Nagpur, 19 Apr (HS): The low turnout of voters in the five constituencies in Maharashtra, polling for which was held on Friday, confused voters in the region. Scorching heat and lackadaisical attitude of voters appear to have affected the voting. All efforts by the local administration to motivate voters for higher voting appear to have failed.
In Nagpur, approximately 47.91 percent of voters exercised their rights. Two times MP and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress candidate and MLA from Nagpur West Vikas Thakre were the main candidates in Nagpur. The constituency has six assembly segments. The segment-wise approximate voting percent is Nagpur Central – 44.60%, East – 51.17%, North – 43.47%, South – 47.93%, South-West – 51% and West – 49.04%.
The figures are approximate and calculated up to 5 pm. The final figures will be available late in the night or maybe tomorrow.
In Ramtek, where Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde Group) candidate Raju Parve is fighting to retain the seat for Shiv Sena. Shyam Barve was pitted against him by the Indian National Congress. BSP’s Kishor Gajbhiye is likely to play in important role in diving the votes in the Ramtek constituency. Approximate voting in Ramtek is 52.38 percent.
In Bhandara-Gondia constituency sitting MP Sunul Mendhe of BJP is contesting against Prashant Padole of Congress. This seat is prestigious for Maharashtra Unit President of Congress Nana Patole and Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel. The voting percentage in the constituency is 56.87 percent.
Gadchiroli-Chimur constituency, which is traditionally known for recording high percentage of voting has 64.95 percent approximately. The constituency had recorded about 70 percent voting in 1999, despite threats from Naxalites. In this tribal-dominated constituency, Namdev Kirsan and Ashok Nete are facing each other.
Maharashtra Minister Sudhir Mungatiwar is seeking his first election to Lok Sabha on BJP seat. Congress candidate Pratibha Dhanorkar is pitted against him and is relying on emotional favour in the constituency. He husband who was MP from the constituency died recently. Approximate voting in the constituency was 55.11 percent.
The voting in the region started with enthusiasm in the morning. Most of the polling booths received very low voting between 1.30 pm and 4 pm due to hot weather. The temperature in the region was above 40 degree Celsius.
No untoward incident was reported from the five constituencies.
Hindusthan Samachar/ Ajay Mardikar/Manoj
