Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Exit Polls predict BJP-Sena to win with a bigger mandate

Exit polls predicted that Bhartiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance will retain power in Maharashtra. The Poll of polls stated that the alliance will win a whopping 213 seats out of 288 in the state. Meanwhile, the voter turnout in the state is 61%. The fate of the two alliances, BJP-Sena and INC-NCP will be decided on October 24. Stay tuned for more updates

Seizure of cash, drugs see massive jump compared to last assembly polls

Seizure of cash, drugs and freebies aimed at inducing voters in assembly polls inMaharashtraand Haryana have seen a massive jump as compared to the last elections, the Election Commission said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference here after the conclusion of the polls in the two states, Director General (Expenditure) in the poll panel Dilip Sharma said inMaharashtrathe overall seizure stood at Rs 156.94 crore.

It included Rs 60.69 crore in cash, over 23 crore worth of liquor and drugs worth Rs 19.5 crore.

In the 2014 assembly polls, the total seizures were to the tune of Rs 30 crore. "It is a five-time jump," he said.

PTI

NDTV Poll of Polls predicts win for BJP-Sena alliance

NDTV Poll of Polls

BJP-Shiv Sena: 211

INC-NCP: 64

Others: 13

Former President cast her vote in Pashan, Pune.

Former President of India Shrimati Pratibhatai Patil cast her vote in NCL Centre, Pashan.

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NETA APP

BJP-Shiv Sena: 206

NCP-INC: 65

Others: 17

No voter to be left behind: Motto of elections officials in Satara

Meanwhile, election officials in Satara district workedwith the motto "No voter to be left behind" to ensure that the voters are facilitated by innovative, available means!

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Maharasthra Polls: Commoners, celebrities rub shoulders

Commoners,celebrities,politicians and who's who rubbed shoulders in Mumbai as Maharashtra went to polls on Monday.

Batting maestro Bharat RatnaSachin Tendulkar,the three big Khans of Bollywood, the Bachchan-family, members of Kapoor-khandaan lyricist Gulzar,composer Pyarelal ji were among those who came out to vote.

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Maharashtra Polls: Voter turnout exceeds 61%

Nearly 60.5 per cent of the total 8.98 crore electorate voted on Monday in Maharashtra - the first state to go to polls after the Lok Sabha elections that were swept by BJP.

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Poll of Polls (Average of six exit polls)

BJP-Shiv Sena: 213

Cong-NCP: 61

Others: 14 (Total: 288)

News18 IPSOS exit polls predict massive win for BJP-Shiv Sena

BJP-Shiv Sena: 243

INC-NCP:41

Others:4

According to Jan Ki Baat, Aaditya Thackeray is set to win from Worli.

Times Now predicts massive win for BJP-Sena with 213 seats

Times Now

BJP-ShivSena: 230

NCP-INC:48

Others: 10

TV9 Marathi predicts majority seats for BJP-Sena in Maha

TV9 Marathi

BJP-Shiv Sena: 197

INC-NCP:75

Others: 16

Jan Ki Baat:
BJP: 135
SS: 81
NCP: 41
INC: 24
OTH: 7

BJP-Sena to win majority seats followed by Cong-NCP, predicts India Today

India Today-Axis My India

BJP+Shiv Sena -- 181
Cong+NCP -- 81
Others -- 26

BJP-Sena will win 204 seats, predicts ABP-Cvoter

ABP-Cvoter:

BJP+Shiv Sena -- 204
Cong+NCP -- 69
Others -- 15

Maharashtra polls: BSP leader throws ink on EVM machine in Thane

A Bahujan Samaj Party leader threw ink on the EVM in a polling booth situated in Thane Head Post Office, police said.

Sunil Khambe, a local level leader, threw ink on the machine after he had cast his vote in the Assembly polls in progress statewide, an official said.

A video of his act was widely circulated soon after on social media.

While being bundled into the police van, Khambe told reporters that he did this as EVMs were making a "mockery of democracy".

"EVMs should be replaced with ballot papers. This is the demand of the people of the country. EVMs murdabad (down with EVMs)," he shouted out to reporters before being whisked away to a nearby police station.

Electronic Voting Machines have been at the centre of a debate between the ruling BJP and opposition parties, with the latter claiming that its tampering was resulting in a string of robust victories for the saffron party, including in the April-May Lok Sabha polls.

PTI

Activist Sunil Khambe protesting against EVMs in Thane district was detained by police.

Officials apply ink to toe of voters without arms

In a rare instance, polling officials in Deolali assembly constituency in Nashik district on Monday applied the indelible ink to one of the toes of a farmer who had lost his arms in an accident a few years ago.

In another incident, villagers joined tractor trolleys together in Baramati constituency in Pune district so that voters can reach a polling booth avoiding waterlogged area of the polling station. In Deolali, the polling officer applied the indelible link to one of toes of Bajirao Mojad, who had lost both his arms in an accident. (PTI)

59 VVPATs, 19 EVMs replaced in Nagpur district due to glitches

As many as 59 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units and 19 Electronic Voting Machines were replaced in Nagpur district due to glitches on Monday as the Maharashtra Assembly elections are underway.

Fifty-nine VVPAT machines, 34 control units and 19 ballot units (EVMs) were replaced due to technical glitches in 12 assembly constituencies of the district, the District information office said. Voting was going on smoothly across the district, it added. (PTI)

The vehicle of BJP candidate from Saoner Rajiv Potdar was attacked, allegedly by Congress supporters, near Sillewada, according to media reports.

Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the Maharashtra Assembly elections, at Jamnabai Narsee School, Juhu in Mumbai on October 21, 2019. (PTI photo)

270 members of one family vote in Pune

In what could be a record of sorts, as many as 270 members of the Joad family in Vadgaon Sheri in Pune district voted on Monday.

The eldest member of the family is Haji Ibrahim Alim Joad, who is 102-years-old - and had to be escorted from a hospital, so that he can vote. This family of Vadgaon Sheri, also spelt as Wadgaon Sheri and popular as Wadgaon, ensures that all eligible voters in the family, should vote.

"We make it a point that all of us vote," said Tanveer Joad, the 45-year-old grandson of Joad Sr.

Voting percentage till 04:00 pm in Mumbai

Mumbai constituency-wise voting percentage:

Bhandup west Constituency - 40.94%
Kurla - 22.01%
Boriwali - 40.26%
Dahisar - 39.65%
Magathane - 40.15%
Mulund - 39.22%
vikhroli - 40.10%
Bhandup west - 40.940%
Jogeshwari East - 38.52%
Dindoshi - 40.32%
Kandiwali - 37.54%
Charkop - 39.72%
Malad west - 38.75%
Goregaon - 33.52%
Versova - 30.93%
Andheri West - 31.42%
Andheri East - 36.18%
Mumbra Kalwa - 31.22%
Byculla - 37.69%
Mumbadevi - 31.55%

Polling booth in Shivaji Nagar uses candles after power cut

Sharad Pawar predicts 'change of government'

Former Maharashtra chief minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar has predicted a "change of government" in the state. While speaking to NDTV, asserted that "there is no question of being in the opposition. We are coming to power."

Villagers take the help of tractor-tolleys cross a wet ground at a polling station, during voting for Maharashtra Assembly elections, at Baramati in Pune district on October 21, 2019. (PTI Photo)

Maharashtra recorded 43.78 % voter turnout till 4 pm.

A 102-year-old man, Haji Ibrahim Aleem Joad, cast vote along with his family at a polling booth in Lohegaon. " I was admitted to hospital for four days but today I'm here to cast my vote. I urge everyone to come forward and vote," he said.

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan (R) and his wife and film producer Gauri Khan (L) arrive before casting their votes at a polling station during the state assembly election in Mumbai on October 21, 2019. (AFP Photo by Sujit Jaiswal)

Actor Juhi Chawla casts her vote in Mumbai.

Assembly polls: BJP unchallenged

On October 24, when the results of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana are announced, the political message of the verdict will echo far beyond those two states -- one in India’s west, and the other in the north. More so, perhaps, because these polls are happening less than six months after the general elections and would partly be seen as reflecting popular sentiment on the performance of Modi 2.0 so far.

The full-throated poll campaign, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief and Home Minister Amit Shah for the BJP, contrasted with the lacklustre Congress campaign, with Rahul Gandhi now on, now off, has seen state-specific issues taking a backseat and national issues like the economy, joblessness (raised by Congress) and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, promise to implement NRC across the nation (raised by the BJP) taking centre stage, with virtually no debate around the chief ministerial candidates or aspirants from any side.

Read the full report here.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, his son-in-law Sadanand Sule and grand-daughter Revati Sule show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting votes for Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Mumbai. (PTI photo)

In Maharashtra, 31.54% voter turnout has been recorded till 3 pm, according to Election Commission's Voter Turnout app.

Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde (Second from the right) of the BJP voting in Beed district. She is a candidate from Parli and pitted against cousin Dhananjay Munde of the NCP, who is the leader of opposition in Council.

Shah Rukh Khan casts his vote

Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri cast their votes at polling booth no 177 in Bandra West, Mumbai.

Minor scuffles reported in Beed, Jalna

As voting for the Assembly polls progressed across Maharashtra on Monday, reports of scuffles came in from Beed and Jalna districts, officials said late afternoon.

In Beed's Balepeer area, over 380 kilometres from here, supporters of Shiv Sena candidate Jaydatt Kshirsagar and NCP candidate Sandeep Kshirsagar had an altercation over allegations of vehicles being used to ferry voters to polling booths, an official said.

The area was tense for a while before police, as well as the two candidates, defused the situation, he added. In Jalna's Jamkhed area, over 400 kilometres from here, two groups owing allegiance to local leaders clashed before being separated by police, an official said. (PTI)

"There was some issue in an electronic voting machine (EVM) at polling booth number 62 of Worli Assembly constituency but the machine has been replaced and voting is going on,"says Sushma Satpute, Election Commission officer at Worli.

Maharashtra polls: No of women candidates decline

Several women leaders in Maharashtra are contesting the Vidhan Sabha polls but in terms of numbers the representation has reduced. This time 235 women are contesting of which only 39 are from the four mainstream political parties - the BJP,Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP.

The BJP has fielded the maximum women candidates 17, followed by the Shiv Sena and the Congress, which havefielded eight each, and the NCP six.

The Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi hasfielded six candidates from the 262 contesting and the Raj Thackeray-led MNS has given tickets to eight women candidates of the 101 seats that the party is contesting.

Read the full report here.

Deepika Padukone after casting her vote at a polling booth in Bandra (West), Mumbai.

Close contest on cards in most Raigad seats

Raigad district in Maharashtra, considered a stronghold of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), is likely to witness a close contest in six out of its seven Assembly constituencies in the state elections to be held on Monday.

The district comprises seven assembly segments - Panvel, Alibaug, Uran, Karjat, Pen, Mahad, and Shrivardhan.

In Panvel, the fight seems to be tilted in favour of sitting BJP MLA Prashant Thakur, who is the chairman of City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). PWP candidate Haresh Keni, supported by the Congress-NCP, is contesting against the two-time legislator.

Read the full report here.

Actor Vivek Oberoi and his father Suresh Oberoi cast their votes.

Salim Khan casts his vote in Mumbai.

About 30 % voting in Maharashtra until 1 pm

An average of 30 per cent voter turnout has been recorded in Maharashtra till 1 pm.

The voting was peaceful barring a couple of incidents of violence in Amravati and Solapur. Vanchit Bahujab Aghadi founder Prakash Ambedkar alleged that the wife of a VBA candidate was attacked in Solapur. In Amravati, three unidentified men fired at a activist of Swabhimani Paksha, a farmers' organization.

EVM glitches at Maharashtra polling booths, Congress complains to EC

Faulty EVMs delayed polling at some booths in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri and Bhandara districts on Monday, an official said. Polling was also halted for sometime at a booth in Worli area of Mumbai due to a technical error, he said.

The state Congress unit also sent 187 complaints to the Election Commission of malfunctioning of EVMs.

In Ratnagiri's Dhamangaon village, polling was stopped at a booth from 8.30 am to 10 am due to a technical fault in the electronic voting machine (EVM), he said.

The EVM glitch also halted the polling process at a booth in Kalamban Gavhanwadi village in Ratnagiri since 9.42 am, he said, adding that voting resumed there around 12.30 pm. In Bhandara district, polling was disrupted from 9.15 am to 9.35 am due to a similar issue, he said.

Read the full report here.

Until 1 pm, voter turnout was 30.31% in Maharashtra, according to Election Commission's Voter Turnout app.

Tendulkar votes, urges people to vote for 'better tomorrow'

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar led the sports fraternity to vote for theMaharashtraAssembly elections on Monday, and appealed to people to come out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right.

Tendulkar cast his vote along with wife Anjali and son Arjun, who is a budding left-arm pacer, at a polling booth in suburban Bandra. (PTI)

Pawar votes, urges people to exercise democratic right

NCP president Sharad Pawar cast his vote in Mumbai on Monday and urged people to come out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right "without any presssure" in the Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Pawar, his grand-daughter Revati Sule and son-in-law Sadanand Sule voted at a polling booth in south Mumbai.

Later talking to reporters, Pawar appealed to voters to exercise their franchise. "People should vote without any pressure," he said.

Read the full report here.

Isha Koppikar casts her vote in Maharashtra.

Swabhimani Paksha candidate shot at, thrashed in Amravati

Three motocycle-borne masked men fired at a candidate of pro-farmer outfit Swabhimani Paksha on Monday when he was going in a car, and also beat him up after pulling him out of the vehicle in Maharashtra's Amravati district, police said.

The attackers later set the car ablaze, Shendurjana Ghat police station's inspector Maruti Gedam said. The incident took place on Malkhed road in Amravati, located around 150 km from here, he said. (PTI)

Former CM and BJP Rajya Sabha member Narayan Rane voted in Sindhudurg. His son Nitesh (right) is contesting the family seat of Kankavli on BJP ticket.

After casting his vote, Aaditya Thackeray took to Twitter to appeal to voters to cast vote.

Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar after casting his vote in Mumbai requested everyone to come out and vote in large numbers as 'this is a celebration of democracy.'

Govinda and his wife Sunita cast their votes

Indian actor Govinda and his wife Sunita cast their vote at a polling booth in Andheri (West).

Mohan Bhagwat casts his vote in Nagpur

Prem Chopra casts his vote

ActorPrem Chopra casts his vote in Mumbai

Varun Dhawan casts his vote

ActorVarun Dhawan casts his vote in Mumbai

16.32% voter turnout recorded till 12 pm

Maharashtra has seen a 16.32% voter turnout recorded till 12 pm, on Monday, according to the Election Commission's appin the Assembly elections.

Gadchiroli records better voting percentage than cities

Gadchiroli district in Maharashtrarecords better voting percentage than cities till 9 am.

Sachin Tendulkar votes at a polling booth in Bandra (West)

Sachin Tendulkar, wife Anjali and their son Arjun after casting their vote at a polling booth in Bandra (West).

I am sure we will have a record-breaking victory in Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Gadkari

"Considering the amount of work & development that Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has done in last 5 years in Maharashtra, I am sure we will have a record-breaking victory in Maharashtra Assembly Elections," saysUnion Minister Nitin Gadkari to ANI.

MNS president Raj Thackeray waiting in queue to vote

We have one planet and we intend to protect it: Congress

"We have one planet & we intend to protect it. We will ensure we never have to experience the pain of the Aarey Forest massacre ever again," Congres tweets.

Movie stars vote

Indian actor and producer John Abraham and director Madhur Bhandarkar cast their votes.

Voter turnout in Maharashtra

Digras constituency has the highest voter turnout with 39.53% until 11 a.m and Kij (SC) at the lowest with only 7.10%.

Gulzar votes in Mumbai

Lyricist, poet and writer Gulzar votes in Mumbai.

Subhash Ghai votes

Indian film director, producer and screenwriterSubhash Ghai voted.

Mumbai should no longer be referred to as the pothole capital of this country: Congress

"Mumbai should no longer be referred to as the pothole capital of this country. We will ensure that the infrastructure in this great cosmopolitan city is restored: National Spokesperson @JhaSanjay#VoteForCongress" tweets Congress.

Congress party will ensure Mumbai is reinvigorated: INC

"It's time to wake up the city that never sleeps. Congress party will ensure Mumbai is reinvigorated & goes back to its glory days," tweets Congress.

Won’t go through the horrendous experience that Mumbai just went through with the Aarey Forest: Congress

"The Congress will make sure that we won’t go through the horrendous experience that Mumbai just went through with the Aarey Forest. Ecological imbalance will not be disturbed, we will respect the greenery of our city: National Spokesperson @JhaSanjay#VoteForCongress" tweets Congress

Music composer Pyarelalji after casting vote

Mohanish Nikam voted with his family at Albachat Bhawan in Pune

Prakash Javadekar votes in Pune

Union Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar votes in Pune.

Maharashtra records 14.35% voter turnout at 11 a.m

Maharashtra records 14.35% voter turnout percentage, at 11 a.m.

Smriti Irani interacts with a senior voter

Union Minister Smriti Irani interacts with a senior voter in Mumbai.

Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray castes vote along with family

Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, wife Rashmi and sons Aditya and Tejas, after casting their vote in Bandra(East). Aditya Thackeray is a candidate from Worli constituency.

Amravati Independent MP Navneet Rana along with her husband

Former actress-model Navneet Rana, who is an Independent MP from Amravati, along with her husband and MLA Ravi Rana.

FIR filed in Dhananjay Munde's 'edited' speech case

A day after NCP leader Dhananjay Munde was booked over his alleged obscene remarks against cousin and Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde, an FIR has been registered against unidentified persons for 'editing' his speech with criminal intent, police said on Monday.

The FIR was lodged on Sunday evening following a police complaint filed by local NCP leader Walmik Karad, an official said.

Read More

Thakur family votes in Virar

The Thakur family voted in Virar.While Hitendra Thakur (right) is contesting from Vasai, his son Kshitij (in white shirt) is contesting from Nalasopara.Thakur is founder of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and controls the Vasai Virar belt of Mumbai's western suburbs.

Sharad Pawar votes in Mumbai

NCP founder president Sharad Pawar after voting in Mumbai.His son-in-law and grand daughter accompanied him. Hisdaughter Surpriya Sule voted in Baramati.

Mumbai police helping a senior citizens

Maharashtra has a 6.58% voter turnout recorded till 11 am.

Maharashtra has a 6.58% voter turnout recorded till 11 am.
According to the app by the Election Commission, Maharashtra has seen a voter turnout of 6.58 percent till 11 am in the Assembly elections.

Actor, Producer Dia Mirza votes

Veteran writer, historian and theatre personality Babasaheb Purandare votes in Pune

Veteran writer, historian and theatre personality Babasaheb Purandare, aged 97, voting in Pune.
His works are mostly based on the events related to the life of Shivaji, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire; as a result he is termed as Shiv-Shahir ("Shivaji's bard"). He is mostly known for his popular play on Shivaji, Jaanta Raja which was popular not only in Maharashtra but also in Andhra Pradesh and Goa.
He is a recepeint of Maharashtra Bhushan award

For a bright future we need a generation of strong independent men and women: Congress

"Encouraging our sportspersons & ensuring they have the opportunities & infrastructure they require is imperative in making India a sporting powerhouse," Congress tweets.

"Our youth are our future andfor a bright future we need a generation of strong independent men andwomen," the party tweets.

MLC Prasad Lad votes in Mumbai

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis' close aide and MLC Prasad Lad votes in Mumbai.Lad has helped the BJP's Karnataka unit during the government change.

President of Maharashtra Congress Committee Balasaheb Thorat

"Voting is the most sacred act in the celebration of democracy. To strengthen our democracy, we should all have the right to vote as intelligent citizens to promote the nation's diverse development. Join this sacred celebration of democracy," tweeted thepresident of Maharashtra Congress CommitteeBalasaheb Thorat.

Kunal kemmu casts his vote

Indian film actorKunal kemmu casts his vote.

Encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma casts his vote

Encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma after casting vote.He is contesting for the polls from Nalasopara near Mumbai.

Ashish Vidhyarthi casted vote

ActorAshish Vidhyarthi casted vote.

A power cut has been reported at a polling booth in Pune's Shivaji Nagar. Voting is underway, according to ANI.

5.64% voting recorded in Mumbai in first 2 hours

Mumbai suburbs on Monday recorded 5.64 per cent polling in the first two hours as voting got underway for the 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra, an election official said. Long queues were observed outside several polling stations, indicating the percentage may go up in subsequent hours, the official said.

Voting began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. (PTI)

Until 10 am, Maharashtra reported voter turnout of 5.69 per cent.

Technical glitches in electronic voting machines (EVM) were reported from various polling booths in West Nagpur constituency, accoridng to media reports. Earlier, two EVMs in Bhiwandi were malfunctioning.

Bureaucrat-turned-politician Shrinivas Patil casts his vote. The NCP leader and close Sharad Pawar aide is contesting the Satara Lok Sabha seat against BJP's Udayanraje Bhosale.

Actress Genelia Deshmukh votes in Latur. Her two brothers-in-law Amit Deshmukh and Dhiraj Deshmukh are contesting the Latur City and Latur Rural seats, respectively.

Here's how the parties performed in 2014 Assembly elections:

In 2014 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 122 out of 288 seats while the Shiv Sena bagged 63 following which they joined hands to form the government. The Congress and the NCP had won 42 and 41 seats respectively but in the run-up to the Assembly polls this time, several MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, joined BJP.

The election campaigning saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah raising the pitch on scrapping of Article 370. In Maharashtra, they raked up the issue of Veer Savarkar and the BJP even proposed Bharat Ratna for the controversial Hindutva leader, who was accused in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination.

Chavan, Shelar, Ajit Pawar among early voters

Former chief minister Ashok Chavan and the current BJP-led Maharashtra government's school education minister Ashish Shelar were among the early ones to cast their votes for the state Assembly polls on Monday.

Politicians as well as members of the public came out to exercise their democratic right in the morning despite rain in some parts of the state.

Chavan and his family members cast their votes at the Ambedkar Nagar Municipal school in Nanded district.

In Mumbai, where it has been drizzling since last two days, Shelar exercised his franchise at St Stanisluas High school in suburban Bandra.

NCP Leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar voted at Baramati in Pune district. (PTI)

Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP and its ally Shiv Sena appear confident that it will retain power while Congress-NCP combine is looking at crossing the three-figure mark, according to opinion polls. In the 2014 polls, all these parties had contested separately but this time better sense prevailed with BJP and Shiv Sena brushing aside their differences while Congress and NCP too did the same.

Former tennis player Mahesh Bhupati, wife and actor Lara Dutta after casting their vote at a polling booth in Bandra (West).

Real issues on back-burner, nationalism prevails

With BJP managing to overwhelm the election campaign with a high dose of masculine nationalism, the narrative in this Haryana polls remained bereft of real issues.

Unemployment, water scarcity, polarization on caste lines, per capita income, the burgeoning state debt, drugs, farmers distress and other issues grappling the state found limited space. The Opposition's counter to BJP’s campaign remained arguably subdued.

As per the report of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Haryana has the highest unemployment in the country at 28.7%, against a national average of 8.4%.

Read the full report here.

Senior BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya in queue with his 87-year-old mother Gunwanti Somaiya.

EVM glitch reported in Maharashtra

The voting process was disrupted after two EVMs malfunctioned in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi.

BJP will score a record-breaking victory in assembly elections: Gadkari

Until 9 am, only 5% polling was completed in Mumbai City district's 10 Assembly constituencies.

BJP will form govt with a 'record-breaking victory,' says Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday expressed confidence that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form the next government in Maharashtra with a "record-breaking victory".

Gadkari, who was among the early voters in Nagpur, said people will vote on the basis of the five-year performance of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Devendra Fadnavis-led dispensation in Maharashtra.

"The BJP-Sena will have a record-breaking victory and Fadnavis will be the chief minister again," he told reporters after casting his vote.

Read the full report here.

We've been targeted since last 90 years: Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said the Sangh has been targeted since last 90 years, but there is no need to worry as the society is one and will always remain so. Bhagwat also said he is "not a political person".

After he cast his vote in Nagpur for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, some reporters asked him about the Congress targeting the RSS over the issue of demand for Bharat Ratna award for Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.

Replying to it, Bhagwat said, "We have been targeted since last 90 years. Hence, there is no need to worry as the society is one and will always be one. It is politics, all this is part of it. But the society is one and will always be one." (PTI)

Maharashtra Assembly elections: Voting begins for 288 seats

NCP leader Praful Patel and his wife Varsha cast their votes

Senior Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) leader Praful Patel and his wife Varsha cast their votes at a polling booth in Gondia assembly constituency. Gopal Agarwal from BJP & Amar Varade from Congress are contesting from this constituency.

Maharashtra's Nanar a flashpoint between Sena, BJP

The Rs 3 lakh crore Nanar super refinary project in Rajapur tehsil of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra remains a flashpoint of the two ruling saffon allies, the BJP and the Shiv Sena.

When the pre-poll alliance was sealed between the two allies, the Shiv Sena had put the condition of scrapping the project. After the meeting of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the announcement of scrapping of project was made.

Read the full report here.

Mumbai North MP Gopal Shetty casts his vote in Mumbai.

BJP may repeat 2014 poll performance in Vidarbha

Mrityunjay Bose, DHNS, Nagpur, OCT 17 2019, 08:40AM IST UPDATED: OCT 17 2019, 08:40AM IST

The vast Vidarbha region in central India once a stronghold of the Congress has become a stronghold of the BJP in the last few decades. However, in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections the region will see a dozen of key contests.

In the Lok Sabha elections, there were two setbacks when union minister of state for home Hansraj Aher lost elections to Shiv Sainik-turned-Congressman Suresh Dhanorkar and senior Shiv Sena leader Anand Adsul lost the Amravati seat to former model-actress Navneet Rana, an Independent backed by Congress-NCP.

Read the full report here.

Polling team took this difficult road to polling booth at Machal Ta Lanja in Ratnagiri district.

Focus to be on Bhujbals, Khadses in North Maharashtra

The focus in the North Maharashtra region would be the sidelined Bhujbal and Khadse families as they attempt a comeback into the mainstream.

The BJP-Shiv Sena saffron alliance is facing rebellion in the region that gives the opposition some edge. The region houses the onion, grapes and banana belt of India. The fluctuations of onion prices and production-supply gap at Lasalgaon, the biggest trading centre of onion in Asia, has troubled the farmers.

While Nashik is the origin of Godvari river, it is a pilgrimage centre and hosts the Kumbh mela every 12 years,Nandurbar-Dhule is a tribal belt.

Read the full report here.

Chief electoral officer Baldev Singh votes in Mumbai.

The importance of being Aaditya Thackeray

Aaditya Thackeray’s first memorable public action even before he floated his new Yuva Sena party in October 2010 was when he was a final year student at St Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He was already aware of the clout he could command. As the late editor and writer Aroon Tikekar put it: “How can a 20-year-old walk up to the University of Mumbai’s vice chancellor and give him a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw a book from the syllabus?”

That was a rhetorical question. His move was reminiscent of the remote control actions of his grandfather Bal Thackeray, founder of the Shiv Sena. The book wasSuch a Long Journeyby Rohinton Mistry, also a St Xavier’s alumnus, and recommended as an optional text for second year B.A. students by the Board of Studies. A day before it was withdrawn as a text, the student wing of the Shiv Sena — the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS) burnt copies of Mistry’s book at the gate of the University as it had “derogatory” references to the Shiv Sena and the Marathi manoos. The then vice chancellor, Rajan Welukar, came under criticism for invoking emergency powers under Section 14 (7) of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, to withdraw the book from the syllabus. Such is the power of being a Thackeray, and young Aaditya was already conscious of its import.

Read the full report here.

Bhagwat casts vote, urges people to vote on issues

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was among the early ones to cast his vote on Monday in Nagpur for the Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Bhagwat went to a polling booth in the Mahal area of the city around 7 am and exercised his franchise.

Later, to a query by reporters on the Congress targeting the RSS over the demand of Bharat Ratna award for Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, Bhagwat dubbed it as "politics".

Read the full report here.

Maharashtra, Haryana poll campaigns: Rahul Gandhi takes guard. (DH Cartoon by Sajith Kumar)

Pawar vs Ram Shinde, an eyeball to eyeball conflict

In a seat that had been the forte of BJP for over quarter a century,Pawar family scion Rohit Pawar of NCP faces a big challenge.

Rohit is engaged in an eyeball to eyeball conflict with Prof Ram Shinde, a two-term MLA and water conservation minister in Devendra Fadnavis government.

This is one of the most interesting contests in Ahmednagar district and Maharashtra.

Read the full report here.

Maharashtra polls: No of women candidates decline

Several women leaders in Maharashtra are contesting the Vidhan Sabha polls but in terms of numbers the representation has reduced. This time 235 women are contesting of which only 39 are from the four mainstream political parties - the BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP.

The BJP has fielded the maximum women candidates 17, followed by the Shiv Sena and the Congress, which have fielded eight each, and the NCP six.

The Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has fielded six candidates from the 262 contesting and the Raj Thackeray-led MNS has given tickets to eight women candidates of the 101 seats that the party is contesting.

Read the full report here.

Education Minister Ashish Shelar casts vote at Bandra in Mumbai.

PM Modi calls for record voter turnout in Maharashtra, Haryana

As polling is underway in Maharashtra and Haryana on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to cast vote and enrich the "festival of democracy".

Besides the two states, assembly bypolls are underway in 51 seats and Lok Sabha by-elections in two constituencies across India.

"Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers," the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

Read the full report here.

Maharashtra minister of state for women and child development Vidya Thakur along with family after voting in Mumbai.

29% of candidates face criminal charges

Nearly 32 per cent of candidates in the running in Maharashtra are crorepatis while around 29 per cent face criminal charges in Maharashtra.

According to a report prepared by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Maharashtra Election Watch (MEW), the average assets of the candidates were Rs 4.21 crore.

The ADR & MEW analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 3,112 of the 3,237 candidates in fray in 288 Assembly seats of the state. The details of 125 candidates could not be analysed because of the unavailability of properly scanned affidavits on the Election Commission of India website.

Read the full report here.

Veteran farmers' leader and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti founder after voting in Yavatmal.

BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will win around 225 seats, says Piyush Goyal

Former UP governor and senior BJP leader Ram Naik after voting in Mumbai.

Opinion poll predicts BJP win in Haryana, Maharashtra

The BJP is likely to romp home easily in the Assembly elections to Maharashtra and Haryana to retain power, with the Congress facing a near decimation in the latter, according to an opinion poll released on Friday.

The ABP-CVoter poll showed that BJP-Shiv Sena combine is likely to win 194 out of the 288 seats in Maharashtra while the BJP is likely to win 83 out of 90 seats in Haryana. The Congress, which won just 15 seats and lost power in 2014 polls, will be reduced to just three seats in Haryana, if one goes by the opinion poll.

Read the full report here.

Close contest on cards in most Raigad seats

Raigad district in Maharashtra, considered a stronghold of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), is likely to witness a close contest in six out of its seven Assembly constituencies in the state elections to be held on Monday.

The district comprises seven assembly segments - Panvel, Alibaug, Uran, Karjat, Pen, Mahad, and Shrivardhan.

In Panvel, the fight seems to be tilted in favour of sitting BJP MLA Prashant Thakur, who is the chairman of City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). PWP candidate Haresh Keni, supported by the Congress-NCP, is contesting against the two-time legislator.

Read the full report here.

The Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange are closed for trading today, on account Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Key candidates in the fray are as follows:

Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur South-West, and his predecessors from the Congress -- Ashok Chavan, who is contesting from Bhokar in Nanded district, and Prithviraj Chavan, who is seeking a re- election from Karad South in Satara district.

The BJP, under Fadnavis' leadership, is seeking a second straight term in the state.

Aaditya Thackeray, the son of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, has also entered the poll fray from Worli constituency in Mumbai.

The 29-year-old Yuva Sena chief is the first member from his family to make a debut in electoral politics.

Voting underway for bypolls to Satara Lok Sabha constituency

Voting is underway for the byelection to Satara Lok Sabha constituency, where former NCP leader and sitting MP Udayanraje Bhosale is in the fray on BJP's ticket against Shriniwas Patil of the Congress-NCP combine.

The BJP has fielded its nominees in 164 Assembly seats, including candidates of smaller allies contesting on its lotus symbol, while the Sena is contesting 124 seats. On the other hand, the opposition Congress has fielded 147 candidates and its ally NCP 121.

Actress Shubha Khote castsher vote in the Andheri West constituency.

Ajit Pawar casts his vote

Polling begins in Maharashtra, BJP seeks 2nd term

Polling began on Monday morning in all 288 Assembly constituencies of Maharashtra where 3,237 candidates, including 235 women, are in the fray.

The voting commenced at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur South-West, and his predecessors from the Congress -- Ashok Chavan, who is contesting from Bhokar in Nanded district, and Prithviraj Chavan, who is seeking a re-election from Karad South in Satara district.

The BJP, under Fadnavis' leadership, is seeking a second straight term in the state.

Read the full report here.

Maharashtra under heavy security cover

The Maharashtra police has deployed over three lakh personnel along with the Central forces, an official said on Saturday.

A heavy blanket of security will be seen across the state for peaceful polling, the official said. At least three helicopters along with drones will be used in Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district, Milind Bharambe, special inspector general of police (Law and Order) said. (PTI)

"Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers," tweets PM Narendra Modi.

Assembly polls: BJP unchallenged

On October 24, when the results of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana are announced, the political message of the verdict will echo far beyond those two states -- one in India’s west, and the other in the north. More so, perhaps, because these polls are happening less than six months after the general elections and would partly be seen as reflecting popular sentiment on the performance of Modi 2.0 so far.

The full-throated poll campaign, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief and Home Minister Amit Shah for the BJP, contrasted with the lacklustre Congress campaign, with Rahul Gandhi now on, now off, has seen state-specific issues taking a backseat and national issues like the economy, joblessness (raised by Congress) and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, promise to implement NRC across the nation (raised by the BJP) taking centre stage, with virtually no debate around the chief ministerial candidates or aspirants from any side.

Read the full report here.

How to check your name on the electoral rolls

The Government of India and the Election Commission have come up with the means to verify whether your name is on the electoral rolls, as the location of your name can change from time-to-time or they could've been removed altogether.

Here is how you can check if your name is on the electoral rolls:

Go to the National Voters' Service Portal's electoral search page. The page offers two ways to check your name on the electoral rolls - EPIC number and general information.

Read the full report here.

Autorickshaws in Akola to ferry disabled voters free of cost

As all citizens would step out to vote, auto-rickshaw drivers in Maharashtra's Akola district have decided to ferry disabled voters free of cost to their polling booths during voting for the state Assembly polls today.

Under an initiative of the district auto-rickshaw union, over 100 drivers have put up posters on their vehicles displaying phone numbers on which the physically challenged voters can call them to get a free ride to their polling booth, they said.

The message on the posters reads: "Our one day for the disabled voters". "It is our duty to vote. So we will first ourselves go to vote and then take every divyang voter to his/her respective polling station," district auto-rickshaw union leader Santosh Sharma told PTI on Sunday.

Weather in rainy Pune to improve on polling day: IMD official

The weather in Pune, which has been witnessing sporadically heavy rains for the past couple of days, will improve on Monday, the day of voting for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, with rise in day temperature and light rain late afternoon, an India Meteorological Department official said.

"Monday will see a definite improvement in weather with rise in day temperature and spells of light rain. It will be comfortable in the morning and till around 2pm in the afternoon," the official said. (PTI)

Rain likely in many parts of Maharashtra during polling today

Rains and overcast conditions in several parts of Maharashtra threaten to play spoilsport on Monday when 8.98 crore voters are expected to decide the fate of 3,237 candidates in 288 seats.

In Western Maharashtra, Kolhapur and Satara witnessed thunder and rain on Sunday, while other parts of the state like Sangli, Nashik, Pune, Ratnagiri and Aurangabad reported medium intensity showers.

The IMD on Sunday predicted that "thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds" was very likely at isolated places in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Beed and Osmanabad districts on Monday. (PTI)

The fate of 3,237 candidates will be sealed in EVMs today as voters in Maharashtra will exercise their electoral rights to elect state assembly representatives in 288 constituencies.

Meanwhile, mock polling is underway at booth number 285 for the Gondia Assembly constituency in Maharashtra. Gopal Agarwal from BJP andAmar Varade from Congress are contesting from this constituency.

Polling officials, carrying the Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) and other necessary materials, leave for their poll duty from a distribution centre, on the eve of Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Pune on Sunday. (PTI photo)

In Maharashtra, the competition is between BJP and Sena

In Maharashtra, the October 21 Assembly election is a competition between BJP and Shiv Sena as to who between the allies gets more seats, and not between their ruling alliance and the opposition Congress-NCP front.

In India’s second-most populous -- and third largest -- state, it’s clear that despite their differences on issues like Aarey and Nanar, the BJP-Sena alliance has an edge.

Also, it is a fact that the BJP and Sena have had a blow hot-blow cold relationship over the last three decades but the cementing factors -- Hindutva and the Marathi-manoos – have held.

Read the full report here.

'Why so many Modi, Shah rallies if no Oppn challenge?'

The Shiv Sena on Sunday sought to know why top BJP leaders held so many rallies for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis feels there is no Opposition left in the fray to challenge his party-led alliance.

In a column in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut also claimed that the poll plunge of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya Thackeray will change the state's "political dynamics" in coming years.

Hinting at the waning strength of the Opposition parties, Fadnavis recently said there was no "wrestler" left in the fray who can challenge the BJP-led alliance.

Read the full report here.

8.98 cr voters to seal fate of 3,237 candidates

The fate of 3,237 candidates including scores of political bigwigs, chief ministerial aspirants, next-generation politicians and new aspirants, would be sealed on Monday when Maharashtra goes to polls.

An estimated 8.98 crore are eligible to vote for the polls that is a direct contest between MahaYuti, an alliance led by ruling BJP-Shiv Sena and MahaAghadi, a front led by opposition Congress-NCP.

The elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly – along with Haryana – is the first elections since the April-May 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Along with the Vidhan Sabha polls, the bye-polls to Satara Lok Sabha seat is also being held.

Read the full report here.

Are you voting for the first time? Here's a guide on how to vote

Voting in these constituencies will begin at 7 am. Meanwhile, here's a guide for first time voters to help them understand how to vote at the polling booth.
On the voting day, when you have arrived at the polling booth you are assigned to (The ECI has strict standards of timing and day of voting, please make sure you stay within that), and you have probably braved a long line to get to your spot, you will see the following arrangement inside the booth:

Three polling officers sitting next to each other, each with a different assigned task, the presiding officer of the booth and any number of ballot units covered behind folds.

Read the full report here.

A look at the election campaign by different parties

The campaign in Maharashtra was marked by personal attacks and sharp exchange of barbs between the chief minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who hit the hustings at the age of 79 and addressed a number of rallies. However, the Congress and NCP failed to hold even a single joint rally.

While Modi addressed nine rallies across the state, Rahul Gandhi spoke at six public meetings.

The campaign also saw an undertone of jostling for supremacy between the BJP and the Sena, which had fought the last assembly elections separately, winning 122 and 63 seats respectively. The Congress had bagged 42 and the NCP 41 seats.

BJP seeking second term in Maharashtra

The BJP, which is seeking a second straight term under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra, is contesting 164 seats, which include candidates of smaller allies contesting on its lotus symbol, while Sena has fielded candidates on 126 seats. On the other hand, the Congress has fielded 147 candidates and the ally NCP 121.

Among other parties, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has fielded 101 candidates, the CPI 16, the CPM 8. The BSP has fielded candidates in 262 constituencies. A total of 1400 Independents are also in the poll arena.

As many as 3,237 candidates, including 235 women, are contesting in 288 seats and 96,661 polling booths are in place with 6.5 lakh staff for the voting exercise.

In Maharashtra, where the 'Mahayuti' alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and smaller parties is against the 'Maha-agadhi' led by the Congress and the NCP, a total of 8,98,39,600 people, including 4,28,43,635 women, will exercise their right to vote today.

Election FAQ: Casting a vote without a voter ID

The 2019 Assembly Election is here and with it returns the ever-present confusion of misplaced or lost voter cards, incomplete polling booth checks and a lot more as people scramble to get their vote counted and put up the next head of their states.

If you're one of those who has lost their voter cards or simply can't find it and are worrying that you cannot vote, fret not. The ECI says that you can votewithout a voter card. Here's how:

Make sure your name is on the electoral rolls. If you remember your EPIC number, it's great, but if you don't, it's all the same. Just head on over tothis guideto find out how you can confirm your place on the electoral rolls and what your polling booth is.

Read the full report here.

In Maharashtra, the competition is between BJP and Sena

In Maharashtra, the October 21 Assembly election is a competition between BJP and Shiv Sena as to who between the allies gets more seats, and not between their ruling alliance and the opposition Congress-NCP front.

In India’s second-most populous -- and third largest -- state, it’s clear that despite their differences on issues like Aarey and Nanar, the BJP-Sena alliance has an edge.

Also,it is a fact that the BJP and Sena have had a blow hot-blow cold relationship over the last three decades but the cementing factors -- Hindutva and the Marathi-manoos – have held.

Read the full report here.