Gujarati Voters Drive High Turnout in Ghatkopar and Mulund Amid Charged Campaign
Gujarati-dominated pockets in Ghatkopar and Mulund recorded a strong voter turnout on polling day. Many voters and officials linked this mobilization to the community's clear preference for the BJP. They also pointed to a determined effort to vote during a highly charged campaign period.
Heavy Polling in Ghatkopar Areas
A polling officer in Garodia Nagar observed heavy polling activity from the morning hours. By the afternoon, the turnout had already touched an impressive 50%. Nitesh Nathwani, a resident of Ghatkopar, noted that many families who typically travel to Gujarat for the Uttarayan festival chose to stay back this time. "Many dropped their travel plans specifically for the elections," he explained.
BJP's Vinayak Kamath claimed the party was receiving support from all communities. "We are getting a good response from every section of society. Our performance will be extremely good," he stated confidently. Some voters in Ghatkopar framed their voting choice as a direct response to what they described as the targeting of Gujaratis during the campaign. Bhavesh Shah, a local resident, expressed his feelings clearly. "We are upset with Gujaratis being targeted. Our vote is always for the BJP," he said.
Mobilization Beyond Gujarati Pockets
In Ghatkopar, voter mobilization was not limited to Gujarati areas alone. In Marathi-dominated Bhatwadi, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena conducted heavy voter outreach throughout the day. Local workers focused intensely on boosting voter turnout in what leaders described as a tight contest. The party's closest rival in this area was the MNS.
Similarly, in Amrut Nagar, BJP workers were seen actively mobilizing voters. Ground-level assessments suggested a close fight against Shiv Sena (UBT) in key polling booths.
Visible Split in Mulund's Voter Mobilization
Meanwhile, Mulund presented a visible split in voter mobilization across its two halves. Mulund West reported a strong family turnout in Gujarati pockets. In contrast, Mulund East and parts of Bhandup saw Marathi voters stepping out in large numbers. This resulted in long queues at many polling stations.
In Mulund West's Sarvodaya Nagar and nearby areas, senior citizens from Gujarati families turned up in significant numbers throughout the day. They were often accompanied by their relatives.
Mulund East and Bhandup witnessed heavy afternoon footfall. Voters reported packed queues and longer waiting times. One voter from Bhandup shared his experience. "There is no place to stand in the queue and it may take long—but I am happy with such a large number of Marathi voters," he said.
Official Turnout Figures and Late Afternoon Activity
By 1:30 PM, Mumbai's average voter turnout stood at around 30%. However, Ward 114 in Bhandup had already reached 41%, according to official figures.
Queues continued till late afternoon in Bhandup West. Leaders from Sena (UBT), MNS, and the BJP–Sena alliance were seen reaching out to Marathi voters actively. UBT candidate Archana Chavre, representing Ward 105, linked the surge in Mulund East to the renewed Thackeray brand. She specifically mentioned the joint appearance of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, along with Raj's rally speech, as key factors driving this increased participation.
