Electorates in five constituencies located in Maharashtra‘s Vidarbha region have commenced casting their votes to select their next Members of Parliament.
The constituencies where voting is taking place include Nagpur, Chandrapur, Ramtek (SC), Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), and Bhandara-Gondia, all situated in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
The state of Maharashtra sends 48 MPs to the Lower House, making it the second-largest after Uttar Pradesh‘s 80, and the voting is scheduled in five phases starting from Friday.
A total of 97 candidates are contesting in the first phase, including prominent figures like union minister Nitin Gadkari, who is eyeing a third term after previous victories in the Nagpur seat for BJP.
In Nagpur, the home city of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), key contestants are Nitin Gadkari from BJP and Vikas Thakre from Congress.
Meanwhile, in Chandrapur, State Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar is facing off against Congress’ Pratibha Dhanorkar.
Notably, the Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency, a Naxal-hit area, and Bhandara-Gondia have sitting MPs Ashok Nete and Sunil Mendhe contesting against Congress candidates Dr. Namdev Kirsan and Prashanth Padole.
The election in Ramtek has historical significance as it was represented by former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in the past.
Special arrangements have been made for differently-abled voters and senior citizens above 85 years in Maharashtra during the first phase of elections.
Maharashtra’s CEO S. Chockalingam stated that a total of 9,416 differently-abled voters and 6,630 senior citizens above 85 years are eligible to cast their votes in this phase.
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