Mumbai: Mumbai's northwest parliamentary constituency is venue to a hotly contested Lok Sabha by-poll.
Voters, common man and celebrities, alike, walked in to the voting booths in Bandra hoping that this time some one would address their concerns.
However, poor turnout appeared to suggest that voters in one of Mumbai's most high profile parliamentary constituencies had lost interest in the electoral process.
Both the key contenders Congress candidate Priya Dutt and Shiv Sena?s Madhukar Sarpotdar, also cast their vote.
Though Priya Dutt did not look like a first-timer as she dropped in early to cast her vote, her warm smile and confident walk failed to conceal that she missed having her father by her side as she took her first tentative steps in Maharashtra politics.
"It's an unreal feeling. I am not overconfident, but there are no butterflies in my stomach. I am taking it as it comes. Now I have to fend for myself," said she.
Sarpotdar, on the other hand played the seasoned politician to the hilt.
"I have never distinguished between North Indian and South Indian voters. I have served every Indian including Muslims. People of all castes support me," he stated.
His confidence received a boost when Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray himself made a quick appearance and cast his vote, despite ill health and hectic campaigning at Malwan.
Though experts are predicting a hands-down victory for Priya, who they claim has practically inherited her father's constituency, the low voter turnout could well play spoilsport.
The voter turnout stood at about 35 per cent as compared to last year's 49 per cent.
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