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Voting in the western Indian state of Maharashtra and the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand began early on Wednesday, November 20. Voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for the single-phase Maharashtra assembly elections and will conclude at 6 pm. Polling is taking place across 288 assembly constituencies.
Ahead of the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to vote via his official account on social media platform X.
“Today, votes will be cast for all the seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. I urge the voters of the state to participate with full enthusiasm and add to the splendour of this festival of democracy. On this occasion, I appeal to all the youth and women voters to come out in large numbers to vote,” PM Modi posted on X.
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.
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 (97 million) registered voters.
Maharashtra witnessed a high-decibel campaign ahead of the elections for its 288 assembly seats. The intense campaigning ended 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.
Jharkhand elections
Voting commenced at 7 am on Wednesday for the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections, covering the remaining 38 seats.
Earlier, mock polling was conducted in Jamtara, Deoghar and several booths around 5 pm.
Ahead of the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged voters to enthusiastically participate in the final phase of the Jharkhand elections, aiming for record turnout. He congratulated first-time voters, emphasising that their votes strengthen the state.
“Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate enthusiastically and set a new record for voter turnout. On this occasion, I especially congratulate all my young friends voting for the first time. Your vote strengthens the state,” PM Modi posted on X.
The first phase of voting took place on November 13 for 43 of the 81 assembly seats.
The election is witnessing a fierce contest between the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress alliance, seeking to retain power, and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, aiming to unseat the Hemant Soren-led government.
The BJP-led coalition is targeting key constituencies, with prominent candidates such as former Chief Minister Champai Soren and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar in the fray.
In the first phase, key candidates included former Chief Minister Champai Soren (BJP) contesting from Seraikela, and Ajoy Kumar (Congress) from Jamshedpur East, where he faced Purnima Das Sahu, the daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das. In Jagannathpur, BJP’s Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, contested against Congress leader Sona Ram Sinku. The JMM fielded sitting Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji from Ranchi.
In the second phase, prominent seats are under the spotlight. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is contesting from the Barhait constituency, facing BJP’s Gamliyel Hembrom.
Another key candidate is BJP’s Babulal Marandi, contesting from the Dhanwar constituency. Marandi, the state’s first Chief Minister after its formation in 2000, served as Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing assembly. He is up against JMM’s Nizam Uddin Ansari.
Kalpana Soren, wife of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is contesting against BJP’s Muniya Devi in the Gandey constituency. Kalpana Soren previously won the assembly by-poll in Gandey earlier this year.
Another significant candidate is BJP’s Sita Soren, contesting from the Jamtara constituency.
Photo: IANS
