Maharashtra Assembly Election: 58.22% Voter Turnout Till 5 PM (image: x.com/ECISVEEP/)
The polling for 288 assembly seat is progressing in Maharashtra. Polling started at 7 AM and scheduled to end at 7 PM. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI) update, 58.22% voter turnout was recorded till 5 PM.
The State possess 9.7 crore registered voters and a total of 4,136 candidates are in the fray. As the ruling Mahayuti alliance hopes to continue in power, opposition Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) strives for a strong comeback. This assembly polls mark first one in the state after Shiv Sena and NCP split in 2022, and 2023 respectively.
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This time, the BJP has fielded 149 candidates, Shiv Sena (Shinde) 81, and NCP (Ajit Pawar) 59. Meanwhile, in the opposition, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) 86.
The prominent leaders in the fray include Eknath Shinde (Kopri-Pachpakhadi), Ajit Pawar (Baramati), Devendra Fadnavis (Nagpur South West), Aaditya Thackeray (Worli), Nana Patole (Sakoli), Vijay Wadettiwar (Brahmapuri), Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Shirdi), Chhagan Bhujbal (Yeola), and Chandrashekhar Bawankule (Kamthi).
The Thane city police booked a case against Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Dighe, who is contesting against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from Kopri-Pachpakhadi for alleged possession of cash and alchohol.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X appealed to the voters in Maharashtra “to participate enthusiastically” in the voting process. “Voting is going on today for all the constituencies of Maharashtra Assembly Elections. I urge all the voters of the state to participate enthusiastically in this process and add beauty to this festival of democracy. On this occasion I appeal to all the youth and women voters to come forward and vote in large numbers,” Modi wrote on X.
Similarly, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has urged the people of Maharashtra to cast their votes to “protect the pride and Constitution of the State.”
Taking to X, Gandhi wrote: “Brothers and sisters of Maharashtra, I appeal to all of you to cast your vote today to protect the self-respect and constitution of the state. Every vote you give to Maha Vikas Aghadi will stop the theft of your jobs and projects, will ensure fair price to farmers for their crops and will bring prosperity to your life with 5 guarantees.”
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As polls are underway, the Election Commission seized Rs 60 lakh in the Rajura constituency in Chandrapur district. Among the 17 candidates, major candidates in the fray are Rajura Assembly constituency an Deorao Bhongle of BJP and Congress’s Subhash Dhote.
The counting of the votes will take place on November 23.
