Assembly elections live: All-time high 73% polling in Haryana, 64% in Maharashtra

7.01 pm: Haryana records 73 percent turnout, Maharashtra 64 percent Haryana records all-time high of 73 percent turn out in Assembly elections, said the Chief Electoral Officer Shrikant Walgad. Maharashtra, on the other hand, recorded 64 percent voter turnout, which is 4 percent higher than the voter turnout in the last assembly polls, according to reports. 6.19 pm: Voter turnout in Haryana rises to 72 percent till 6 pm Voter turnout in Haryana increased to around 72.1 percent till 6 pm, according to CNN-IBN. On the other hand, in Maharashtra, Deepak Parekh, Chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation, said, “Thankfully, my name was there on the voters’ list this time.” Actor Anil Kapoor, who went to vote along with daughter Sonam Kapoor in Maharashtra, said, “The role I played in film Nayak is the kind of CM Maharashtra needs.” 5.43 pm: Bollywood stars come out to vote in Maharashtra Explaining the meaning of the word ‘vote’, Amitabh Bachchan tweeted, “Vote comes from the Latin word Votum, which translates as vow, wish, promise, or dedication. Go Vote.”

Shah Rukh Khan, on the other hand, said, “If you want your voice to be heard, if you want to be heard, if you want your city, your state, your country the way it should be… I think everybody should come out and vote.” Abhishek Bachchan urged people to fulfill their duties as citizens by casting their votes. “I request all our fellow citizens to vote. This is our right, this is our duty. Please come out, please vote like I just have and do your duty. If you want to make a change in the society,” Abhishek said, according to PTI. Riteish Deshmukh, said, “Stop whatever you are doing - Go vote. Get inked.”

Singer Sunidhi Chauhan tweeted, “One vote could make all the difference. Please do vote.”

“Just got inked with my dad. Go vote,” Varun Dhawan tweeted.

Tusshar Kapoor also posted on Twitter, ““Make a difference, help the collective conscience bring a stable majority government to Maharashtra! Go Vote.”

“You have the power to change your world! Vote with mother,” Tanishaa Mukherjee posted.

Sonam and Anil Kapoor have also reached polling booths in Maharashtra to vote, according to reports. The voter turnout in Haryana, on the other hand, reached 68.1 percent by 5.30 pm. 5.26 pm: Naxals attack polling party in Gadchiroli A group of naxals opened fire on a polling party at Maskipalli in Chamorshi tehsil in Gadchiroli district, said PTI. “The policemen posted at the polling centre promptly returned the fire and the encounter is still going on,” Gadchiroli police PRO said. Stray incidents of violence today marked the Assembly polls in Haryana leaving 32 persons including 10 policemen. On the other hand, voter turnout in Maharashtra till 5 pm was 55 percent, according to reports. 5.05 pm: 65 percent voter turnout in Haryana till 5 pm, 43 percent in Maharashtra till 3 pm According to reports, 65 percent of the electorate voted in Haryana till 5 pm. On the other hand, the voter turnout in Maharashtra till 3 pm was 43 percent. Vidarbha recorded 45 percent voter turnout til 4 pm, according to reports. And Mumbai recorded 37 percent turnout till 3 pm. BJP has said the “Modi wave” will help it comfortably wrest the two states, while Congress leaders were optimistic that the voters will favour their party once again. Sharad Pawar’s NCP claimed that the BJP had not lived up to the expectations of the people after the mandate it got in Lok Sabh elections and it will face the repercussions in Maharashtra. 4:06 pm: Police use tear gas to control mob in Barwala Congress workers clashed with the INLD supporters in Nyana village of Barwala, Hisar, Firstpost correspondent Rajendra Khatry reported. The clashes erupted between Jat and Dalit voters. At around 1 pm voting stopped and was yet to restart. Many bikes parked near the election booth were set on fire and some people were injured as well. Later, the police had to fire teargas to control the rampaging crowd as clashes died out.-Rajendra Khatry, Firstpost 3:25 pm: Clashes erupt in Haryana between Dalit and Jat voters Violence erupted in Hisar between Jat and Dalit voters as the police and fire brigade intervened to prevent spread of violence, Times Now reported. In a separate incidence of violence, vehicles were set ablaze in Niana village making it the 6th incident of violence today. Meanwhile, three villages in Haryana decided to end their poll boycott as Haryana recorded 52.4 percent voter turnout by 3 pm. Meanwhile, Maharashtra saw a 46 percent turnout by 3 pm. Mumbai saw a mere 32.7 percent turnout by 3 pm with Bollywood celebs like Rekha and Sonali Bendre casting their ballots. 2:25 pm: Polling hit in Haryana village as women told to show face Voting to the Haryana assembly was impacted Wednesday in a village as an official told women to show their faces, police said. The incident took place in Sikanderpur village in Pataudi constituency. “An officer forced women to show their faces before casting the votes. How can a woman lift her ‘ghoonghat’ (veil) before elders of the village…,” Ashok Yadav, a resident from Sikanderpur, told IANS. “We decided to boycott the voting and informed higher authorities,” he said. Virender Singh, Sarpanch Mukesh Devi’s husband, said that “police and duty magistrate visited the booth in Sikanderpur village and tried to resolve it”. A police official said that extra police force has been deployed. “The situation is under control and polling is now going smoothly.” 2.06 pm: Salman Khan casts his vote, says upset with low turnout Actor Salman Khan, according to reports, was shocked to hear that Mumbai has opted to stay home instead of voting. According to a report in ABP News, the actor addressed his fans and said: “Instead of coming out and voting, people prefer to relax at home or rather go out for picnics outside the city.”   [caption id=“attachment_1757927” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Salman Khan[/caption] The actor has done the needful and cast his vote in the Maharashtra assembly election. Speaking to reporters outside polling booth, the actor urged the youngsters of the country to be more responsible and take an effort to come out and vote. NDTV quoted Khan as saying , “Just as we select our girlfriend, you should select your leader in the same manner.”   Salman said that as a dutiful citizen of the nation, it should be an individual’s responsibility to make sure that the right person is elected. 1.56 pm: Maharashtra records 33% voter turnout till 1 pm While rural Maharashtra witnessed longer queues outside polling booths, voter turnout was quite poor in urban areas, especially in Mumbai, where the turnout till 1 pm was just 33 percent, latest reports said. According to reports, across 288 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra and 90 in Haryana, over 10 crore people are expected to vote. Meanwhile, two persons were injured in firing during a clash between two groups in Modia Khera village in Sirsa district of Haryana, police said. One person sustained serious injuries and has been rushed to a hospital, Sirsa superintendent of police, Mitesh Jain, said, PTI reported. Asked if the clash occurred between supporters of two rival parties, since polling is underway in Haryana on Wednesday, Jain said, “we are investigating”. 12.54 pm: Voting picks up in Haryana, Mumbai doesn’t care Voting in Haryana as of noon is at 30 percent, according to the latest figures coming in from the Election commission. Voting across constituencies appears to be brisk, with most of them recording close to 40 percent attendance. Here are some numbers: Ambala 33.2%, Bhiwani 29.2%, Faridabad 25%, Fatehabad 36.1%, Gurgaon 26.1%, Hisar 31.5% Jhajjr 30.2%, Jind 35.5%, Kaithal 36.9%, Karnal 30.5%, Krukshtra 37.8%, Mahendragrh 30.2% Mewat 37% In Maharashtra, we have a fresh update for the city of Mumbai, which seems to have decided to forgo voting and do other things instead. The city had recorded a paltry 15 percent voting as of noon. Here are some of the figures. In Mumbai city proper, it’s Malabar hill leading the way with 18.70 percent voting registered as of now. Wadala and Mahim are not far behind with 17.8 percent attendance apiece. In Mumbai’s surburbs, the situation is even more bleak. The highest attendance is from Kandivali with 8.81 percent. Most of the other constituencies are hovering around the 5 percent mark. Maybe it’s time to listen actress Sonali Bendre:

  10.35 am: Congress leader Milind Deora trains his guns on BJP and Sena Congress leader Milind Deora trashed BJP’s promise of bringing in development by suggesting that the party has a ‘behind-the-scenes’ alliance with Congress’ former ally. He also pointed out that Mumbai’s municipal corporation is run by the Sena and BJP for the past so many years and yet the city’s infrastructure is in a shambles. “Despite the problems faced in coalition politics, we have worked hard to end major issues in the system. We have cracked down upon the builder mafia to make sure house owners and house buyers are protected. The municipal corporation dominated by the Sena has always protected the builder mafia.” He added that the reason why Narendra Modi campaigned extensively was because he had a void to fill. “The BJP has not named a CM candidate, they haven’t put anyone in the forefront. That is because they don’t have a plan or a good leader. That’s why Modi had to campaign. It’s as if Modi was telling people, ‘I will help manage Maharashtra’. But he cannot manage Maharashtra. He is a Prime Minister, not a chief minister,” said Milind Deora. 10.22 am: Prithviraj Chavan says that Congress will come back to power in Maharashtra Though the BJP has gone hammer and tongs at the Congress, based on a recent interview with Prithviraj Chavan, the former chief minister of Maharashtra has said that he believes that the Congress will be back in power in the state. “All the parties have decided to split from their allies. All of them are testing their own strength. The Congress has always worked for peace and development in the state and we will continue to do so,” said Chavan. 10. 00 am: Haryana residents turn out in hordes to vote in state polls Voting for the assembly polls started at a brisk pace in Haryana in the morning. At many centres in the state people reached the venue much before 7 am. Savitri Jindal of the Congress, Dushyant Chautala-INLD,  Krishan Pal Gurjar-BJP and Kuldeep Bishnoi of the HJC were among the first to cast their votes. Women turned up in large numbers to vote in Hisar. Polling was peaceful all over the state and no trouble has been reported from any part of Haryana. Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Head of Dera Sachha Sauda denied reports that their followers would vote en masse for the BJP. He called all such reports baseless. 9.57 am: Not interested in becoming the chief minister, says Nitin Gadkari BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, considered to be one of the front-runners for the Chief Ministerial post in the BJP if it wins, told Headlines Today that he isn’t ‘interested in becoming the CM’. He instead left the choice of the state CM, in the occasion of BJP’s win, to the Prime Minister of the country. He also slammed the Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray for his article in the Sena mouthpiece _Saamna. “_How can he take such pot shots at such a great leader like Modiji?” a furious Gadkari asked. Later he said it is the BJP which has introduced the development agenda to Maharashtra. “Our party is pro-development and is all for progress. Prime Minister Modi is an icon for the same. Now it is up to the voters of Maharashtra to choose what they want - development, or narrow politics,” he told Headlines Today. 9.40 am: BJP alleges booth-capturing in Haryana The BJP has alleged that there was a poll code violation in Narnaud area of Haryana and has decided to file a complaint with the Election Commission. The Congress is hopeful of winning a third-term in the state, while the BJP’s Capt Abhimanyu is the front-runner for the CM’s post should the BJP win the polls. 9.35 am: 3 villages in Haryana that decided to boycott polls will now vote Three Haryana villages, including Kasan, that had earlier decided that they will not participate in the Assembly elections have now decided that they will cast their votes and make their voice heard. The had called for a boycott demanding justice in the Pinky Chauhan case. 9.30 am: Celebrities vote, urge Mumbaikars to make their voice heard

09.00 am: ‘NCP confident of winning Maharashtra’ NCP supremo Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule cast her vote this morning expressing confidence that despite ending its alliance with the Congress, the NCP will stand a chance to win big in the assembly polls. “I appeal people to cast their votes for a stable Govt, a single vote can also bring change,” she told news reporters.  

8.40 am: Senior citizens outdo youth, come out to vote early In Haryana and Maharashtra, senior citizens appeared to be outdoing the youth in coming out and casting their vote. Activists in Maharashtra will help voters, especially the elderly, come out and cast their vote, as this Indian Express report states. [caption id=“attachment_1757223” align=“alignleft” width=“620”] Senior citizen Chitamani Gadkari, 86, after casting his vote. Parag Shinde/Firstpost[/caption] 8.30 am: Confident Maharashtra will vote for change, says Pankaja Munde Current Maharashtra MLA and daughter of BJP leader Gopinath Munde, who passed away in an accident earlier this year, has expressed confidence that the people of the state will vote for change in these elections and will give the BJP a clear majority. “I am confident about my win, the challenge is to match up the expectations of the people,” she said early this morning.

  8.25 am: The BJP has, once again, dominated the front pages of major English dailies in Mumbai [caption id=“attachment_1757173” align=“alignleft” width=“620”] Firstpost[/caption] 08.10 am: Badminton helps Hooda ease election stress! Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is hoping to win a third-term as CM, was seen playing badminton early this morning, perhaps to help him get over the election stress over the past month. News agency ANI caught this image of him.

Speaking to reporters, Hooda had this to say: “I am confident of a third term for the Congress in the state. Modi isn’t contesting for CM post in Haryana. It is unusual for a PM to campaign so much in a state. Congress leaders had left the party in 2009 as well but it didn’t stop us from coming to power again.” 08.00 am: Youth must come out and vote, says PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter early this morning to urge voters, specially the youth, in Haryana and Maharashtra to come out and cast their vote in the Assembly elections. “Ensure a record voter turnout,” the PM said.  

Meanwhile, voters in Maharashtra are out early this morning. Here’s a photo from Mulund East, Mumbai. [caption id=“attachment_1757139” align=“alignleft” width=“620”] Voters checking their names on the electoral roll. Parag Shinde/Firstpost[/caption] 7.30 am: Voting begins in Maharashtra, Haryana Voting began in Maharashtra and Haryana at 7 am today. In Maharashtra, 288 constituencies will go to vote, while in Haryana polling will be held in 90 constituencies. 7.25 am: Maharashtra, Haryana go to polls today Maharashtra and Haryana go to the polls today, reviving memories of the high voltage drama that unfolded across India during this year’s general elections held in May. Maharashtra, especially, has managed to work up the kind of frenzy that was witnessed during the general elections with the state’s previous alliances ripped apart in the aftermath of BJP’s massive win in May this year. The BJP abandoned it’s 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena in the state, perhaps emboldened by the raging success of what they called the ‘Modi wave’ in the national polls a few months back. On the face of it, the party refused to accept the seat sharing scheme that the Sena was offering it. [caption id=“attachment_1757095” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP.[/caption] However, other reports suggests that the split can be attributed to the parties’ individual aspiration to occupy the chief minister’s chair in the state. In fact, in an interview to CNN IBN, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that while they wanted Uddhav Thackeray to be the CM in case the alliance won, BJP wanted their candidate to be the chief minister. It was finally BJP which left the alliance, leaving the Sena in shock. Aditya Thackeray, Uddhav’s son and chief of the Sena’s youth wing moped on Twitter on how the BJP has literally erased a significant part of his childhood. Some BJP leaders too said they weren’t too excited about the move but it had to be done. Following the BJP’s split from Sena, Sharad Pawar’s NCP too decided to part ways with the Congress. However, in this split, there was much less heartbreak. While the NCP alleged that the Congress was unwilling to discuss the seat sharing issues, the Congress said that they will find a new ally soon. However, CM Prithviraj Chavan quit soon after, putting Maharashtra under President’s Rule. That leaves Maharashtra with a four cornered fight, between BJP, Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena. Raj Thackeray’s MNS might sway poll equations as well but it remains to be seen to what extent. In Haryana too, BJP dumped its old ally Haryana Janhit Congress and is going solo. The state will now see a three way fight between Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Congress and the BJP. INLD leader and former CM Om Prakash Chautala has been going hammer and tongs at Bhupinder Singh Hooda, present CM from the Congress party. Chautala, who is in jail on corruption charges, has accused Hooda of corruption. He even took bail on medical grounds and campaigned in the state.