20 May,2024 02:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Aaditya Thackeray showing his finger marked with indelible ink/ Shadab Khan
As voting is underway across 13 constituencies in Maharashtra amid the fifth phase of India General Elections 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday claimed that electors have voiced a lot of grievances about the facilities outside polling booths. The MLA said that voters were trying to exercise their franchise amid the soaring heat and added that the voters should be made to queue in the shade and be given fans, reported PTI.
According to the report, polling began at 7 am in the 13 constituencies for India General Elections 2024's phase five, including six in Mumbai and shall continue till 6 pm.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Aaditya Thackeray wrote, "A lot of complaints from voters about the facilities outside the booths Election Commission of India. At least having the voter lines in shade/ fans could help. They don't want much, just basics to stay cool. Please look into it."
Reportedly, some of the Mumbaikars told the news agency that they went to polling booths early in the morning to beat the heat.
The PTI report stated that in Maharashtra, across the 13 seats where voting is underway for India General Elections 2024, 2.46 crore people are eligible to cast their ballots and decide the fate of 264 candidates.
Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Bharati Pawar, and Kapil Patil are among the BJP's top nominees, which also includes lawyer Ujjwal Nikam. Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Varsha Gaikwad of the Mumbai Congress are both running for office. Goyal, Patil, and Gaikwad voted early this morning, the report added.
Several other important people, including RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, businessman Anil Ambani, and Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Farhan Akhtar, voted early in Mumbai, it further stated.
