Lok Sabha elections 2024: What leaders did on eve of voting day

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his family at the Mumbadevi temple

The day before six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai and three in Thane district went to the polls, some politicians and candidates stayed at home or in their offices while others visited temples and other places of worship to seek blessings. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, accompanied by his wife Rashmi and his sons former minister Aaditya and wildlife researcher Tejas, sought blessings at the Mumbadevi temple at Bhuleshwar in south Mumbai.

BJP's Mumbai North East candidate Mihir Kotecha at the Siddhivinayak temple in Dadar on Sunday morning

BJP's Mumbai North East candidate Mihir Kotecha visited the Siddhivinayak temple at Dadar on Sunday morning. "Today, I got darshan of Ganpati in Siddhivinayak temple and sought blessings. My family was present at this time," he said in a social media post. The team of his opponent, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Dina Patil, refused to share updates about his activities ahead of voting day. For Ravindra Waikar, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) candidate from Mumbai North West, it was business as usual. His supporters informed mid-day that Waikar, a former Sena (UBT) member, sought blessings from Lord Ganesh at the temple he built in his Assembly constituency.

Rahul Shewale, the Mahayuti candidate from the South Central constituency, was preoccupied with meetings. A close aide of the candidate said that the polling agents of each party and candidates work together to cross-check names in the electoral list and verify voter turnout at booths. "Though the campaign ended on Saturday evening, last-minute meetings with polling agents were held to check details and Rahul Shewale was busy with this," said the aide. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde visited MNS Chief Raj Thackeray at his residence, Shiv Tirth, in central Mumbai.