Polling in the fifth and final phase of general elections in Maharashtra is set to take place in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies, including six in Mumbai, on Monday. Over 2.46 crore eligible voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots, deciding the fate of 264 candidates contesting across various constituencies. Voting will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. across 24,553 polling centres.
Key contenders include Union ministers Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North), Bharati Pawar (Dindori), and Kapil Patil (Bhiwandi), along with BJP lawyer Ujjwal Nikam (Mumbai North Central). Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde (Kalyan) and city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad (Mumbai North Central) are also prominent candidates.
The main contest is between the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP, and the opposition alliance of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP). Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, where 10 of these 13 seats are located, form a significant part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, one of the most urbanised pockets in the country.
Altogether, 2,46,69,544 persons are eligible to cast their votes, including 1,31,38,526 men, 1,15,28,278 women, and 2,740 from the third gender.
The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has fielded candidates in Mumbai South, Mumbai North West, and Mumbai South Central seats, while the ruling BJP has candidates in Mumbai North, Mumbai North Central, and Mumbai North East constituencies.
The opposition Shiv Sena (UBT), led by former CM Uddhav Thackeray, has candidates in Mumbai South, Mumbai South Central, Mumbai North East, and Mumbai North West as part of a seat-sharing deal with its Maha Vikas Aghadi partners NCP (SP) and Congress.
Congress candidates are contesting in Mumbai North Central and Mumbai North.
Thane and Kalyan, where the rival Senas are competing, are prestige battles for CM Shinde as they fall under his political turf. CM Shinde's close aide Naresh Mhaske and his son Shrikant Shinde are the Shiv Sena nominees in Thane and Kalyan, respectively.
The contest is between the BJP and Sena (UBT) in Palghar, while the BJP and NCP (SP) are the main contenders in the textile manufacturing hub of Bhiwandi.
Dhule is witnessing a BJP versus Congress fight. In Dindori, it is the BJP versus the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), while CM Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) are facing off in Nashik.
Mumbai police will deploy nearly 30,000 security personnel to ensure smooth voting in the city. Five officers in the rank of Additional Commissioner of Police, 25 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), and 77 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) will lead various teams during the election day.
Nearly 5,000 policemen, 6,200 home guards, and 36 units of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will also be brought from outside for the voting day.
Out of Maharashtra's total 48 Lok Sabha seats, polling in 35 seats was conducted in previous phases. The votes cast will be counted on June 4.
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