An average 31.43 per cent polling was recorded till 1 p.m. in the 19 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra where the second phase of polling is being held today.
The highest voter turnout so far was recorded in Kolhapur at 40.65 per cent, followed by Hathkanangale in Western Maharashtra at 39.80 per cent.
Among early voters were Union Home Minister and Congress candidate in Solapur Sushilkumar Shinde and NCP nominee in Pune district’s Baramati constituency Supriya Sule, daughter of party chief Sharad Pawar.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who had to quit three years ago over the alleged involvement in the Adarsh Housing scam, cast his vote around 8.30 a.m. at a booth in Shivaji Nagar area of Nanded city. He was accompanied by his wife and other family members.
Hazare casts vote
Social activist Anna Hazare, who also cast his vote this morning in his native Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district, while talking to PTI asked the voters to avoid voting for candidates with criminal background and corruption charges.
“Voters can choose the option of ‘NOTA’ (none of the above) if no candidate is eligible,” Hazare said.
BJP’s Gopinath Munde, who is seeking a second term as MP from Beed, also cast his vote at a booth in Nathra village of Parli tehsil in the district.
Young voters as well as senior citizens were seen lining up enthusiastically since early morning in Pune city which experienced a drizzle in the wee hours.
There were also reports of peaceful polling from Shirdi and Kolhapur. No untoward incident was reported so far.
The constituency wise voting percentage till 1 PM is: Hingoli 30.65 per cent, Nanded 33 per cent, Parbhani 35.29 per cent, Maval 28.90 per cent, Pune 25.83 per cent, Baramati 20.53 per cent, Shirur 32.58 per cent, Ahmednagar 21 per cent, Shirdi 21 per cent, Beed 36.96 per cent, Osmanabad 36.41 per cent, Latur 32.70 per cent, Solapur 31.10 per cent, Madha 35.14 per cent, Sangli 31.48 per cent, Satara 31.23 per cent, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg 32.94 per cent, Kolhapur 40.65 per cent and Hatkanangle 39.80 per cent.