Mumbai: The pitched electoral battle in the state after the split of the NCP and Shiv Sena, saw a voter turnout of 66%, the highest in 30 years. This is almost 5% higher than the 61.1% turnout in the state in 2019.
The last time the assembly poll turnout was higher was in 1991 when it was 71.7%. Observers say the higher turnout could be the result of the close contest between the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances, which resulted in all the parties pushing for their voters to show up at the polling booth.
Kolhapur district in the sugar belt of Western Maharashtra recorded the highest turnout in the state at 76.6%. This was followed Maoist-affected Gadchiroli in Vidarbha district which recorded a turnout of 75.2% despite backwardness and poor connectivity. Mumbai City district which stretches from Colaba to Mahim recorded the lowest turnout in the state at 52.6%.
The highest turnout in assembly constituencies was also in Kolhapur. The Karvir constituency had a turnout of 84.9%. Here, late Congress MLA P N Patil’s son Rahul Patil is contesting against the Shiv Sena’s Chandradip Narke. The Kagal constituency in Kolhapur recorded the second-highest turnout in the state at 82.5%. Here, state minister from the NCP Hasan Mushrif is contesting against NCP (SP) candidate Samarjeetsinh Ghatge.
Baramati constituency in which deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is contesting against his nephew Yugendra Pawar in one of the most watched contests in this election, the voter turnout rose to 71.5% compared to 68.4% in 2019.