Maharashtra witnessed an average voter turnout of 48.66 per cent by 5 pm in the final phase of the India General Elections 2024. Pics/ Team Mid-day
Notable personalities from Bollywood like Amitabh Bachchan, corporate sectors, and politics like Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde came out to cast their votes.
The state Chief Electoral Officer clarified that anyone in the queue at 6 pm would be allowed to vote, ensuring no one is left out.
Dindori in Nashik recorded the highest turnout at 57.06 per cent, while Kalyan in Thane had the lowest at 41.70 per cent.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis voted in Thane and raised concerns about the pace of voting in Mumbai.
"There have been several complaints of the overall polling pace being very slow," Devendra Fadnavis said adding that he has asked Election Commission to look into it.
Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde expressed confidence in the Sena-BJP alliance's victory in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, along with their spouses, exercised their franchise in Mumbai, highlighting political involvement.
Union minister Piyush Goyal, industrialists Ratan Tata and Anil Ambani, and actors Akshay Kumar and Sachin Tendulkar were among the prominent voters.
Business figures like N Chandrasekaran and Shaktikanta Das, along with political leaders, fulfilled their civic responsibility.
Some voters queued up early to avoid the heat, showing their dedication to participating in the electoral process.
Malfunctioning EVMs in Thane caused temporary disruptions, but officials promptly addressed the issue.
Aaditya Thackeray highlighted voter complaints about facilities outside polling booths, emphasising the importance of basic amenities.
The Election Commission of India was urged by Aaditya Thackeray to address concerns raised by political leaders and voters to ensure a smooth voting process.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya accused Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders of involvement in corrupt practices and fake EVM usage, sparking controversy.
Sena's Sunil Raut dismissed allegations, stating that a dummy EVM was kept outside the polling booth for educational purposes and was removed under political pressure.
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