Maharashtra Election 2024 LIVE: Big Mahayuti vs MVA Contest Today Amid Bitcoin Scam Allegation

The high-stake elections in Maharashtra will witness a contest between two main alliances namely Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti alliance, comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), while the MVA consists of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP-SP. While the Mahayuti alliance is hoping to overcome anti-incumbency sentiments and retain power, the MVA is aiming to replace its previous success in the Lok Sabha elections by defeating the grand alliance.

NCP leader Supriya Sule has denied the Bitcoin allegations levelled against her and called them 'bogus'.
 

NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule exercised her franchise for Maharashtra Elections on Wednesday.

Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday cast his vote at the polling booth in Raj Bhavan, under the Colaba Assembly constituency, as voting began for the state's Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters after voting, Governor Radhakrishnan urged citizens to participate actively. "Ours is the biggest democracy in the world. My appeal to all the youngsters, elders, and women is to come and vote. Whomever they want to vote for is their choice, but they should come out and vote. This is the basic duty of every citizen that whenever there is an election, we should go to the polling booth and vote," he said.

Maharashtra: Shiv Sena candidate from Mumba Devi seat, Shaina NC and her daughter Shanaya Munot showed their inked fingers after casting their votes for Maharashtra assembly elections. Shaina NC said "I want to appeal to my Mumbaikars to come out and cast their votes. You can raise if you cast your votes, you can criticise if you cast your votes. I have the blessings of Maa Mumba Devi. I hope people will give me a chance to work for the truth with full accountability and transparency..."

Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar showed his inked finger after casting his vote in Mumbai for Maharashtra Elections. He said "The arrangements here are very good as I can see that arrangements for senior citizens are very good and cleanliness has been maintained. I want everyone to come out and cast their votes..."

BMC Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani exercised his franchise in Mumbai for Maharashtra assembly elections.

Film director Kabir Khan cast his vote at a polling Booth in Mumbai. 

After casting his vote, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said, "The arrangements (at the polling station) were very good. I congratulate the Election Commission. The elections are being held in the middle of the week, so everyone is expecting a high voter turnout."

Maharashtra Deputy CM and NCP candidate from Baramati Assembly constituency, Ajit Pawar cast his vote for Maharashtra elections. He expressed hope that Mahayuti will form a govt in the state. “Mahayuti is going to form the government here...,” he said.

Actor Rajkummar Rao cast his vote at a polling Booth in Mumbai. He said, "It is very important (to vote). Everyone, please step out and vote. This is the voting day, it is very important."

NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Wednesday exercised his franchise in Maharashtra slections. While casting vote, he said, “I have full faith in the voters of Baramati. I can only speak for myself. I have faith in myself.” 

Home Minister Amit Shah urged the people of Maharastra to vote in large numbers today.

Polling began on Wednesday morning in the Maharashtra assembly elections, where the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback. Voting began in all the 288 assembly seats at 7 am and will end at 6 pm, an election official said. The votes will be counted on November 23. Over 9.7 crore voters will be choosing from among the 4,136 candidates in the fray, the official said. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena is in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies.

PM Modi on Wednesday urged the electorates in Maharashtra to vote in large numbers. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “Today, votes will be cast for all the seats of Maharashtra Assembly elections. I urge the voters of the state to be a part of it with full enthusiasm and add to the splendor of the festival of democracy. On this occasion, I appeal to all the youth and women voters to vote in large numbers.(sic).”

As many as 4,140 candidates are in the fray to secure a seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Maharashtra is all set for the assembly polls today as voting for all 288 seats of the Maharashtra legislative assembly will be held in a single phase.

 In a late evening press conference on the eve of Maharashtra polls, the BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed to expose Maha Vikas Aghadi ‘bit by bit’. During the press conference, the BJP presented an alleged ‘video and audio’ in which a female voice, allegedly of NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, can be heard saying, "Need cash in exchange for bitcoins. You need not worry about any inquiry; we will handle it once we come to power." In the alleged video shared with media by the BJP, Sule is allegedly speaking to Gaurav Mehta, an employee of the audit firm Sarathi Association.  READ MORE

Mock polling is underway at a polling booth in Mahatma Society Club House of Pune. Polling on all 288 Assembly constituencies of the state will begin at 7 am on November 20.    

Voting for Maharashtra assembly elections will begin shortly.