Maharashtra recorded a 65.11% voter turnout in the Assembly elections, the highest in 30 years. The last highest turnout was 71.69% in 1995. That year, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance formed the government after Congress leader Sharad Pawar refused to take power, despite winning the most seats.
The Election Commission and Chief Electoral Officer’s office were relieved, as their efforts to boost voter participation showed results. This year’s turnout was an improvement compared to 61.39% in the general elections and 61.44% in 2019.
Increase in Voter Numbers and First-Time Voters
The rise in turnout came with an 8.5% increase in the number of eligible voters. Voter registrations went up from 8.94 crore in 2019 to 9.70 crore this year. First-time voters made a noticeable impact. In Mumbai, 1.68 lakh voters were from the 18-19 age group. Extensive awareness campaigns, led by the state and NGOs, played a key role in encouraging youth participation.
Women voters in rural areas also showed higher engagement. In Solapur, the turnout was 57.09%, but 66.23% of women cast their votes, compared to 62.50% of men. The government’s Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provided financial support to women, contributed to the increase.
Urban Areas Struggle with Low Turnout
Urban areas such as Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur recorded lower turnout rates, ranging from 52.07% to 60.70%. The Election Commission had previously expressed concerns over low urban participation. In response, more polling stations were set up in high-rise buildings and co-op societies. Additionally, companies were encouraged to give employees a day off to vote. These steps helped alleviate the problems faced in the past, including long queues and slow voting.
Political parties are optimistic about the impact of increased voter turnout. Both MahaYuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi believe the rise in participation benefits them. Voters were motivated by caste and community considerations, which could influence the election outcome.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that higher turnout generally favors the BJP. Congress leader Nana Patole and Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut also expressed confidence that Maha Vikas Aghadi would form the next government.