Maharashtra records 58.22% voter turnout by 5pm; Jharkhand at 67.59%
Voting is underway in Maharashtra and Jharkhand for the assembly polls on Wednesday, November 20. In Maharashtra, the election is being conducted in a single phase for all 288 Legislative Assembly seats.
However, in Jharkhand, polling is being held for the remaining 38 seats, as voting for 43 constituencies took place on November 13, recording a 64.86 per cent voter turnout.
Follow live updates on Maharashtra exit polls
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.
Voting in all 288 constituencies of Maharashtra started at 7am and will conclude at 6 pm. Maharashtra has a total of 9,64,85,765 registered voters, including 1,16,355 service voters. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 1,00,186 polling stations across the state.
Maharashtra’s political landscape has seen significant changes since the last assembly elections. The BJP and Shiv Sena, once allies, contested against the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP. However, differences over the chief minister’s role led to the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance ending, bringing about the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of the Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena.
However, in Jharkhand, 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 ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance are engaged in a fierce battle in the elections in the state,
Chief electoral officers in all states have been instructed to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place to facilitate voters. This includes accessible roads in good condition, leading to polling stations, and ensuring that these buildings are equipped with essential minimum facilities to provide a smooth voting experience.
Key details of Maharashtra, Jharkhand election battles:
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance strives to retain power, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition is working to reclaim control in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra election features 4,136 candidates, including 2,086 independents. Within the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena 81, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.
In the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) 86. The Bahujan Samaj Party has nominated 237 candidates, while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is contesting 17 seats in the 288-member assembly.
18 of the 38 constituencies voting are situated in the key Santhal Paragana region, spanning six districts. Throughout its campaign, the NDA has raised concerns about large-scale infiltration in this area during the five-year tenure of the JMM-led government.
Prominent candidates in the Jharkhand election include chief minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and his sister-in-law Sita Soren from the JMM. The BJP has fielded several key figures, including state president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi.
Bypolls will be held in nine constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, including Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. A total of 90 candidates are in the fray, with the highest number of 14 in Ghaziabad. These polls will serve as the first electoral test for both the INDIA bloc and the NDA in the politically crucial state since the Lok Sabha elections.