Assembly elections updates: 58.43% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in Maharashtra, 68% in Jharkhand

Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election Voting: Catch all the updates on the Assembly elections here

2:37 PM

Uttar Pradesh bypolls: 31.21 pc turnout at 1 pm in 9 assembly seats

According to the Election Commission's update at 1 am, the average voting for the bypolls in nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh stood at 31.21 per cent.

2:29 PM

News update: Actor Arjun Kapoor exercises ballot for Maharashtra Assembly polls at polling booth in Mumbai

2:24 PM

News update: ED searches Raipur premises of Gaurav Mehta, allegedly linked to bitcoin case

2:05 PM

Actor Sohail Khan casts vote for Maharashtra Assembly elections

I wish whoever gets elected loves Bandra the way all residents of Bandra love it. Voting is a responsibility. I appeal to everyone to increase the voting percentage because we are the ones who chose our politicians. It will be our fault if we dont vote," says actor Sohail Khan.

1:59 PM

Maharashtra Assembly elections: This election will decide the future of Maharashtra, says Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the assembly elections will decide Maharashtra's future and appealed to people in the state to exercise their franchise. Talking to reporters in Baramati town of Pune district after casting his vote, Pawar said all the electors should exercise their right to vote.

"This election is extremely important. It will decide the future of Maharashtra. I appeal to all citizens to come out and vote," he said.

1:41 PM

Maoists torch 5 trucks in Jharkhand's Latehar before phase-2 of election

Members of the banned Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), a splinter group of Maoists, torched five trucks in Laat forest  under the jurisdiction of Herhanj Police Station, hours before the beginning of the second and final phase of the Jharkhand assembly polls.  

1:28 PM

Assembly elections LIVE: Officer replaced after allegations of favouring candidate

Dubey on Wednesday said he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission against a presiding officer for allegedly "favouring a ruling party candidate" in Madhupur assembly constituency during voting. Dubey claimed that following his complaint, the officer was arrested. However, the Deoghar administration said the officer was replaced after being found too close to the voting compartment, which is against Election Commission rules.

1:19 PM

Shiv Sena leader Govinda exercises franchise in Maharashtra elections

"Step outside and vote," says actor and Shiv Sena leader Govinda after casting vote in Mumbai. 

 

1:08 PM

Singer Kailash Kher casts his vote in Mumbai

"Voting is a celebration of democracy. I urge everyone to vote," singer Kailash Kher said.

1:00 PM

Assembly elections LIVE: EC should look into issues in the voter enrolment process, says Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has asked the Election Commission to address issues in the voter enrolment process, citing irregularities in the inclusion of names in the voters' list. The current system was causing disappointment to many people, he said.

12:47 PM

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Deliberate attempt made to stoke controversy on Tawde issue, says Devendra Fadavis

"As far as Vinod Tawde is concerned, I made it clear yesterday too that neither did he distribute any money nor was any money found with him. A deliberate attempt was made to stoke controversy, an ecosystem was used," Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis asserted today.

12:39 PM

Mahayuti government will be elected with big majority, says Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde

"People have not forgotten what happened in 2019, the mandate was for Mahayuti but Mahayuti could not form the government. People have seen their (Maha Vikas Aghadi) 2.5 years of rule and have also seen our 2.5 years of rule. We started the development that they had stopped. We started many schemes including Ladli Behna... Mahayuti will form the government with a huge majority," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.

12:27 PM

Assembly elections LIVE: BJP MP Hema Malini casts vote in Mumbai

"I appeal everyone to come out and cast their votes. This is their right and their duty," says actor and BJP MP Hema Malini as she casts her vote at a polling booth in Mumbai."

 

12:26 PM

Assembly elections LIVE: NDA govt will be formed in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, says Chhattisgarh CM

As voting is in progress for Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed confidence that NDA would form government in both the states. Vishnu Deo Sai said, "BJP and NDA are going to succeed in both places and governments will be formed in both the states. When they (the opposition) lose, they blame the EVMs and when they win, the EVMs turn out to be right for them."

12:15 PM

Maharashtra election LIVE: Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran casts vote

"It is a precious privilege to have the opportunity to exercise voting, and I am absolutely delighted that we have this privilege, and I would encourage everyone to turn out and exercise their option and vote today," says Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran as he casts his vote at a polling booth in Peddar Road, Mumbai.