More than 55 per cent of total 95,54 lakh voters exercised their franchise in five constituencies that went to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls in eastern Maharashtra on Friday, with the naxalite-infested Gadchiroli-Chimur accounting for a maximum of 65 per cent polling.
With no untoward incident reported from anywhere, the polling passed off peacefully in Nagpur, Chandrapur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Ramtek (SC), Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) constituencies, as voters turned out in large numbers braving harsh temperatures.
As per the polling percentages put out by the Chief Election Officer, Maharashtra at 5 pm, an average of 54.85 per cent of the total electorate in five poll-bound constituencies cast their votes. The final poll percentages (as of 5.30 pm) were expected only after 9.30 pm. The average final polling percentage in the five constituencies may be anywhere from 57 to 60 per cent.
In Nagpur where the two-time sitting MP and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is taking on Congress Vikas Thakre, there was a relatively lowest turnout of 47.11 per cent of voters. The polling percentage might have either touched or barely crossed 50 per cent when the polling ended at 5.30 pm.
In contrast, the Maoist-infested Gadchiroli-Chimur recorded the highest poll percentage of 64.95, while the voter turn-outs reported from three other Lok Sabha constituencies where the elections were held were: Bhandara-Gondiya-56.87 per cent, Chandrapur-55.11 per cent and Ramtek-52.38 per cent.
Nitin Gadkari, his wife Kanchan and other family members voted at a polling station near their residence in Nagpur.
Talking to media persons after exercising his franchise, Gadkari expressed that the ruling BJP will cross a winning tally of 400 seats in the country, while he would win the polls from Nagpur by a margin of more than 5 lakh votes.
“We are also targeting a record voting turnout this time, from 54 per cent in 2019 to 75 per cent in 2024. I appeal to all the people to step out and exercise their right to vote, and celebrate the greatest festival of democracy,” Gadkari said.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat cast his vote at a polling booth near Reshimbagh in Nagpur.
Dr Bhagaat was among the earliest to arrive at a polling station and waited for nearly 15 minutes before the polling started, entered to cast his vote and emerged soon thereafter, displaying his inked left-hand forefinger with pride. “I have performed my personal duty for the day and I call upon all the people to cast their vote since as citizens it is our right as well as a duty,” Dr Bhagwat said.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole exercised his franchise along with his family members at Sukli village in Bhandara district.
Talking to media persons after he cast his vote, Patole said that the BJP-led government had “cheated” people for 10 years and they were determined to end the 10-year dictatorship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The people of Vidarbha have always stood firmly behind the Congress. We are receiving great support from the people this time as well. I am confident that we will win all the five Lok Sabha seats that went to poll today,” he said.
Barring Nagpur where voter turn-out was the lowest, there was considerable enthusiasm among voters in four other poll-constituencies of Chandrapur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Ramtek (SC), Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST). Lakhs of people, including large numbers of first-time voters, youth, senior citizens and transgenders, exercised their voting rights.
In a heart-warming sight witnessed in Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency, nine handicapped senior citizens were brought in a ‘rath yatra’ by people, accompanied by a brass band playing on the roads, to cast their votes at a polling station.
