North News
Mumbai, November 20
Maharashtra registered a voter turnout of 65.02 pc in elections to its 288 assembly seats on Wednesday, with Gadchiroli district, a Naxal-affected area, recording the highest turnout at 69.63%. Mumbai City posted the lowest at 49%, officials said.
The voting day saw sporadic violence but was marked by participation from political heavyweights, Bollywood stars, and business leaders alongside ordinary citizens.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and NCP faction leader Ajit Pawar, is vying to retain power. Their campaign has emphasized initiatives like the “Majhi Ladki Bahin” scheme for women.
Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is aiming for a resurgence. The results are set for November 23.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar addressed allegations of election interference involving cryptocurrency, stating that an audio clip under scrutiny will be investigated. Opposition leaders, including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, dismissed the claims as BJP-driven misinformation.
Sharad Pawar cast his vote in Baramati, urging robust voter participation. “By November 23, we’ll know who the people trust to govern Maharashtra,” he said, defending his daughter Supriya Sule from allegations.
The elections have drawn significant attention amid high-stakes political rivalries.
Tags: #MaharashtraPolls #VoterTurnout #AssemblyElections #PunjabBypolls #PoliticalRivalry #AjitPawar #SharadPawar #NCP #MVA #BJP
