Maharashtra elections 2024: Voting begins across 288 constituencies

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Voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for the single-phase Maharashtra elections 2024 and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies.

The results of Maharashtra Elections 2024 will be declared on November 23.

Security has been heightened in Mumbai ahead of voting day. Police have been conducting checks on vehicle movements, particularly in areas such as Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar and Dharavi.

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. According to the Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate, more than 2,000 police officers and over 25,000 police personnel are on duty to maintain law and order during the elections.

Key leaders in the fray include Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde from Kopri-Pachpakhadi, who is facing Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Prakash Dighe. Deputy CM Devandra Fadnavis is contesting from his stronghold, Nagpur South West, against Prafulla Gudadhe from the Congress.

Meanwhile, NCP leader and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar hopes to retain Baramati, a stronghold of the Pawar family, against his nephew Yugendra Pawar of Sharad Pawar-led NCP. In Mumbai, Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena is hoping to be reelected from Worli in a Sena vs Sena contest against Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena's Milind Deora. Similarly, Amit Thackeray of MNS faces a triangular battle in Mahim against Sada Sarvankar of Shiv Sena and Mahesh Sawant of Shive Sena (UBT), ANI reported.

Voter turnout in the state remains a critical focus, with both Election Commission (ECI) and local initiatives who are encouraging the locals to exercise their right.

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.

Maharashtra witnessed a high-decibel campaign ahead of the elections for its 288 assembly seats. The intense campaigning ended on Monday, November 18, 2024, paving the way for today's voting.

The battle for power in the Maharashtra Assembly has been characterised by shifting alliances, ideological conflicts, complex caste dynamics, and emotional appeals. 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.

(With inputs from ANI)