What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Maharashtra saw a voter turnout of 58% till 5 PM on Wednesday as polling continued across 288 assembly constituencies.
NEW DELHI: Maharashtra saw a voter turnout of 58% till 5 PM on Wednesday as polling continued across 288 assembly constituencies. The figure marks a dip from the 2019 turnout of 61.74%. In Mumbai City, the turnout was even lower, at 39.34%, while the suburbs recorded 40.89%, compared to the 2019 city figure of 50.67%.
Ahmednagar recorded 47.85% turnout, Akola 44.45%, Amravati 45.13%, and Pune a mere 41.70%. Gadchiroli led the state with 62.99%, while Thane registered one of the lowest turnouts at 38.94%.
Despite a quiet period after campaigning officially ended 48 hours before voting, political controversies involving leaders like Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Nana Patole (Congress), and Vinod Tawde (BJP) stirred public interest. However, this political drama failed to translate into a higher voter turnout.
Prominent personalities made an effort to inspire voter participation. Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, along with his sons Anant and Akash Ambani and daughter-in-law Shloka, turned up to vote. Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das cast his vote in South Mumbai, and former HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh urged citizens to fulfil their civic responsibility.
Bollywood stars joined the call for action. Kartik Aaryan, Ranbir Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, Akshay Kumar, and Madhuri Dixit were among those who cast their votes early, sharing posts encouraging fans to follow their lead.
Over 9.7 crore voters were eligible to decide the fate of 4,136 candidates. Yet, the tepid turnout raises concerns about voter apathy, especially in urban centres.
The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena (81), and Ajit Pawar’s NCP (59), is in a tight race with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. The MVA’s Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) 86. Smaller parties like BSP (237 candidates) and AIMIM (17 candidates) are also in the fray.
While the state witnessed significant star power at polling booths, the overall numbers reflect the pressing need for greater voter awareness and engagement.
