
At the polling stations, many slum residents voiced their hopes for better infrastructure, including improvements to roads, drainage systems, drinking water pipelines, and healthcare facilities. Some expressed optimism regarding the promises of SRA redevelopment, with many voters eager to see improvements in their living conditions.
As the votes are counted and results are expected on November 23, Bhandup West’s record voter turnout stands as a testament to the active participation of its residents in shaping their political future.
