Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Sachin Tendulkar, Akshay Kumar, Rajkummar Rao among early voters in Mumbai (VIDEO)

Polling in the 288 assembly constituencies and lone by-election in Nanded Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra state began at 0700 hours on Wednesday amid tight security to decide the fate of 4136 candidates, state electoral official sources said.

Sources said polling began in all the constituencies with a positive response from voters, seen to cast their votes early in different polling centres at respective constituencies.

Bollywood celebrities including actors Akshay Kumar, Rajkumar Rao, Ali Fazal and filmmakers Farhan Akhar, Zoya Akhtar and Kabir Khan were among the early voters in Mumbai.

VIDEO | #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024: "The best thing is that the arrangements are very good. I can see that arrangements for senior citizens are very good and cleanliness has been maintained. Everyone should come and vote because that is the most important thing," says… pic.twitter.com/5J4EbBHg1Y

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2024

VIDEO | #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024: "It is our right in democracy, so it's important that we step outside to vote. I have performed my duties," says actor Rajkummar Rao (@RajkummarRao) after casting votes at a polling booth in Gyan Kendra Secondary School, Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/xXiOub3NrS

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2024

VIDEO | #MaharashtraAssemblyElections2024: Actor Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar), and film director and his sister Zoya Akhtar cast their vote at Mount Mary Convent High School in Mumbai's Bandra.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/oxccdCtmRp

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2024

Sachin Tendulkar along with his wife Anjali and daughter Sara also cast their vote early at a polling booth in Mumbai. 

VIDEO | Maharashtra elections: Indian cricket legend and also the Election Commission of India icon Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt), his wife Anjali Tendulkar, and daughter Sara Tendulkar cast vote in Bandra West, Mumbai. Here's what he said.

"I would like to appeal people to… pic.twitter.com/AuKwqk4jLv

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2024

The polling began at 0700 hrs and will continue till 1800 hrs. After 1800 hours, those voters who were on the premises of the polling station will be allowed to cast their votes.

There are about 4136 candidates contesting from 288 assembly constituencies with the help of 164996 Ballot Unit (BU), 119430 Control Unit and 128531 VVPAT.

Over 9.70 crore voters will franchise their votes in 1,00,437 polling stations in the state.

While in lone by election in Nanded Lok Sabha constituency necessities due to sudden death of Congress MP Vasant Chavan, where 19,08,546 voters will franchise their votes to decide fate of total 19 candidates.

Main fights between ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Agadhi. Apart from them, VBA, BSP, Mahaparivatan Agadhi, and MNS were also trying their luck along with smaller parties and independent candidates.

Altogether 4136 candidates, including 377 women in fray for these constituencies, including Prominent Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) , Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) Ajit Pawar (NCP) ,Aditya Thackeray (UBT), Amit Thackeray (MNS), Dhanananay Munde (NCP) ,Rohit Pawar (NCP-SP), Vijay Wadettiwar (Cong), Bala Nandgaonkar(MNS), Bacchu Kadu (Mahaparivartan Agadhi), Prutiviraj Chavan (Cong) ,Dilip Valse Patil (NCP-AP), Jitendra Awahd (NCP-SP), Radhakrishna Vike Patil(BJP) among others.

Meanwhile, no untoward incident has been reported during electioneering across all constituencies of the state. (Inputs from UNI)