Mumbai, A 113-year-old woman and a 103-year-old wheelchair-bound freedom fighter cast their votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections in Mumbai on Wednesday, demonstrating their commitment to the democratic process in the metropolis infamous for voter apathy.

Several octogenarians exercised their franchise in various assembly segments in Mumbai since 7 am, thanks to the facilities like wheelchairs, wheelchair-friendly vans, Divyang-friendly buses, wheelchair stair lifts, etc. made available in the polling booths by the Electoral Commission.

Kanchanben Nandkishor Badshah, a 113-year-old resident of Nepean Sea Road, went to a polling station in Malabar Hill to exercise her right to vote with the help of her relatives, a civic official said.

Although the Election Commission of India provided a door-to-door voting center for those aged above 85 years, 103-year-old GG Parikh, a wheelchair user, preferred to vote by going to the polling station at Girton High School in Grant Road in the morning. , said a municipal official.

A neighbor and his maid helped Parikh enter the voting booth in his wheelchair. The centenarian freedom fighter has been voting since India’s first general elections in 1951-52, his aides said.

Many elderly voters cast their ballots at different polling stations in Mumbai since morning, showing their enthusiasm.

Hareshwar Barkale, an 81-year-old resident of Worli Koliwada, noted that his constituency candidate had arranged for golf carts and taxis to help the elderly reach polling stations, while wheelchairs and Volunteers were stationed at the voting booths to help them.

“We had priority at the polling station and we didn’t have to wait in line,” Barkale said.

Similarly, Ramchandra Shirke, 83, of Kalachowki, said he had no difficulty voting early in the morning.

The voting process for the Assembly elections began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm, with facilities ensuring that senior citizens and differently-abled voters do not face any inconvenience.

In line with the Election Commission’s ‘No Voter Left Behind’ initiative, district administrations in Mumbai city and its suburbs have taken numerous steps to make the voting process accessible.

Despite urban voter apathy, Mumbai city and Mumbai Suburban district recorded voter turnout of 40.89 per cent and 39.34 per cent, respectively, till 3 p.m.

A total of 420 candidates are in the fray for 36 Assembly constituencies in Mumbai with over a million eligible voters.

According to the civic body, Mumbai has a total of 10,117 polling booths across 2,085 locations, where voting will begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modification to the text.