Despite massive deletion, voters' registration up in Mumbai

Despite the massive deletion of 12.15 lakh names from the voters lists across Mumbai city and suburban districts in October last year, a net increase of 1.25 lakh voters was registered in the past four months after the revision of electoral rolls in January.
Of the total 36 assembly constituencies in Mumbai city and suburbans districts, the most substantial rise was seen in Bandra East, Chandivali, Malad West, Dindoshi and Borivali assembly constituencies.
As per the revised voter list of January 11, a maximum rise of 13,866 voters were registered in Bandra East assembly constituency itself as compared to figures of October, 2015.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe attributed this net increase to various factors.
"It could be because of more youths enrolling their names. Many NGOs and Shiv Sena urging youth to register their names. Other reasons could be new families moving in, new constructions taking place or existing buildings having gone redevelopment," Gorhe said.
"The slum factor may not count as new slums are not possible. It may be that this rise has got something to do with complaints during 2014 Lok Sabha elections where many voters found their names missing from the voters list. They were given a fresh chance to enrol their names again," she said.

In October 2015, the total voters in Bandra East were 2.13 lakh which rose to 2.27 lakh in January this year, a rise of 13,866 voters despite the deletions of 51,345 names in October.

The other notable increase in Mumbai suburban district
include - Chandivali which saw a rise of 9,170 (voters), Malad West- 7,575, Andheri West- 7,112, Borivali- 6,262 and Dahisar 5,442- voters.
There was also a net decrease noticed in voter registration in assembly constituencies of Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar with 4,434 voters and Anushakti Nagar- 3,024 voters.
Sources in the election branch of the Election Commission of India (ECI) here said ECI had undertaken the exercise of cleaning the voters list, removing name of deceased voters and voters who had permanently migrated elsewhere as part of its intensive revision of electoral rolls.

In the 10 assembly constituencies of Mumbai City district, the net rise even after deletion of names in October 2015 and subsequent enrolment in January this year was, however, only 28,061 voters.
In October, 2015, the total voter population in the 10 assembly constituencies was 23.60 lakhs with deletion of 1.18 lakh voters. In January this year, the total voter population has increased to 23.88 lakhs.
Substantial rise has been noticed in Sion-Koliwada 5,917 voters and Byculla 6,850 voters. Nominal increase of just 780 voters has been noticed in Colaba and 355 voters in Malabar Hill assembly constituencies.