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Abhishek Lodha Urges Voter Turnout as BMC Polls Impact Daily Life

Real estate businessman Abhishek Lodha cast his vote and urged citizens to participate actively in the Maharashtra civic elections, stating they directly impact daily life. Early voter turnout for the BMC elections was low, with a notable disparity showing nearly twice as many men voting as women. The political battle is centered on Mumbai and Pune, with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance facing a united Thackeray camp. Polling is being held across 29 municipal corporations, including major cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur.

Key Points: BMC Elections: Lodha Urges Voting, Impact on Daily Life

  • Low early voter turnout in BMC polls
  • Male voters outnumbering female voters
  • High-stakes political battle for control of BMC
  • Elections across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra
2 min read

Real estate businessman Abhishek Lodha urges citizens to vote, says, "BMC elections impact daily life"

Real estate businessman Abhishek Lodha casts his vote and urges citizens to participate in Maharashtra civic polls, highlighting their direct impact on daily life.

"Voting is very important for everyone. The BMC elections have a significant impact on our daily lives. - Abhishek Lodha"

Mumbai, January 15

As polling begins across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, real estate businessman Abhishek Lodha, son of Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, cast his vote and urged citizens to participate actively, saying the civic polls have a direct impact on daily life.

Polling began today at 7.30 am and will continue until 5.30 pm, with vote counting scheduled to begin on Friday, January 16.

Speaking to ANI, Abhishek Lodha said, "Voting is very important for everyone. The BMC elections have a significant impact on our daily lives. We request all citizens to come out in large numbers and cast their votes."

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections began slowly on Thursday, with only 7.12 per cent voter turnout as of 9:30 AM. However, these early trends indicate that almost twice as many male voters are casting their votes as women.

The highest voter turnout was recorded in Ward number 18 in Mumbai city at 11.57 per cent. Whereas, ward no 162 recorded the lowest turnout at 1.68 per cent.

A total of 7,36,996 voters have cast their votes out of a total of 1,03,44,315. According to official data released by the State Election Commission (SEC), nearly twice as many men as women have cast their votes. 4,54,539 men have cast their vote in BMC elections, compared to 2,82,433 women.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena are contesting the civic elections as allies under the Mahayuti banner, except in Pune. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has chosen to fight independently in most corporations.

In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, both NCP factions have come together under a joint manifesto.

The main political battle remains centred on Mumbai and Pune, where the BJP-led Mahayuti will face the united Thackeray camp, as just ahead of the civic polls, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray joined hands on the issue of Marathi Manus in a high-stakes fight for control of the BMC, the country's richest civic body.

The last BMC elections were held in 2017.

Polling is being held on Thursday across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. The elections are taking place after an intense campaign and are seen as crucial for major cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nashik, and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see a prominent businessman urging people to vote. But let's be honest, the low turnout, especially the gender gap, is a serious issue. Why are only 7% voting by 9:30 AM? We complain about potholes and flooding every monsoon, but skip the election that decides who fixes it. 🤦‍♂️
S
Sarah B
As someone who recently moved to Mumbai, I find the local governance fascinating. The BMC's budget is massive. It's crucial that citizens hold their corporators accountable. The data showing more male voters is concerning—civic issues affect everyone equally.
V
Vikram M
The real battle is for control of the richest civic body. Hope the alliance politics doesn't overshadow local issues like clean water and waste management. We need corporators who work for the ward, not just follow party high command.
A
Ananya R
Respectfully, while the message to vote is important, it feels a bit rich coming from a businessman whose family is deeply involved in politics and real estate. The BMC's decisions on construction and development affect his business directly. I wish more common citizens, not just the connected elite, were championing this cause.
K
Karthik V
Ward 162 with 1.68% turnout? That's shameful. My area always has water problems. If we don't vote, we lose the right to complain. Going to cast my vote now. Jai Maharashtra! 🇮🇳

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