Is our disappointment with low voter turnout in south Mumbai valid?

Who turned out to vote and who didn’t in Mumbai? The highest turnout in yesterday’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections was in S Ward, covering Powai, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg and Bhandup, with Bhandup having seen a 49.5 percent turnout. Predictably so, the lowest turnout of 34.2 percent, was in A Ward, covering Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Fort, Marine Drive and Churchgate. “The tony neighbourhoods of Colaba, Churchgate and Cuffe Parade repeated their past record with a measly turnout of 34%, the lowest in the city. Topping voting enthusiasm was the eastern suburb of Bhandup (49.5%) and the western suburbs of Goregaon (45.2%) and Andheri East (48.3%),” reported The Times of India. Why do the ‘tony’ neighbourhoods not vote while citizens in areas like Vikhroli and Bhandup show such great enthusiasm? [caption id=“attachment_216383” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The roads in south Mumbai are good and the police are thick on the ground, most times. Seen here is the Gateway of India. Reuters”]  [/caption] It’s not apathy that causes A Ward voters to stay away from the elections – it’s just that there is no need for them to vote. Consider this: irrespective of which party or alliance has been in control of the BMC, election after election, the quality of civic amenities in A Ward remain the best that you can find in the city. The roads are the best in Mumbai, water and garbage collection is regular, pavements maintained, the drainage system is better than in most of the city, streets are well lit, overbridges are well maintained, government owned buildings are renovated and maintained regularly, there are a number of BMC run hospitals in and around the area and the police is thick on the ground. Add to this, there is more open land here than almost anywhere else in Mumbai. And, as a bonus you have the sea front — so walking, jogging and play are easier as well. Most importantly, there are no recent encroachments in A Ward. It’s not that A Ward is apathetic – they do not NEED to vote. Malabar Hill, Peddar Road, Tardeo, Bandra west, Santa Cruz west, Khar west, Juhu, Andheri west, Four Bungalows and Versova are the other areas where the voter turnout was low. These areas, too, receive more attention and better amenities from the BMC. The turnout percentage, if seen in this light, is not surprising at all. Where there is relative happiness, there is no great want for change and no great need to vote. So can we please end this talk about our disappointment with the turnout in ‘tony neighbourhoods’? They don’t need to vote, so don’t expect them to. Also watch a CNN IBN discussion on Low Voter Turnout