Voting for the single-phase Maharashtra Assembly elections commenced at 7 am on Wednesday and will continue until 6 pm. Polling is underway across all 288 assembly constituencies.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to participate actively. “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’.
Security has been significantly tightened across Mumbai. Police have ramped up vehicle checks in sensitive areas, including Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar and Dharavi, to ensure smooth polling. According to the Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate, over 25,000 personnel, including riot-control teams, home guards, and 2,000 senior officers, have been deployed to maintain law and order during the election.
A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the elections, including 2,086 independents. Major parties in the fray include the BJP contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena (81), and the NCP (59). The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) 86. The BSP is contesting 237 seats, along with several smaller parties. Maharashtra has an electorate of approximately 9.7 crore registered voters.
The election campaign concluded on November 18 after weeks of intense rallies and speeches.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), is pitted against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).
In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 105 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 56, and Congress with 44. Five years earlier, in 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42.