An average 7 percent voter turnout was registered in the first two hours of polling across 11 Lok Sabha constituencies of Western Maharashtra, Kokan and Marathwada region on Tuesday when 2.09 crore voters will choose from 258 candidates.
Baramati recorded 5.77 percent polling, Solapur (5.92), Madha (5), Sangli (5.81), Satara (7), Kolhapur (8.04), Hatkangale (7.55), Raigad (6.84), Ratnagiri Sindhudurg (8.17), Osmanabad (5.79) and Latur was at 7.91 percent.
Long queues were seen since morning at different polling stations in these constituencies amid rising heat as the day progressed.
Early voters including Solapur Congress candidate Pranithi Shinde, Satara BJP candidate Udyanraje Bhosale along with his family, Kolhapur MVA candidate Shau Chattrapati Maharaj with family members, Bollywood actor Ritesh Deshmukh along with his wife Genelia D’soza, Dhiraj Deshmukh, Amit Deshmukh cast their votes in Latur constituency.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, his daughter Baramati candidate Supriya Sule along with her daughter Revati Sule, Prathiba Pawar, Srinivas Pawar, Rohit Pawar along with their family members cast their votes in Baramati.
Dhananjay Mahadik Rajya Sabha MP cast his votes along with family members in Kolhapur constituency.
Narayan Rane (BJP) nominee cast his votes in Ratnagiri lok sabha constituency.
Shashikant Shinde (NCP-SCP) candidate from Satara along with family cast votes.
Ram Satpute BJP candidate from Solapur also cast his vote.
Independent and rebel Congress candidate Vishal Patil cast his vote in Sangali.
In Osmanabad, former minister Padmasinh Patil and his son Rana Jagjitsinh (BJP) MLA, Rana’s wife Archana Patil who is contesting Osmanabad lok sabha seat on NCP Ajit Pawar group ticket also cast their votes.
Dhairyasil Mane (Shinde Sena) candidate for Hatkangale constituency cast his votes.
Voting started at 7 am in these constituencies and will continue till 6 pm.
The Election Commission has appealed to voters to cast their votes without fear and favour as early as possible in view of raising temperature. All arrangements have been made at polling booths and medical teams are also available.
