On Tuesday, seven constituencies of the Western Maharashtra, two in Kokan, and two in the Marathwada region will vote in the third phase Lok Sabha election in the state.
Polling will begin at 7 am on May 7 in Baramati, Solapur, Madha, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Hatkangale, Raigad, Ratnagiri Sindhudurg, Osmanabad, and Latur.
As per the Election Commission, a total of 258 candidates’ fate will be determined by 2.09 crore voters, comprising 1.07 crore males, 1.02 crore females, and 929 transgenders.
The high-profile Baramati seat will have the highest number of candidates at 38, while Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, at 9, has the least.
The EC has set up a total of 23,036 polling stations, of which 114 are critical and equipped with 49,491 ballot units, 23,036 control units, and 23,036 VVPAT machines.
There is a direct fight between Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi everywhere. Vanchit Bahujan Agadhi (VBA) is also in the fray to challenge both.
Baramati, the home turf of Sharad Pawar will witness a high-profile family battle. His nephew and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar (NCP-Ajit), who will take on sitting MP and sister-in-law Supriya Sule (NCP-SCP), who is Pawar senior’s daughter.
In Sangali, Sena UBT’s Chandrahar Subhash Patil will face BJP’s Sanjaykaka Patil. While, Congress’ Vishal Patil, the grandson of late Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil, is contesting as an Independent.
In Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been fielded by the BJP to take on Shashikant Jaywantrao Shinde of the Sharad Pawar-headed NCP.
In Solapur (SC) constituency, former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s daughter and Congress MLA Praniti Shinde is contesting against the BJP’s MLA Ram Satpute.
In Madha’s prestigious seat, sitting MP of the BJP Ranjitsinh Nimbalkar is once again contesting the election against NCP-SCP Dhairyasil Mohite Patil.
In Kolhapur, MVA candidate Chhatrapati Sahu Maharaj is contesting the election against sitting Shinde Sena MP Sadashiv Mandalik.
Another Shinde Sena’s sitting MP, Dhairyasil Mane, is contesting the election against UBT’s Satyajit Patil in Hatkangale constituency. Also, Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana chief Raju Shetty is also in the fray.
In Raigad , NCP MP Sunil Tatkare is contesting the election against UBT’s nominee, Anant Gite.
While in Ratnagiri-Shindudurg constituency, union minister and BJP candidate Narayan Rane is fighting against UBT sitting MP Vinayak Raut.
In Osmanabad Lok constituency, sitting UBT MP Om Raje Nimbalkar is up against the NCP’s Archana Patil, wife of BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsinh.
In Latur (SC) constituency, sitting BJP MP Sudhakar Shrungare is contesting against Congress nominee Dr. Shivaji Kalge.
Top leaders of major political parties wooed voters with back-to-back rallies and road shows, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, BJP national president J. P. Nadda, and UP chief minister Adityanath Yogi.
Also state chief minister Eknath Shinde, UBT chief Uddhav Thackeary, son Aditya Thackeray, NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party National President Mallikarjun Kharge, among other state leaders, addressed election rallies during the campaigning period in support of their party candidates.
Polling on 13 seats out of 48 Lok Sabha seats from the state have already been held in the first two phases recording an average of over 60 percent voter turnout.
