India Politics

Maharashtra bypoll election Highlights, Shiv Sena, NCP express reservations on EVMs in Bhandara-Gondia

Maharashtra bypoll election Highlights, Shiv Sena, NCP express reservations on EVMs in Bhandara-Gondia

All the major parties in Maharashtra including BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP have used all the resources for the bypoll. Voting is undergoing on Vidarbha and, Palas Chedgaon of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh’s Noorpur, Bihar’s Jokiyat, Jharkhand’s Gomiya and Siligi, Chenganwar in Kerala, Amberi of Meghalaya, Shahkot in Punjab, Tharali in Uttarakhand and Maheshtala in West Bengal. Bypoll in Palghar(Maharashtra) was required after the BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga died earlier this year. In the first two hours of voting, 10.20 percent turnout was recorded in Uttar Pradesh’s Kairana Constituency, whereas 16 percent was recorded in Maharashtra’s Bhandara-Gondiya constituency. 

The BJP looks to retain their seat in the constituency, Shiv Sena, in what was seen as an unexpected move, fielded Mr. Wanaga’s son Shrinivas for this seat. The Shiv Sena claimed that the BJP had ignored the family of Chintaman Wanaga after his death in January.

Maharashtra Bypolls LIVE Updates

5:45 PM IST- The Shiv Sena and the NCP alleged malfunctioning in EVMs during bypolls for Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. Former Union minister Praful Patel claimed that almost 25 percent of EVMs malfunctioned in the bypoll to Bhandara- Gondiya, while Sena leader Sanjay Raut said those in power were contesting elections while keeping the “key and remote of EVMs in their hands

5:20 PM IST- 28.22% voter turnout in Palghar, Maharashtra at 3 pm. 70% voter turnout in Nagaland by-polls

5:00 PM IST- voting will conclude at 4 pm and the counting of votes will take place on May 31. Around 14 per cent polling was reported for the Bhandara-Gondia seat till 11 am. In Palghar, around seven per cent electorate cast their votes till 9 am.

4:30 PM IST- Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Hitendra Thakur claimed that “the entire election commission machinery is working on behalf of the BJP in Palghar.”

4:00 PM IST- The poll representative of BJP’s nominee Rajendra Gavit submitted a memorandum to election officials in the district, seeking an extension of the polling time due to malfunctioning of EVMs and the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in some booths.

3:50 PM IST- The BJP candidate for the Palghar Lok Sabha seat bypoll demanded that the polling time be extended in view of the (EVMs) malfunctioning in some booths.

3:40 PM IST- In a statement, EC has said, “ It is clarified  that voting has not been canceled in any polling station in 11-Bhandara-Gondiya PC and voting is continuing smoothly after necessary replacements, where ever required.”

3:30 PM IST- About 65 percent votes were cast till 1.30 pm in the Ampati assembly bypolls in Meghalaya today, the election commission said. The voting has been peaceful and incident free so far, Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said.

3:15 PM IST- NCP Leader Praful Patel demands re-election in Bhandara-Ghondiya and scrapping of EVMs

3:00 PM IST- Calling the reports of large-scale voting machine malfunction “an exaggeration”, the commission said it is taking steps to correct it. In a statement, the Election Commission also denied reports of polls being canceled in 35 booths in the Bhandara-Gondiya Parliamentary Constituency in Maharashtra, saying they were “incorrect

2:40 PM IST- Several EVM glitches reported in Maharashtra’s Bhandara-Gondiya. Complaints have been registred with the election officer. EVM machine in Bhandara’s Lakhni taluka booth no. 140/143 sudenly stops working.

2:10 PM IST- Shiv Sena leader Anil Desai accused Election Commission(EC) for Technical problems in EVMs and VVPATs. “If this is the situation in by-polls, think about 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. We’ve said it again and again and other parties have also agreed, that elections should be conducted using ballot papers,” he said

1:20 PM IST- 42.85% polling registered in Ampati. As of 11 am, polling in the constituency has been registered at 42.85 percent.

1:00 PM IST-  Bhandara–Gondiya Lok Sabha bypolls: Voting temporarily suspended for now at 35 polling booths due to faulty Electronic Voting Machines (EVM): Abhimanyu Kale, District Magistrate

12:30 PM IST- 34 villages in Bhandara-Gondia constituency have reportedly boycotted the polls. 50,000-odd voters affected by the Gosikhurd irrigation project are upset that their demands have not been met

12:00 PM IST- Elections have been canceled at 35 polling stations in Bhandara-Gondiya constituency after reports of EVM malfunction surfaced

11:35 AM IST- In Maharashtra, about 11 EVMs have received complaints about several polling booths in Bhandara-Gondia. Voting is blocked in many places here.

11:15 AM IST– Months of campaigning in the district have seen the former allies; BJP and Shiv Sena, blame each other of ‘betrayal’. The Congress-NCP alliance is hoping to halt the BJP juggernaut, but their biggest challenge will be to survive the smaller regional parties who are also contesting the election.

11:00 AM IST–  Some voters in Maharashtra’s Palghar were marked on their middle fingers, instead of index fingers. This is was done to differentiate as panchayat polls had also recently taken place in some parts of Palghar on Sunday.

10:40 AM IST– 5% voting has been registered by 9.00 am in the by-elections in the Shahkot assembly seat of Jab. Shirkamani seat of Jalandhar district Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Ajit Singh had died from the demise of Kohar. The ruling Congress has fielded Hardev Singh Ladi while Akali Dal has given the ticket to Kohar’s son Nayeb Singh Kohar. The Aam Aadmi Party has made Ratan Singh Kakad Kalan its candidate.

10:25 AM IST– EVM bad at Booth no.11 in Arjun Morgaon, Gondiya, Maharashtra, still not started Voting

10:10 AM IST- Bhandara-Gondiya assembly bypoll is doing due to the resignation of BJP MP Nana Sahab Patole. The main fight on this seat is between the BJP and the NCP.

9:45 AM IST- Voting is going on for the bye-elections of Bhandara-Gondiya assembly and Palghar parliamentary seats in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, there is a complaint about the 11 EVMs in Bhandara-Gondia. Voting is peaceful in Palghar. Palghar seat was vacant due to the demise of BJP MP Chintaman Vanaga.

About the author

Abhishek Lohia

Abhishek Lohia was a Sports and Political Writer working for Newsfolo and is no longer associated with the organization.

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