Maharashtra assembly polls: Palghar recorded biggest drop of 21% in voter turnout across Maharashtra

MUMBAI: The Palghar constituency in Thane has recorded the highest decline in voter turnout in the state—a sheer drop of 20.9% between the assembly polls of 2014 and 2019. The tribal constituency had recorded a 68% turnout in 2014, which fell to 47% in this election. This constituency has reported the largest change in voter turnout since 2014.

Palghar saw drama before the election with the sitting MLA Amit Ghoda who was- with the Shiv Sena joining hands with the NCP after the Sena denied him a ticket.The Sena fielded Srinivas Wanga, son of the late BJP MLA Chintaman Wanga. Ghoda even filed his nomination as a rebel but was persuaded to withdraw by the Sena. Ghoda’s supporters, though, reportedly did not cooperate with Wanga in the campaign.
The Panvel constituency in Navi Mumbai saw an almost 13% drop in voter turnout. Here, BJP’s sitting MLA Prashant Ramsheth Thakur contested against Peasant and Worker Party’s Harsh Keni who was supported by the Congress and NCP. A sizeable number of colonies in Panvel, though, had threatened to boycott the poll over lack of development in the area which may have hit the turnout.
The Sakri constituency in rural Dhule in North Maharashtra as well as Jalgaon Urban saw a 10.5% fall in voter turnout from 2014. Pune’s Kasba Peth also experienced a 10% drop in turnout since 2014. It fell from 61.5% in 2014 to 51.5% in 2019. Kasba Peth is a BJP stronghold and was earlier represented by senior leader Girish Bapat who is now an MP. This year, the BJP fielded mayor Mukta Tilak against Congress’ Arvind Shinde.
The highest rise in voter turnout was seen in the Jalgaon Jamod constituency in Vidarbha’s Buldhana district. It rose 10.3% since 2014. BJP minister Sanjay Kute won the last election from here, narrowly defeating Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh candidate.
Ulhasnagar witnessed an 8.7% rise in turnout. The constituency is the stronghold of Pappu Kalani who is in jail over a murder. His wife Jyoti Kalani is the sitting MLA. The family expected a BJP ticket but it was denied. Jyoti Kalani contested from NCP against the BJP’s Kumar Ailani. Locals say both sides ensured their supporters voted.
In Mumbai, Anushakti Nagar and Chandivali saw a major rise in turnout at 8.3% and 7.9%, respectively.
The Karjat Jamkhed seat in Ahmednagar from where Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew Rohit Pawar made his electoral debut saw a 7.9% rise in turnout since 2014. Pawar contested against BJP minister Ram Shinde in a constituency which has been a BJP stronghold for 25 years.
(With inputs from Sandhya Nair and Pradeep Gupta)