Polling for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections commenced early on Friday across five constituencies in Maharashtra. Over 95 lakh voters are set to cast their votes in this crucial electoral bout, which includes prominent seats like Nagpur, where Union Minister Nitin Gadkari is contesting.
The five constituencies—Nagpur, Ramtek (SC), Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur, and the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST)—are all located in the eastern part of Maharashtra, in the Vidarbha region. This region is significant not just for its political weight but also due to its diverse demographic and socio-economic landscape.
A total of 97 candidates are vying for these seats, which have a combined voter base of 95,54,667. This includes 48,28,142 male, 47,26,178 female, and 347 transgender voters, reflecting a broad spectrum of voices and concerns that could shape the electoral outcomes.
In Nagpur, a key battleground, the contest is primarily between BJP's Nitin Gadkari, who is aiming for a third term, and Congress candidate Vikas Thakre. Nagpur, notable for hosting the RSS headquarters, has a substantial voter turnout potential with 22,18,259 registered voters.
Meanwhile, in Chandrapur, another high-stakes fight is underway between BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar and Congress's Pratibha Dhanorkar, the widow of the late Suresh Dhanorkar who was the only Congress MP elected from Maharashtra in the 2019 elections. The constituency has a total of 18,36,314 voters.
The Bhandara-Gondia seat sees BJP's incumbent MP Sunil Mendhe against Congress's Dr. Prashant Patole, with the constituency home to 18,75,106 voters.
The battle in Gadchiroli-Chimur is marked by its Naxal insurgency backdrop, where BJP's Ashok Nete faces off against Congress's Dr. Namdev Kirsan among 16,12,930 voters.
The Ramtek constituency is witnessing a contest between Shyamkumar Barwe of the Congress and the Shiv Sena candidate Raju Parwe, endorsed by the Eknath Shinde-led faction, with a total electorate of 20,45,717.
Security measures are stringent, especially in the Naxal-hit Gadchiroli-Chimur and parts of Bhandara-Gondia. Five assembly segments within these areas have altered polling times, closing at 3 pm instead of the general 6 pm closure, to ensure voter safety and smooth electoral proceedings.
This first phase is critical as it sets the tone for the remaining phases of the election in Maharashtra, which will see polling across 43 other Lok Sabha seats in subsequent phases. The outcome of these polls will be crucial in determining the political future of Maharashtra, influencing both state and national political dynamics.
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