Maharashtra Polls: Low Muslim turnout big worry for many

MUMBAI: NCP leaders Nawab Malik and Jitendra Awhad, Samajwadi Party state president Abu Azmi and several politicians from Congress and the All-India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen were a worried lot after an unenthusiastic and unusual pattern in Muslim voter turnout in the state capital and its periphery.

Voter turnouts even in those with sizeable Muslim concentration were low. Overall numbers remained close to last assembly election figures and belied expectations of anincreaseinturnoutneededfor these leaders desperately trying to tide over anti-incumbency.

"The heat was immense and at this age, we did not want to venture out at noon. In the morning, we thought there will be large queues, so we decided to come out in the evening," said SM Golandaj, a resident of eastern suburb of Govandi.

Most voters in adjacent constituencies ET spoke to expressed lack of enthusiasm about polling despite the high voltage campaigns of political parties. While non-Muslims in eastern suburbs expressed preference for Shiv Sena, those in the west appeared inclined towards BJP.