Polling began on a brisk note in Maharashtra this morning, where 7.31 per cent of the over 8.35 crore voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours.
A policeman on election duty was killed after being struck by lightning in Avdeghat polling station of Savner constituency in Vidarbha, where polling in some parts was marred by rains.
The estimated polling in some districts was: Aurangabad 10 per cent, Beed 9, Solapur 8, Kolhapur 10, Hingoli 8.5, Osmanabad 9, Nashik 7, and Parbhani 7.5 per cent.
Among the early voters were former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who cast his vote in Karad in western Maharashtra, from where he is a candidate, former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Baramati, former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in Solapur, Leader of Opposition in Council Vinod Tawde in Mumbai and NCP MP Supriya Sule and her mother Pratibha Pawar.
State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis, a front runner for chief ministerial post in case BJP comes to power, also cast his vote.
Asked if his party Shiv Sena will have a post-poll alliance with BJP or any other party, former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, who cast his vote in Mumbai, said, "Sena President Uddhav Thackeray is the ultimate authority on this issue."
Among Bollywood personalities who went to polling booths in Mumbai early today were actress Rekha, Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Amol Palekar and actor Atul Kulkarni. Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar also cast his vote.
Voters will decide the fate of 4,119 candidates in the fray in 288 seats. Polling began at 7 AM and will conclude at 6 PM. Counting of votes will be held on October 19
The voting is being held to elect the 13th Assembly in the state.
