Mumbai Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live Updates: State voter turnout at 54.29%; slow pace, long queues test voters’ patience (2024)

The Mumbai-born Piyush Goyal’s journey with the BJP politics had started at young age. His father Ved Prakash Goyal was the national BJP treasurer for two decades and served as Union Minister for Shipping in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. His mother Chandrakanta Goyal was MLA for three terms.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, where BJP projected Modi as its prime ministerial candidate for the first time, Goyal was tasked with the party’s information and communication campaign committee.Although Goyal is seen as the high-profile minister closely working with Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the Centre, he has never cultivated any constituency.

Therefore, fielding Goyal from Mumbai North constituency is seen as an attempt by the BJP to provide the safest seat for the leader. Read more

#WATCH | Mumbai: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, Piyush Goyal takes morning walk at Sanjay Gandhi National Park and greets people as part of his election campaign.

Mumbai North goes to polls on May 20. #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/B6aR17DGfM

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2024

Hotels and restaurants in Maharashtra have decided to offer 10-20 per cent discount to customers who cast their votes in the ongoing general elections.

The initiative is part of the “Pledge To Vote” campaign by the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI, in an aim to promote voter awareness and boost participation in the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Read more

The Mumbai North-Central constituency, consisting of a multi-religious and cultural population ranging from slum dwellers to film stars, has two first-time Lok Sabha candidates fielded by the two rival national parties, BJP and Congress, vying for power.

Congress has nominated its Mumbai unit chief, Varsha Gaikwad, while the BJP has chosen senior criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam as its candidate. Both the contenders were announced at the last minute, with just a week left for filing nominations.

Read more here

Confident of his prospect to achieve a hat trick, Rahul Shewale, Shiv Sena candidate for the Mumbai South Central constituency in the Lok Sabha elections, tells The Indian Express why residents of Dharavi, which is being redeveloped, should not worry about being displaced and assured his commitment to ensure residents get rehabilitated in Dharavi itself.

Excerpts

They may be eclipsed by the aggressive campaigns by prominent parties for the Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai, however, several smaller parties, advocating issues such as environment protection, right to recall or soldier’s rights, are fighting it out to make their voices heard.

One of the less-known issue-based parties contesting is the India Greens Party that has a candidate in the North West constituency.The party, founded by Uttarakhand-based Suresh Nautiyal in 2019, has the tagline — “towards making the country ecologically and politically green”.

Read more here

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sat down with The Indian Express to discuss his assessment of the ground situation in the state, coordination problems between the members of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray.

Excerpts

A 56-year-old election officer died after suffering a heart attack at a polling booth in the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency where polling was underway in the fifth phase of the general elections on Monday, police said.

Sunil Laxman was deployed for polling duty at St Paul's High School in the Bhoiwada area of Parel, an official said. He suddenly collapsed in the afternoon, and police officers at the booth rushed him to the nearby KEM Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment, he said. (PTI)

Mumbai residents faced delays, slow-paced voting process and long queues as the city went to polls amid sultry weather conditions, with Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress raising concerns.

While at some places people who had turned up at polling booths early in the morning left without casting their vote after waiting in the line for a long time, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray alleged that the process was slowed down deliberately.

Centenarian freedom fighter Dr G G Parikh, who has been voting since India's first general elections in 1951-52, exercised his franchise in the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat, which went to polls in the fifth and final phase in Maharashtra. Though the Election Commission provided a home voting facility for senior citizens above 75, a wheelchair-borne Parikh (100) chose to visit the polling station at Girton High School in Grant Road.

With the help of social activists and his housekeeper, Parikh, popularly known as GG, was wheeled into the polling booth around 10.30 am. Talking to PTI, Parikh said that during the freedom struggle, he had many dreams about how the country would be, but today, the situation is "different" from what he had expected. "There is a feeling of disappointment, and I feel that I and people of my age, who sacrificed for the country's freedom, should not have done so," the Gandhian said.

#WATCH | Actor Gulshan Grover cast his vote in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai today pic.twitter.com/qyG3jK7ZeC

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Actors Prem Chopra & Sharman Joshi cast their votes at a polling centre in Mumbai for #LokSabhaelections2024 pic.twitter.com/EWt86HJ9Vu

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

CM Eknath Shinde, while out and about reviewing polling in Thane and Mira Bhayander, helped out a woman who had met with an accident at the Kalwa bridge.

When he saw a rickshaw overturned on the road and noticed a woman traveling in a rickshaw injured in this accident, he gave a police vehicle from his fleet and asked for the woman to be admitted to Kalwa Hospital for further treatment.

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— Shivsena - ??????? (@Shivsenaofc) May 20, 2024

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Aaditya Thackeray lamented the mismanagement at polling booths by the Election Commission, citing complaints by citizens about heat and suffocation at booths, 'possibly purposeful slow voting', absence of fans water and shade, and lack of separate lines for senior citizens and pregnant women.

Hitting out at the Election Commission, he wrote on X, 'We Mumbaikars stepped out to vote, but your pathetic management/ purposeful voter suppression methods tried to keep us away from the booths.Nonetheless, people stepped out and voted!'

Hello @ECISVEEP , please look into urgently.

Mumbaikars are stepping out to vote, please ensure that it is smooth. After so much encouragement, planning and expense, it cannot be so bad pic.twitter.com/5IVxtiuL4Q

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 20, 2024

Seeing the lowest voter turnout among the eight states where voting was held on Monday, Maharashtra's polling percentage closed at 49.15.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: EVMs & VVPATS being sealed at a polling centre in Nashik, as voting for the fifth phase of #loksabhaelecions2024 concludes. pic.twitter.com/z2VFG58B0o

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said he is voting for development, while Nykaa founder and CEO Falguni Nayar said voting is "our right and obligation". Also out to vote was Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, who was granted two months bail on humanitarian grounds in a money laundering case.

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Here's what Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said after casting his vote along with daughter Ananya Birla at a polling booth in Peddar Road, Mumbai.

"Anyone who thinks about the nation should come and vote. I am voting for… pic.twitter.com/EoElG5yBuA

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: "I would like to urge everyone to come and support whichever candidate they want to vote for. It is very important that we exercise both, our right and obligation, today," says Nykaa founder and CEO Falguni Nayar after casting vote in Mumbai.… pic.twitter.com/NDFjJV6apD

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Former Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal shows his inked finger after casting a vote at a polling station in Mumbai, for the fifth phase of #LokSabhaELections2024 pic.twitter.com/HSeB81rfvN

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Actor Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) leaves from a polling booth in Mumbai after casting his vote.#LSPolls2024WithPTI #LokSabhaElections2024

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRARJn4) pic.twitter.com/9ToD6dFcL3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Actor Shah Rukh Khan casts vote in Mumbai, along with his wife Gauri Khan and daughter Suhana Khan.#LSPolls2024WithPTI #LokSabhaElections2024

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRARJn4) pic.twitter.com/pG1R4uN4co

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Here's what actor Aamir Khan said after casting his vote, along with ex-wife Kiran Rao at a polling booth in Mumbai.

"I want to appeal to all the Indians to come out and cast vote and be part of the big democracy. Everyone should vote." pic.twitter.com/ehU8N2zCL0

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Actor Ranbir Kapoor arrives at a polling centre in Mumbai to cast his vote for the fifth phase of #LokSabhaElections2024? pic.twitter.com/CRfxKEiVjS

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

Responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that it was the BJP who first complained about the slow pace of voting in Mumbai to the poll body and stated that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief was laying the groundwork to deal with the post June 4 situation.

Thackeray alleged slow voting in Mumbai and accused the BJP of using the Election Commission as it is fearing defeat in the state.

?????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ????.
??? ?????, ???????????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ???. ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????????? ????????? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ???. 4 ??????????? ???????? ?????? ????????…

— Devendra Fadnavis (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 20, 2024

“Mumbai amchi, nahi konachya bapachi(Mumbai belongs to us, not to anybody’s father).”

The slogan once associated with the undivided Shiv Sena led by Bal Thackeray has been echoing louder in the city as the two Senas led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray get ready to battle it out in Mumbai that votes in the fifth phase on Monday. For the two Sena parties, the right to lay claim to the legacy of Bal Thackeray is at stake.

Of the six parliamentary seats in Mumbai, the constituencies of Mumbai North West, Mumbai South, and Mumbai South Central will see a direct fight between the Shiv Sena led by Shinde and Uddhav’s Shiv Sena (UBT). In 2019, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won these three along with Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, and Mumbai North.

Read the full story here

#WATCH | After casting his vote, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says "The work that Shrikant Shinde has done is in front of the people and I think they are going to vote for him to bring him back to power for the third time. Everyone should cast their votes. I can see people coming… pic.twitter.com/tyoI5Wdfay

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

Among the 13 constituencies in Maharashtra, the following was the voter turnoutat 3 pm:

Bhiwandi recorded 37.06 per cent
Dhule 39.97 per cent
Dindori 45.95 per cent
Kalyan 32.43 per cent
Mumbai North 39.33 per cent
Mumbai North Central 37.66 per cent
Mumbai North East 39.15 per cent
Mumbai North West 39.91 per cent
Mumbai South 36.64 per cent
Mumbai South Central 38.77 per cent
Nashik 39.41 per cent
Palghar 42.48 per cent
Thane 36.07 per cent

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Actors Ananya Panday, Chunky Panday and Bhavana Pandey leave from a polling station in Mumbai after casting their votes for #LokSabhaelections2024. pic.twitter.com/rNwWuunwOo

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

Voters queued up to cast their voters across six constituencies in Maharashtra.

(Express Photos by Amit Chakravarty)

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aadesh Bandekar Monday complained that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in booth numbers 57 and 58 in Powai had stalled and people were not able to cast their votes.

The EC issued a statement that the EVM machines have now been replaced and voting has started smoothly.

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to allege that Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Sunil Raut were found involved in corrupt practices outside their polling station at Bhandup Gaon, and that two Uddhav Thackeray Sena activists have been arrested by the police.

"Sanjay Raut & Sunil Raut found involve in Corrupt Practices outside their Polling Station at Bhandup Gaon. 2 Uddhav Thackeray Sena Activists arrested by Police for illegal, corrupt practices of using Fake EVM Machine with name of Sanjay Dina Patil & Mashal. FIR being registered," Somaiya said.

Sanjay Raut & Sunil Raut found involve in Corrupt Practices outside their Polling Station at Bhandup Gaon. 2 Uddhav Thackeray Sena Activists arrested by Police for illegal, corrupt practices of using Fake EVM Machine with name of Sanjay Dina Patil & MASHAL. FiR being registered

— Kirit Somaiya ( Modi ka Pariwar) (@KiritSomaiya) May 20, 2024

The voting process got delayed due to technical issues in the machines at a voting booth installed in Manjunath School, Dombivli East in Kalyan constituency.

Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vaishali Darekar-Rane said that the delay was around 60-90 minutes due to technical errors. The votes were being showed invalid and the machines had to be shut. The concerned officials later resolved the issue.

"Due to technical issues, the voting process got very slow and people are panicking. Why didn't they check the machines in advance. It exposed the unpreparedness of the election commission officials. On one hand, they are urging people to come out and vote, and on the other hand you are not prepared. Citizens are excited, they want to vote, but due to ECI's poor arrangements people are losing interest and returning home. And then you will say voting percentage is low. ECI's poor arrangement is to be blamed," Darekar-Rane said.

Shiv Sena UBT Lok Sabha candidate from Thane Rajan Vichare and NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad alleged bogus voting in Thane.

Awhad said that 2000 people were brought from outside for bogus voting. Vichare alleged that 1000-1500 bogus voting took place at Kopri and Panchpakhadi area of Thane.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, however, dismissed the allegations saying that the Opposition is making such allegations since they are frustrated.

Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan cast his vote along with his family members in Mumbai on Monday.

Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee cast his vote on Monday along with this wife. The actor took to X (formerly Twitter) to urge people to exercise their 'democratic right' to vote in the Lok Sabha elections.

#BhaiyyaJi aur Bhabhi Ji ne vote de diya. Aap sabhi se nivedhan hai ki matdaan karein aur apne loktantrik adhikar ka upyog karein?? pic.twitter.com/VW3LLAn44c

— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) May 20, 2024

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, speaking to the media after casting his vote in Mumbai said, "They (people) must make the effort unless somebody is very seriously ill. But I think they must make the effort to cast the vote because it is their government and their vote is going to be important."

VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: "They (people) must make the effort unless somebody is very seriously ill. But I think they must make the effort to cast the vote because it is their government and their vote is going to be important," says former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar… pic.twitter.com/PB6JtpLklY

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor cast his vote in Mumbai on Monday.

Shiv Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray also cast his vote along with his family members at a polling booth in Mumbai's Bandra East.

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?????????? ???????????? ??????? ????!
???????? ????? ????? ??? pic.twitter.com/aTD6DEetGS

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) May 20, 2024

While Congress city unit chief and its Mumbai north-central candidate Varsha Gaikwad cast her vote along with her mother in Dharavi, senior criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam contesting on BJP's ticket from the same seat cast his vote along with his family in Dadar. Both the key candidates from the North-Central constituency exercised their voting right in the adjacent South-Central constituency area.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar on Monday cast his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.

"...I want my India to be developed and strong. I voted keeping that in mind. India should vote for what they deem is right...I think voter turnout will be good," Kumar told the reporters.

#WATCH | Actor Akshay Kumar shows the indelible ink mark on his finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.

He says, "...I want my India to be developed and strong. I voted keeping that in mind. India should vote for what they deem is right...I think voter… pic.twitter.com/mN9C9dlvRD

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

Bollywood stars Dharmendra and Hema Malini cast their votes on Monday.

(Express Photos by Sankhadeep Banerjee)

Hundred-year-old freedom fighter, Dr G G Parikh, cast his vote on Monday at Girton High School, Sleater Road, Grant Road West Mumbai.

Dr G G Parikh holds a unique record of voting from the year 1951-1952, the very first Lok Sabha elections till this year's 2024 general elections.

Leaders cast vote as Phase 5 of polling for Lok Sabha elections began early Monday.

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat Piyush Goyal, after casting his vote on Monday said, “Democracy is being celebrated today in Mumbai and other states of the country. I appeal to people to participate in this festival and make it successful," news agency PTI reported.

VIDEO | “Democracy is being celebrated today in Mumbai and other states of the country. I appeal to people to participate in this festival and make it successful,” says Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) after casting his… pic.twitter.com/cj6h3Ta2Y7

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2024

Shashikanta Das, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India along with his family cast his vote at a polling booth at Peddar road on Monday.

He said, "It's a proud moment for everyone. It's a moment of pride to participate in an election of 140 crore people and if I remember correctly, about 97 crore voters... The process of voting today was very smooth and I would like to congratulate the Election Commission..."

(Express photo/video by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Maharashtra recorded 6.33 per cent voter turnout as of 9 am in the fifth and last phase of polls in the state for 13 seats.

Dhule - 6.92%
Dindori (ST) - 6.40%
Nashik - 6.45%
Palghar (ST) - 7.95%
Bhiwandi - 4.86%
Kalyan - 5.39%
Thane - 5.67%
Mumbai North - 6.19%
Mumbai North West - 6.87%
Mumbai North East- 6.83%
Mumbai North Central - 6.01%
Mumbai South Central - 7.79%
Mumbai South - 5.34%

Bollywood stars Rajkummar Rao and Jahnvi Kapoor early Monday cast their votes at polling booths in Mumbai.

Jahnvi Kapoor, after voting, speaking to reporters, urged people to come out and vote.

"It is a big responsibility towards our country, we should vote. Through us, if people can get influenced then of course that's the biggest thing that we can do to make people aware of the importance of voting. So I'm very happy that the Election Commission chose me to be the national icon and I appeal to all to please come out and cast your vote... We all want our nation to grow, to shine. It's already shining. I'm sure it's going to shine even more...," Rao said.

#WATCH | Bollywood Actress Janhvi Kapoor casts her vote at a polling station in Mumbai for #LokSabhaElections2024

"Please come out and vote, " she says pic.twitter.com/5Ki6JH30Et

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

#WATCH | Mumbai: After casting his vote, Actor Rajkummar Rao says, "It is a big responsibility towards our country, we should vote. Through us, if people can get influenced then of course that's the biggest thing that we can do to make people aware of the importance of voting. So… https://t.co/Tqny3HoyUZ pic.twitter.com/hFtLu96I6Z

— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2024

People assembled in queues early Monday at polling booths across Maharashtra as voting for Phase 5 of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 began.

(Express Photos)

With polling for Phase 5 of the Lok Sabha elections underway, 99,38,621 lakh voters from the Mumbai’s six Lok Sabha constituencies are casting their votes today, marking the end of the fifth and the final phase of elections in Maharashtra.

The voting in Mumbai began at 7 am today, with prominent faces like RBI Governor Shashikanta Das and actor Rajkummar Rao casting their votes early morning.