Voting for the by-election to Pandharpur-Mangalvedha meeting constituency in Maharashtra’ Solapur district started at 7 am on Saturday amid the surge in COVID-19 instances in the state and the strict restrictions imposed by the federal government to regulate the unfold of the virus. The ruling NCP and the opposition BJP are in a direct combat in this bypoll, which was necessitated following the loss of life NCP legislator Bharat Bhalke resulting from post-COVID problems in November final 12 months.
The NCP has fielded Bhagirath Bhalke, the late MLA’s son, in opposition to BJP candidate Samadhan Autade, who had contested the 2019 meeting election as an unbiased and the 2014 polls on Shiv Sena ticket. “The voting process is underway. We are yet to receive the voting percentage of the first two hours, but as per the preliminary analysis, six to seven per cent voting has taken place in the constituency,” returning officer Gajajan Gurav stated. Additional Superintendent of Police Atul Zende stated the polling will conclude at 7 pm.
“So far, no big voter turnout has been witnessed outside the polling booths. But it is expected that people will come out to vote later in the day,” he stated. Adequate police bandobast has been put in place to make sure that all social distancing norms are adopted, Zende added. The district administration stated that a number of voters above 80 years of age, divyangs and those that work in important companies had exercised their franchise by way of postal ballots.
“Polling for these people was held on April 13, 14 and 15 through postal ballots facility and a total of 3,252 postal ballots were received,” an official from the district administration stated. There are 1,785 divyang voters and 13,689 voters who’re above 80 years of age, he added. “But those above 80 years of age and divyangs, who could not exercise their franchise through postal ballots, can visit the polling station and cast their votes today,” the official stated. There are a complete of three,40,889 registered voters in the meeting constituency.
Political observers really feel that this bypoll will show to be a litmus take a look at for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies- Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- three ideologically totally different events which were sharing energy in the state for the final one-and-a-half years.
Read all of the Latest News and Breaking News right here
