Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday cast his vote at a polling station in Mumbai. He was accompanied by his wife Rashmi Thackeray and son and party leader Aaditya Thackeray.

After casting their vote, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray urged the voters to cast their vote, saying “Step out and vote.”

A Slow Voter Turnout Recorded

Meanwhile, Maharashtra, after 4 hours of voting, still registered a slow voter turnout of 18.14 per cent, after which Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar urged the people to exercise their right to vote to bring a change in the state.

In a self-made video, Wadettiwar said, “Voting is taking place today in this land that nurtured the ideologies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. I urge everyone to come and exercise your right to vote. I hope you will all vote for the respect, pride, and culture of Maharashtra, and also to continue with the ideology of the great people of Maharashtra.”

Voter Turnout

According to the Election Commission of India, Maharashtra has recorded a voter turnout of 18.14 per cent till 11 am whereas the Jharkhand has recorded 31.37 per cent.

Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra recorded the highest voter turnout of 30.00 per cent, while the district of Nanded recorded the lowest voter turnout of 13.67 per cent till 11 am, as per the data of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis Appeals People To Vote In The Assembly Elections

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also appealed everyone to vote in the assembly elections.

“I appeal to everyone that the festival of democracy is going on and participation in democracy is very important. For those who have expectations from their government, it is even more important for them to come out to vote. Everyone should vote,” he said.

Voting for the single-phase Maharashtra assembly elections began at 7 am today and will conclude at 6 this evening. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies.

The primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and the Congress won 44. In 2014, the BJP claimed 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.

Mumbai: As polling is underway in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and candidate from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, Nawab Malik on Wednesday casts his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.

After casting his vote, Malik appealed to the citizens to cast their votes in large numbers for the assembly polls.

“I exercised my franchise today. My family is also voting. I urge people to step out of their houses in large numbers and vote, and elect an MLA of their choice,” he said.

Notably, in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, Shiv Sena, a Mahayuti alliance member alongside NCP, has fielded Suresh ‘Bullet’ Patil to contest against Nawab Malik. NCP’s Mahayuti’s alliance partners, BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) have expressed their opposition to Malik’s candidature.

However, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar has defended his decision to offer a ticket to Nawab Malik to contest from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, despite the serious allegations against him.

Malik was arrested in 2022 on charges of having links with Dawood Ibrahim’s associates, but no court has proven these allegations yet.

NCP Candidate From Bandra East, Zeeshan Siddique Casts His Vote

Earlier today, NCP candidate from Bandra East, Zeeshan Siddique cast his vote in the Maharashtra Assembly polls.

“For the first time, I have come alone to vote. My father (Baba Siddiqui) is no more. This is different but this will have to be done. I know that my father is with me. I started my day by visiting the graveyard in the morning…I think everyone must vote,” he said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP candidate from Baramati Assembly constituency, Ajit Pawar expressed confidence in winning the assembly polls, saying that he trusts the voters will send him to the Assembly for the eighth time.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

Voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for the single-phase of Maharashtra assembly elections and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies.

Shifting alliances, ideological conflicts, complex caste dynamics, and emotional appeals have characterised the battle for power in the Maharashtra Assembly. The primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and the Congress won 44. In 2014, the BJP claimed 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.

Pune: The big pre-poll allegation dropped by former IPS officer Ravindra Patil that Supriya Sule and Congress’ Nana Patole had used Bitcoin scam tainted cash to fund polls has blown out into an all-out political war on polling day.

Supriya Sule Refutes All Allegations Levelled Against Her

Supriya Sule on Wednesday refuted all allegation levelled against her saying all the allegations are completely false.

Sule said, “I have filed a defamation case and a criminal case. I am ready to answer his (Sudhanshu Trivedi) 5 questions wherever he wants. Time of his choice, place of his choice and platform of his choice. I am ready to answer him because all the allegations are completely false. All lies”

Earlier today, Pawar claimed that he could recognize the voice of his sister in the purported Audio clips that the former IPS officer Patil had alluded to as proof of Sule’s involvement in the scam. The Deputy CM also promised an investigation into the scandal.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s Statement

“Whatever audio clip is being shown, I just know that I have worked with both of them. One of them is my sister and the other is someone with whom I have worked a lot. The audio clip has their voices; I can figure out from their tone. An inquiry will be done and everything will be clear. An inquiry will be done and the truth will come in front of the people,” Pawar said.

Replying to Ajit Pawar’s assertion on the audio being hers Sule said, “He is Ajit Pawar, he can say anything. ‘Ram Krishna Hari’. “

Supriya Sule & Her Family Cast Their Votes

Earlier today, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule and her family cast their votes at a polling station in Baramati.

One of the most anticipated battles in these elections is taking place in Baramati. Where Ajit Pawar is contesting against the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Chandra Pawar faction) Yugendra Pawar, the son of his younger brother, Shrinivas Pawar.

Baramati also drew attention in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Sunetra Pawar challenged Supriya Sule, who ultimately won by a margin of 1.5 lakh votes.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

Voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for the single-phase Maharashtra assembly elections and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies.

A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the elections, including 2,086 independents. The BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the NCP 59. The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) 86. The BSP is contesting 237 seats, while other smaller parties are also in the fray. The state has approximately 9.7 crore registered voters.

Elaborate Security Arrangements Made

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls. Mumbai Police has deployed over 25,000 personnel, including riot-control teams and home guards. More than 2,000 police officers and over 25,000 police personnel are on duty to maintain law and order during the elections.

Shifting alliances, ideological conflicts, complex caste dynamics, and emotional appeals have characterised the battle for power in the Maharashtra Assembly. The primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and the Congress won 44. In 2014, the BJP claimed 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.