Mumbai, May 20 (UNI) An estimated 48.66 per cent of over 2.48 crore electorates cast their votes for 264 candidates in fray at 13 parliamentary constituencies of Maharashtra in fifth and final phase of polling in the state till 1700 hours on Monday amidst tight security, official sources said.
The 13 constituencies are spread across Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Palghar, Nashik and Dhule districts of Maharashtra.
Additional chief electoral officer of Maharashtra Kiran Kulkarni said that the polling will continue till 1800 hrs and the voters who will be present at polling stations at that time will be allowed to cast their votes.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeary in a press conference alleged that Election Commission deliberately delayed the process of voting at many polling booths to deprive people to cast their votes.
He appealed voters to not leave polling stations untill they cast their votes.
However, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis dismissed this allegation, saying that UBT chief was complaining after realising that his party will face defeat in this election.
He also appealed public to cast their vote.
The highest poll percentage of 57.06 was recorded in Dindori (ST) constituency, followed by Palghar-54.32 pc, Nashik-51.16 pc, Mumbai North-West-49.79 pc, Bhiwandi-48.89 pc, Dhule-48.81 pc, Mumbai North-East-48.67 pc, Mumbai South-Central-48.26 pc, Mumbai North-Central-47.32 pc, Mumbai South-46.91 pc, Thane-45.38 pc and Kalyan-41.70 pc.
In all these constituencies of the state, there is a direct fight between Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), while Vanchit Bahujan Agadhi (VBA) and some other smaller parties pose a challenge to both the fronts.
In Mumbai North constituency, Union Minister and BJP candidate Piyush Goel is contesting against Congress’ Bhushan Patil.
In Mumbai South, sitting Sena-UBT MP Arvind Sawant is facing Yamini Yashwant Jadhav of Shinde-Sena.
In Mumbai North-West constituency, Ravindra Vaikar (Shinde-Sena) is pitted against Amol Kirtikar of Sena-UBT.
In Mumbai North-East, BJP’s new face Mihir Kotecha is facing Sena-UBT’s Sanjay Dina Patil.
In Mumbai North-Central, eminent Advocate Ujjwal Nikam is up against Congress nominee and former state minister Varsha Gaikwad. While, AIMIM’s Ramzan Ali Chaudhary is also in fray.
In Mumbai South-Central constituency, senior Sena-UBT leader Anil Desai is contesting against Shinde-Sena’s sitting MP Rahul Shewale.
In Thane, Naresh Mhaske, a close aide of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is contesting against sitting Sena-UBT MP Rajan Vichare.
In Kalyan, Dr Shrikant Shinde, sitting MP and son of Chief Minister Shinde, is pitted against Sena-UBT’s low-profile candidate Vaishali Darekar-Rane.
In Bhiwandi, Union Minister and sitting MP Kapil Patil is facing NCP-Sharad Pawar group nominee Suresh Mhatre.
In Phalghar, BJP’s Dr Hemant Vishnu Savra is facing Sena-UBT’s Bharthi Kamdi and Hitendra Thakur-led Bahujan Vikas Agadhi’s nominee Rajesh Patil.
In Nashik, sitting Shinde-Sena MP Hemant Godse is recontesting election against Sena-UBT’s Rajabhau Waje.
In Dindori, MoS Health Dr Bharati Pawar of BJP is contesting against NCP-SP nominee Bhaskar Bhagre.
In Dhule, former Union minister and sitting BJP MP Dr Subhash Bhamre is fighting against former state minister and Congress nominee Shobha Bachav.
