22 per cent polling recorded till 1300hrs at BMC polls

Mumbai, Feb 1 (UNI) Around 22 per cent Mumbaikars, out of a total 83,88,455 registered voters, excercised their franchise till 1300 hrs to elect 227 representatives in the high profile Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections here today, official sources said.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray, was among the first political leaders who cast his vote this morning. On the occasion, he expressed confidence that more and more young voters will come out to cast their votes as the day will progress.

A large number of first time voters were seen across the city booths standing in long queues to cast their votes.

Bollywood hearthrobs Emran Hashmi and Sanjay Dutt, after casting their vote, appealed to the people to come and vote to help elect a clean and responsible civic body.

Meanwhile, talking to the media, Congress MP Priya Dutt also made similar appeal.

A total 2,376 candidates are in the fray for the prestigious 227 seats in BMC. Around 83,88,455 registered voters will cast their vote out of the total population of 1,19,78,450. While, city area has 23,81,354 voters, Western suburbs 36,27,052 and the Eastern Suburbs has 23,80,050 voters.

UNI