Minority areas in Mumbai see brisk polling

MUMBAI: Shedding the perceived apathy of previous elections, minority pockets in Mumbai and suburbs saw a queue of voters outside polling booths in Bhendi Bazaar, Kurla, Bandra, Malvani, Chandivali, Mira Road and Mumbra, reported. Community leaders and activists who had appealed for exercising of franchise said they were heartened to see keen participation. Mosque committees had joined hands with citizen groups to create awareness about voting and this, said activists, worked.

"I was thrilled to see such excitement among the minorities. They braved the sun and stood in queues to exercise their democratic right. I've never seen such a positive response to voting from the minorities," said former minister and working president of state Congress Arif Naseem Khan. In Mumbai South, Congress MLA Amin Patel sounded confident that Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Arvind Sawant would win with an "impressive margin" as hardcore Shiv Sainiks had joined "hands with the Muslims."