The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in five constituencies in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region concluded peacefully on Friday without any major untoward incidents. The voter turnout averaged at 55.35% until 6 p.m., a figure similar to the turnout recorded during the 2019 Lok Sabha election, albeit lower than the 64% turnout in 2014.
The total number of voters in these five constituencies – Nagpur, Chandrapur, Ramtek (SC), Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), and Bhandara-Gondia – stands at 95,54,667, comprising 48,28,142 male voters, 47,26,178 female, and 347 transgender voters.
Voting commenced at 7 a.m. but the voter participation rate increased gradually as the day matured, reaching its peak between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., with long queues persisting even after the official polling hour of 6 p.m. However, voters who arrived at the polling stations before the deadline were allowed to cast their votes. Officials said that voting took place at 10,652 polling centres with 21,527 ballot units, 13,963 control units, and 14,755 VVPAT machines available.
