Elections LIVE | 58% turnout in Maharashtra, 67% in Jharkhand till 5 pm
In Maharashtra, the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback
Maharashtra recorded 58.22 per cent polling, while Jharkhand, in the second phase of polls, registered 67.59 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm on Wednesday (November 20) as the voting began in the two states at 7 in the morning.
Maharashtra, the richest state in India, is voting in a single phase for all 288 members of the legislative assembly. Jharkhand is witnessing polling for the remaining 38 seats, as voting for 43 constituencies took place in the first phase on November 13, recording a 64.86 per cent voter turnout.
Along with the legislative Assembly elections in these two states, bypolls for 15 Assembly seats across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand are also being conducted on Wednesday.
Also read: Maharashtra, Jharkhand brace for high-stakes elections: It's a neck and neck contest in both states
Mahayuti vs MVA in Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback.
The election will determine whether the Mahayuti can reverse the massive losses it suffered during the recent Lok Sabha elections. In the Lok Sabha polls, the MVA won 30 of the 48 seats in the state and the Mahayuti just 17.
It will also be virtually a do-or-die battle for the rival factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP as these are the first Assembly elections after two regional forces split up. The poll outcome will decided the political future of top leaders like Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde.
These elections will also have an impact on the national politics as a triumph for the Mahayuti will give a big boost to the NDA government at the Centre, while a victory for the MVA will bring back the INDIA bloc in the contention after the drubbing in Haryana Assembly elections.
Also read: Maharashtra polls | Race for CM's post hots up as both MVA, Mahayuti keep people guessing
BJP aiming to wrest Jharkhand
In Jharkhand, the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition is seeking to retain power in Jharkhand, while the BJP-headed NDA will try to wrest it.
This phase will decide the electoral fate of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren (both JMM), and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) besides more than 500 other candidates who are contesting in 38 of the total 81 assembly seats.
Polling began at 7 am in 14,218 polling stations and will continue till 5 pm barring 31 booths where it will end at 4 pm. The first phase of the elections was held on November 13.
Besides CM Soren and his wife, prominent among the candidates in this round include state BJP president and ex-CM Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM) and BJP ally AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto.
(With agency inputs)
Live Updates
- 20 Nov 2024 1:50 PM IST
Amid voting, Rs 60 lakh in cash seized in Chandrapur
A flying squad of the Election Commission on Wednesday seized Rs 60 lakh in the Rajura constituency in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, where assembly polls are underway.
Poll officials raided a house at Gadchandur and confiscated the cash and some campaign material, an official said.
Altogether, 17 candidates, including Deorao Bhongle of BJP and Congress nominee Subhash Dhote are in the fray in the Rajura assembly constituency.
The Income Tax authorities have also been informed about the seizure, the official added.
- 20 Nov 2024 1:49 PM IST
Rival candidates squabble in Nashik; officials say voting unaffected
A heated argument broke out on Wednesday between Shiv Sena candidate Suhas Kande and independent nominee Sameer Bhujbal over the identity of some voters at a polling centre in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, officials said.
Police and poll authorities later reached the spot, they said, adding the situation was in control and polling was not affected due to the incident.
Kande and Bhujbal, as well as their supporters, had a heated exchange of words at a polling centre in Nandgaon Assembly constituency after the independent candidate raised objection over the authenticity of some voters in the segment.
“The police and election observers reached the spot immediately and action has been initiated as per the Representation of the People Act,” Nashik Collector Jalaj Sharma said.
After the police’s intervention, one of the candidates left the place, he said.
“It is clear that polling officers check the identity of voters and then only allow them to vote,” the collector said.
“The incident has not affected the voting in any manner. The voting process is smooth at the polling centre,” Sharma added.
- 20 Nov 2024 1:45 PM IST
UP bypolls: EC takes action against cops for violating rules
Acting on complaints, the Election Commission on Wednesday ordered the suspension of police personnel violating its guidelines on checking of voters and stopping them from casting votes in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls, officials said.
This comes after SP president Akhilesh Yadav urged the EC to suspend all police officers who are checking voter cards and Aadhaar IDs on basis of video evidence.
Acting on the EC’s directions, district election officers and superintendents of police, after verifying the complaints, have suspended the police personnel for their conduct.
Voting is underway in nine assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh.
