Mumbai, April 26 (UNI) Voting for eight constituencies of Maharashtra's Vidharbha and Marathwada region began on Friday as voters queued up in large numbers in Buldhana,Washim-Yawatmal, Akola, Amravati, Wardha Nanded, Hingoli, and Parbhani outside polling stations.
While the first five fall in Vidharbha, the rest are in Marathwada region where a total of 204 candidates test their fate. There is a direct fight between Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi on all seats.While the Vanchit Bahujan Agadhi pose challenge to both the fronts.
The Election Commission of India has implemented several initiatives through 'SVEEP' to increase poll percentage this time and appealed to voters to cast their votes without fear and favour. In view of heat wave condition across the state all necessary arrangements have been made in all polling stations.
A total of 1.49 crore registered voters including 1.52 lakhs fresh voters will decide the fate of 204 candidates. There are 77.21 lakh male voters, 72.04 lakh females, and 432 transgender persons.
Voting started at 7 am and will end at 6 pm.
The ECI has set up a total of 16,589 polling stations, equipped with ballot units, control units, and VVPAT machines.
In Akola, Anup Dhotre from NDA faces Abhay Kashinath Patil from MVA also VBA chief Adv Prakash Ambedkar is in fray.
In Buldhana NDA’s Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav (Shinde Sena) is competing against MVA's Narendra Khedekar(UBT).
In Amravati it is Navneet Kaur Rana(BJP) against Balwant Basawant Wankhede(Cong).
In Wardha, Ramdas Tadas (BJP) from Mahayuti is up against Amar Sharadrao Kale (NCP -SCP) from MVA.
In Yavatmal-Washim Rajashri Hemant Patil (Shinde Sena) from Mahayuti is facing Sanjay Deshmukh (UBT) from MVA.
While MVA's Baburao Kadam Kohalikar (Shinde Sena) is competing against Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (UBT) from MVA in Hingoli.
In Nanded ,Prataprao Chikhalikar(BJP) from Mahayuti is contesting against Vasantrao Chavan (Cong)from MVA. While in Parbhani, Mahadev Jankar(RSP) from Mahayuti is up against Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav(UBT) from MVA.
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