BY RINA,
New Delhi: In third and final phase of polling in Mahrashtra, Muslim voters’ concentration was lower than that of common voters. In most Muslim localities, less than 25 per cent Muslim voters turned up at polling booths.
Fatima Abdul Qadir, an aged lady told, “I have been voting continuously since my youth but this is for the first time that I do not see long rows of voters.” According to sources, no more than ten per cent voters turned up in Mumbai at polling booths in Muslim localities but there was some spurt in the afternoon. Least polling was recorded in South Mumbai, the most populous constituency of the city.
Earlier, a social worker in Paidhoni area, Syed Zafar complained, “Shiv Sena’s polling agents at Bapu Khote voting center and several other booths in Muslim areas are wasting voters’ time in unnecessary grilling.” As the news spread, most of the voters avoided to go to voting centers. There were also rumors that long queues are growing because of questioning at polling centers.
Several voters were seen complaining about their faulty voter cards. Some complained their name has been deleted from voter lists. In fact, the trouble was endemic Muslim areas, especially Nai Para, Bhindi Bazar, Maun Pura, Bandra, Andheri, Kurla etc.