Maharashtra, which went to polls on November 20 to elect a new 288-member assembly in a single phase, recorded a voter turnout of 65.02 per cent — the highest since the 1995 assembly poll that saw a turnout of 71.7 per cent.
The turnout also surpassed the 61.39 per cent recorded during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and is also higher than the 61.4 per cent in the 2019 assembly election.
According to the Election Commission (EC) data, Karvir Assembly seat in Kolhapur district recorded the highest voting percentage of 84.79 per cent. Meanwhile, South Mumbai’s Colaba constituency witnessed the lowest voter turnout at 44.49 per cent. Rahul Narvekar of BJP contested the seat against Hira Dewasi of Congress.
Maharashtra saw fierce election campaigns by the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and is being seen as the driving factor for the rise in voter turnout.
Furthermore, as against 8.85 crore registered voters in 2019, the number of registered voters is up by 9.5 per cent to 9.69 crore. So a higher voter turnout on an increased vote base is set to become a key factor in the results to be announced on Saturday, Indian Express reported.
Claiming that the increased turnout would help the ruling Mahayuti, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Whenever there is an increase in turnout, the BJP gains politically. It is evident that the polling percentage in Assembly elections have increased as compared to the last elections. This will help both the BJP and Mahayuti.”
On the other hand, state Congress chief Nana Patole said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) looked set to win the assembly election, IE reported.
“In the Assembly elections, there is significant enthusiasm among the people, and the self-respecting citizens of Maharashtra will elect a government that prioritises the state’s welfare. Considering the public’s response, the Congress party will emerge as the largest party in the state. The formation of a Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state is certain,” Patole said.