Maharashtra elections 2024: Why SoBoites don’t come out to vote

South Mumbais notoriously low turnout numbers for the polls were the focus late Tuesday evening at a meeting hosted by the Cuffe Parade Residents Association CPRA at the Bayview Marina Garden at Cuffe Parade The pricey Mumbai pocket had a turnout of around 40 per cent in the 2019 Assembly elections Overall one saw a 614 per cent turnout in the state in 2019 Now there is a concerted push to up these numbers for the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly polls The meet saw residents mainly from the Tony area turn up to meet Dr Kiran Kulkarni additional chief electoral officer Maharashtra and joint secretary The meet had a tagline an exclusive meeting to learn more about your rights new voterfriendly measures and the importance of votingDr Laura DrsquoSouza president CPRA says there is a general disenchantment among residentsInteract nowDr Kulkarni said in a crisp introduction ldquoI am a writer researcher and government officer This blend certainly adds a new dimension to my work I have done at least 100 such programmes all over Maharashtra through eight months Yet having a programme here is special because Colaba has held a special place in the states history culture and economy The voting figures for this constituency are very low I would like to know the reason for thisrdquo he said Saying he was keen on interaction as that would give him an idea about what people are thinking discerning why voting numbers remain low despite so many awareness campaigns the officer added I have seen high voter turnouts in tribal areas like Gadchiroli for instance As a researcher Irsquom keen to understand why this is not so here Irsquom not here to preachrdquoToo farThat set off some questions and suggestions from the audience One suggestion was that more polling booths be created A woman admitted ldquoWe are spoilt There is also a feeling that whoever comes in it is okay we can handle the situationrdquo Dr Kulkarni stated ldquoWe have created 1185 polling booths just in highrises and cooperative societies in the state there are more than one lakh polling stations set up across Maharashtra Many of these booths are located on the ground floor for easy access The Election Commission of India ECI is coming several steps ahead to meet you I suggest you all take some steps ahead too Let us have a grand programme this time where Colaba jumps ahead in voting statisticsrdquoDr Kulkarni also said that there are special arrangements for those over 85 years old or with disabilities where officers come to their homes for their vote ldquoYetrdquo he added ldquoThere was a time window for that as people had to fill forms apprising the commission within five days of nomination That window has now closedrdquo The top official recounted years earlier when he had met a ldquo102yearold voter who did not avail of the vote at home facility but wished to be brought to the booth He had stated he wanted to experience this festival of democracyrdquo Applause rang out at the gardenTurn tideThere were some other statements from people at the meet giving pointers about elite electoral apathy like ruing lack of parking places for cars near polling booths many voters did not want to walk even the short distance to the booth the heat and a general sentiment of why vote Some suggestions from the group were that residents could carpool and another gent volunteered to sponsor an electric buggy that would take voters to the polling station Answering questions about why voters cannot carry mobile phones inside the booth and technicalities like names not being on lists Dr Kulkarni said ldquoVoter lists can be checked online We do not allow voters to carry mobile phones inside booths as these can be misused by miscreants Today phones are so hitech and pictures can be taken videosfilms made which can be then edited and made viral to create false impressions and stir troublerdquo he said He defended the Electronic Voting Machines EVM integrity and stated strongly ldquoThe EVM is an invention of Indian scientists and I am so proud of thatrdquo As dusk fell Dr Kulkarnis message was clear ldquoArrangements are in place we have polling booth officers for help we have more than 1 lakh polling stations for 970 crore voters in Maharashtra we have done all we can to make the journey to the booth easierrdquoDr Laura DSouza CPRA president on why voters are not turning up at the stations said ldquoWe want educated candidates who live here and those who have proved themselves in their earlier tenure Today people are saying as they witness the slow deterioration of the area you say we must vote but who do we vote for We have intraCuffe Parade problems like horrendous traffic encroached pavements and a hawker menace There is a feeling of helplessness and what we want most of all is hoperdquo