The Airoli and Belapur constituencies witnessed a remarkable surge in voter turnout during the recent assembly elections, with a combined increase of 15.44% compared to 2019. This heightened participation has fueled political speculation, with many suggesting that the increased voting percentage may pose challenges to incumbent representatives seeking re-election.
In Airoli, voter turnout jumped to 51.50%, up from 42.51% in 2019—a nearly 10% increase. Similarly, Belapur recorded a turnout of 55.24%, a significant rise from 49.79% in the previous election. The constituencies have 4,89,059 and 4,23,579 registered voters, respectively.
In 2019, BJP's Manda Mhatre secured victory in Belapur, while Ganesh Naik triumphed in Airoli. Both leaders are vying for re-election, but the increased voter turnout has introduced an element of unpredictability to the outcome.
Why the Turnout Increased
The Election Commission made extraordinary efforts this year to boost voter participation. Streamlined voting processes, targeted awareness campaigns, and initiatives to encourage smooth and disruption-free voting are being credited for the rise in turnout. Additionally, the dynamic political environment in the state is believed to have mobilized voters, driving higher participation across the constituencies.