Voting day in Mumbai brought a mixed bag of experiences for residents and candidates. In the upscale Cuffe Parade area, the process ran smoothly within housing societies that hosted polling booths. However, broader issues of mismanagement by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) dampened overall participation in some south Mumbai wards.
Cuffe Parade Residents Praise Convenient Voting Setup
Four residential societies in Cuffe Parade—Jupiter, Sunflower, Sea Lord, and Maker Tower A & D—had polling stations right inside their complexes. This arrangement proved highly convenient, especially for senior citizens. Parag Udani, a local resident, noted that many elders took advantage of this accessibility to cast their votes without hassle.
"Having booths within our buildings worked perfectly," Udani explained. "It allowed older residents to exercise their franchise easily. We observed a good turnout from this age group, though younger voters seemed less enthusiastic about stepping out."
BMC Mismanagement and Voter List Errors Cause Frustration
Despite the smooth operation in Cuffe Parade, several candidates reported significant problems elsewhere. Makarand Narvekar, the BJP candidate from Ward 226, pointed out that elections were happening after a nine-year gap, yet errors in voter slips caused confusion. People had to rush from one place to another trying to locate their correct polling stations.
"The BMC's mismanagement completely spoiled the mood," Narvekar stated. "It acted as a major dampener, and we expect the final voter turnout to be disappointingly low because of these issues."
Chaotic Scenes and Administrative Blunders
Laura D'Souza, an independent candidate from Ward 227, described the voting process as a complete mess. While high-rise buildings in her ward saw decent participation, many other voters faced exclusion due to missing names on electoral lists.
"In one building alone, fifty-three people could not vote because their names were absent from the list," D'Souza revealed. "Only one resident from that entire building was registered correctly. Meanwhile, busloads of people from slums who had relocated were permitted to vote without issues."
Voters Struggle with Incorrect Documentation
The problems extended beyond missing names. D'Souza highlighted instances where voters received incorrect or duplicate slips. One person was given two different slips pointing to two separate booths. In a particularly distressing case, a family received a voter slip in the name of their deceased head, while three living members found themselves omitted from the list entirely.
"People spent hours moving from booth to booth searching for their names," D'Souza added. "Voter slips were not distributed until the last minute in some areas. The staff at polling stations faced unnecessary criticism despite not being at fault for these administrative errors."
Mixed Reactions from Other Areas
In Churchgate, resident Mahendra Hemdev shared a similar sentiment about low youth participation. His polling station was located at Sydenham College. Hemdev decided to vote later in the day, hoping to avoid crowds, but found the response underwhelming.
"I anticipated a larger turnout," Hemdev said. "Unfortunately, I did not see many young voters coming out to cast their ballots. The enthusiasm seemed lacking compared to previous elections."
The day underscored a clear divide: while localized setups like those in Cuffe Parade facilitated voting, systemic failures by the BMC likely contributed to reduced turnout across key wards. Candidates and residents alike called for better organization in future elections to ensure every eligible voter can participate without hindrance.
