Nagpur: cast their votes at a polling station during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: An estimated 65.02 per cent of the 9.70 crore voters exercised their franchise in Maharashtra in one of the most-keenly contested elections involving multiple parties which can change the course of national politics.
The voting process was peaceful in the 288 constituencies in the state barring a few untoward incidents.
While it was considered one of the most difficult elections to predict, the exit polls have predicted the ruling BJP-led Maha Yuti (NDA) to retain power against the efforts of opposition Congress-led Maha Vilas Aghadi (I.N.D.I.A.) bloc.
The state recorded 65.02 per cent voter turn out till 2330 hrs, according to the Election Commission of India.
The counting of votes would take place on Saturday.
The polls have different dynamics in the five regions - Mumbai-Konkan, Western Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.
The Kolhapur district has recorded the maximum of 76.25 per cent.
However, urban apathy was witnessed as the twin districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban recorded 52.07 per cent and 55.77 per cent, respectively.
In the larger Mumbai metropolitan region, Thane district recorded 56.05 per cent while Palghar 65.96 per cent and Raigad 65.97.
The Pune district, which is the cultural capital of the state, recorded 60.70 per cent.
On the contrary, the Maoist-infested Gadchiroli district recorded 73.68 per cent polling - the second-highest after Kolhapur.
“Despite a range of measures by the Election Commission for ease of voting, and motivational campaigns, urban voters in the state continued their dismal record of low participation in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Thane,” the ECI said.
Special emphasis was placed on combating urban apathy owing to the trend of low voter turnout witnessed in urban centres in Maharashtra in the past state and parliamentary elections.
More than 1185 polling stations were set up in high rise buildings/societies and as per directions from Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and all basic facilities were provided at polling stations including benches for voters in queue, volunteers and wheelchairs.
Various awareness and mass mobilisation campaigns were organised ahead of the polls involving film celebrities, ECI state and national icons, to nudge urban and young voters.
Long queues of voters comprising people from different sections of society including first time voters, elderly voters, tribal voters, PwD voters, women voters some bearing children in their arms, voters identifying as third gender, entire families of voters and celebrity voters characterised the atmosphere at polling stations. Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) including toilets, ramps, shed, drinking water ensured that voters could vote comfortably without hindrance.
The BJP-led Maha Muti alliance is contesting 149 seats under the BJP, 81 under the Shiv Sena, and 59 under the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has the Congress fielding 101 candidates, the Shiv Sena (UBT) contesting 95, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP putting up 86 candidates.
Assembly Elections 2024 | The Maharashtra Assembly polls will take place against the backdrop of a fractured political landscape in the western state where the Shiv Sena and NCP will be going up against the Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar factions, even as the BJP and Congress try to make their mark. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the JMM faces a new challenge after Hemant Soren's recent arrest and Champai, a longstanding party member, joining the BJP. The Haryana election resulted in a shock loss for Congress, which was looking to galvanize on the Lok Sabha poll performance, while J&K also saw the grand old party eventually stepping away from the cabinet, with Omar Abdullah's JKNC forming government. It remains to be seen if the upcoming polls help BJP cement its position further or provide a fillip to I.N.D.I.A. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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