Maharashtra Elections: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das votes in Mumbai

During the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly Elections, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das, along with his wife, exercised their right to vote at the Activity School polling centre, located in the Malabar Hill assembly constituency of Mumbai. 

After casting his vote, Shaktikanta Das praised the setup at the polling station and thanked the Election Commission for its excellent planning. He said, “The arrangements here are great. I congratulate the Election Commission. Since the elections are happening in the middle of the week, we are hoping for a good voter turnout.”

The Maharashtra assembly elections began today at 7 a.m. and will run until 6 p.m. across all 288 constituencies. A total of 4,136 candidates, including 2,086 independents, are competing for seats in this crucial state election.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting 149 seats, with its allies, Shiv Sena and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), competing for 81 and 59 seats, respectively. Meanwhile, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), is aiming to reclaim its political influence.

Mumbai has been heavily secured to ensure smooth and peaceful voting. Over 25,000 police personnel, including riot-control units and home guards, have been deployed across the city. Areas such as Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar and Dharavi are seeing increased vehicle checks to maintain order.

Over 2,000 senior officers are overseeing law and order, highlighting the significance of a smooth election process in India’s financial capital. The election campaign was intense and lively, ending on November 18. Maharashtra’s political scene has been shaped by changing alliances and differences in ideologies.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which includes Shiv Sena and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), is facing tough competition from the MVA, made up of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP became the largest party with 105 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 56 and Congress with 44. However, the 2024 elections are being closely watched for their potential to change the political landscape of the state.

Maharashtra, with around 9.7 crore registered voters, is set for a major electoral day. The Election Commission’s decision to hold the vote in the middle of the week is aimed at increasing voter turnout, a goal supported by both leaders and voters.