New Delhi: Rajnath Singh, the union minister of defense, encouraged Maharashtra and Jharkhand people to vote in their state assembly elections on Wednesday. Rajanath Singh urged the state’s first-time voters to cast their ballots in a post on X.
“I urge my Maharashtra sisters and brothers to cast their ballots in great numbers and support the democratic celebration. In an X post, he said, “I especially encourage young people and those who are voting for the first time to exercise their right to vote.” He also appealed in a similar manner to Jharkhand voters for today’s second round of voting.
“Jharkhand’s second and last round of voting is today. I urge every voter in this phase, particularly the young people, to cast as many ballots as possible in order to establish a new administration with a sizable majority that will bring wealth and peace to the state. In his post on X, he said, “Your one vote will determine Jharkhand’s future.”
Notably, elections are being held today for 38 seats in the Jharkhand legislature and 288 members in the Maharashtra parliament. In two states, voting started at 7 a.m. and will end at 6 p.m.
Additionally, Rajnath Singh encouraged people to cast ballots in the by-elections for the state legislative legislatures of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand, which would determine the fate of fifteen seats.
“By-elections for fifteen seats in the Legislative Assemblies of four states, including Uttar Pradesh, are also being conducted today. In a different post on X, he said, “I ask all voters in these seats to exercise their right to vote in the greatest number possible and set a new voting record.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also encouraged state residents to cast ballots, referring to this event as a celebration of democracy.
“All of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections’ constituencies are now holding voting. In a post on X, he said, “I implore all of the state’s voters to eagerly engage in this process and contribute beauty to this festival of democracy.”
“On this occasion, I appeal to all the youth and women voters to come forward and vote in large numbers,” he added, urging the state’s women and young voters to participate in the assembly elections.
In the meanwhile, Mumbai has increased security in anticipation of election day. Vehicle movements have been monitored by police, especially in places like Dharavi and Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar. To guarantee the smooth running of the elections, extensive security measures have been put in place.
More than 25,000 people have been sent out by Mumbai Police, including house guards and riot control squads. The Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate claims that over 25,000 police officers and more than 2,000 officials are on duty to keep the peace during the elections.
2,086 independent candidates are among the 4,136 candidates running in the elections. The NCP is running for 59 seats, the Shiv Sena for 81, and the BJP for 149. There are 101 candidates from the Congress, 95 from the Shiv Sena (UBT), and 86 from the NCP (Sharad Pawar group).
Today’s vote was made possible by the conclusion of the fierce campaigning on Monday, November 18, 2024. Emotional pleas, complicated caste relations, changing alliances, and ideological disputes have all been features of the Maharashtra Assembly’s power struggle.
The main competition is between the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition.
The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar group) make up the opposition MVA, while the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) make up the governing BJP-led Mahayuti coalition.
The BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44 in the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections. The Congress secured 42 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the BJP 122 in 2014.
