Despite Covid-19 pandemic, Council polls see healthy voter turnout

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Mumbai: Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and laid down protocols, the voter turnout in the three Graduates, two Teachers and one Local Authorities constituency has been quite healthy. At the time of going to the press, barring Amravati Teachers constituency, voting was still going on. This time around it does seem that more than the voters, there is a keen contest between the candidates in almost all the constituencies.

According to a senior Election Commission of India (ECI) official the tentative polling percentage at 5 pm in Aurangabad division graduates was 61.08 per cent, in Pune division Graduates the polling percentage was 50.30 percent. In Nagpur division Graduates constituency the polling percentage was 54.76 percent. Whereas for the Amravati division Teachers and Pune division Teachers division the tentative polling percentage recorded at 5 pm was 82.91 percent and 70.44 percent was recorded, respectively. 

In Maharashtra, polling for the five constituencies of the State Legislative Council concluded this evening. Voting was held for the Graduate division constituencies in Pune, Nagpur and Aurangabad divisions and the Teachers division constituencies in Pune and Amravati divisions.

Voting was also held for the by-poll to Dhule-Nandurbar Local Authorities on Tuesday. Election was necessitated here after sitting Congress MLC Amrishbhai Patel quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Here the tentative polling percentage recorded was 99.31 percent.

Voting began this morning at 8 and ended at 5 pm. All health-related guidelines were strictly enforced as it was the first election amid a pandemic. For the first time, an independent medical officer was appointed at each polling station. The election results for all the six constituencies will be declared on December 3. 

Several bigwigs including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Nagpur District Guardian Minister Dr Nitin Raut and Leader of Opposition in the state legislative assembly, Devendra Fadnavis, Supriya Sule (NCP) among others exercised their right to franchise.

Voting in all the constituencies was held peacefully.  In Aurangabad, four patients who are undergoing Covid-19 treatment exercised their franchise by wearing a PPE kit. At both Amravati and Nagpur districts, there is a direct contest between the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and the opposition BJP. 

In Pune, The Maha Vikas Aghadi has nominated Arun Lad (NCP) for Graduates’ constituency against BJP’s Sangram Deshmukh. A record 78 candidates are in the fray of which 65 alone are Independents. The total electorate of 4.26 lakhs comprises of 2.91 lakh male, 1.34 lakh female and 34 other category voters. Here the sitting BJP MLC was Chandrakant dada Patil who vacated his seat after being elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2019 polls.

In Nagpur Graduates constituency in a field of 26 candidates, of which 6 are from recognised political parties, it is a direct contest between Abhijit Wanjari (Congress) and Sandip D Joshi (BJP). Out of the total electorate of 2.06 lakh, 1.25 lakh are male voters, 81,024 female voters and 51 other category voters. Here the sitting BJP MLC is Anil Sole.

In Aurangabad division Graduates constituency, it is a multi-cornered contest in a field of 32 candidates, of which 10 belong to recognised political parties are the rest are all Independents. Here the contest is between Shirish Boralkar (BJP), Satish B Chavan (NCP), Kunal G Kharat (MIM) and former MP and MLC Jaisingrao Gaikwad-Patil (Independent). Here the total electorate of 3.73 lakh comprises of 2.86 lakh male, 86,959 female and 5 other category voters. Here the sitting MLC is Satish Chavan of the NCP.

In the Amravati division Teachers constituency, out of the total 28 candidates in the fray, 24 are Independents. Here it is a direct contest between sitting Shiv Sena MLC Shrikant G Deshpande and Dr Nitin R Dhande (BJP). Here the total electorate of 35,622 voters includes 26,058 male, 9,563 female and 1 other category voter.

In Pune division Teachers constituency it is multi-cornered tough contest. Out of the 50 candidates in the fray, 45 are Independents. The main contest appears to be between Jayant Aasgaonkar (Congress), Jitendra Pawar and Mankar Manikrao (MNS) respectively. Here the total electorate of 72,545 voters include 45,195 male, 27,324 female and 21 other category voters. Here the sitting MLC was Dattatray A Sawant (Independent).