Mumbai, Polling
for the third and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra will be
held today, deciding the fate of 338 candidates including NCP leader Chhagan
Bhujbal and Union Minister Milind Deora, vying for 19 seats, six of which are
in Mumbai.
There
have been consistent efforts to get the people to go out and vote.
Advertisements featuring ambassadors like film star Aamir Khan apart from other
public service announcements and company incentives like giving an official
holiday to employees, have been used to motivate voters. Officials say that
they are also expecting Mumbai’s cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar to set
aside the IPL matches in order to vote.However,
the Bollywood brigade will be conspicuously absent, due to the IIFA awards
being held in the US. Mumbai city and its suburbs, along with Thane, Bhiwandi
and Nasik go to the polls today. However, many fear that the weather could play
spoiler. Temperatures are likely to touch 36 degrees and reports state that
there are no arrangements in placeto protect voters, who will be forced to
queue up in the sweltering heat.
So far,
62 per cent polling has been recorded in the first two phases. It has increased
by 10 per cent since 2009. Mumbai city, however marked only a 43 per cent
turnout in 2009 and officials are hoping it will improve this time.
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