Pune Lok Sabha elections 2024: The electoral contest in Pune is set to be a straight fight between the BJP and the Congress. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)Pune Lok Sabha elections 2024: Pune recorded a voter turnout of 51.25 percent, numbers updated on Tuesday on the Voter Turnout app of the Election Commission of India showed. The polling saw various complaints of missing names from the voters’ list. Pune police officials had also asked voters to keep their mobile phones switched off and avoid using them inside the polling booth.
Voting in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra began early on Monday with 11 constituencies of Maharashtra exercising their franchise. Out of the 11 constituencies, three of them–Pune, Shirur and Maval— are in Pune district. The electoral contest in Pune is set to be a straight fight between the BJP and the Congress. A total of 298 candidates are in the fray in the state in the fourth phase with the fiercely contested Beed constituency having the highest number of candidates at 41, while Nandurbar has the lowest number at 11.
The Maval constituency has been a Shiv Sena bastion. In 2009, Gajanan Babar of the Shiv Sena had won the seat, in 2014 and 2019, Shrirang Barne had won the seat. He is facing Sanjog Waghere of the Shiv Sena (UBT) who is a former mayor of Pimpri-Chinchwad. The main fight in Shirur constituency is between sitting MP and actor Amol Kolhe of the NCP (SP) and former MP Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil, who switched over from the Shiv Sena to Ajit Pawar’s NCP to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP has fielded former mayor Murlidhar Mohol (left) while the Congress has pitted legislator Ravindra Dhangekar (right) from the Pune seat. (File)
Top leaders held rallies across constituencies. (Express file photo)
Pune Lok Sabha voting trend keeps candidates on tenterhook
The voting turnout in Pune Lok Sabha seat showed a slight increase from the previous election but it kept the candidates on tenterhooks due to the trend of polling changing continuously in the six Assembly seats in the Lok Sabha constituency.
The BJP had dominated the previous two Lok Sabha elections with victory of Anil Shirole in 2014 and Girish Bapat in 2019 but it was cautious this time after the party lost its bastion of Kasba in bypoll last year to Ravindra Dhangekar of Congress who happened to be the candidate for Pune Lok Sabha seat as well. Read more
Pune voters' turnout 50.32%, marginally higher than 2019 count
Pune Assembly constituency recorded a provisional voters' turnout of 50.32 percent by the end of the polling on Monday, as per information updated on the 'TurnoutApp' of the Election Commission of India. This is marginally higher than 2019 turnout of 49.99 percent.
As per the data, among the six Assembly constituencies, Kasba recorded the highest turnout at 57.90 percent and Parvati recording the lowest at 46.80 percent.
Maval and Shirur parliamentary constituencies recorded 52.90 percent and 51.46 percent voters' turnout respectively, as per the data shared. In 2019, Maval and Shirur had recorded significantly higher 59.59 and 59.64 percent turnout respectively.
Voting allowed in Raigad district till 9 pm: Returning officer
Returning Officer Deepak Sangla said voting continued in the Raigad district till 9 pm, owing to rains in Karjat, Khalapur, and Uran which prevented some voters from stepping out of their homes. ''A large number of voters therefore arrived just before 6 pm resulting in the delay in polling process. In city areas, there was early closure but in rural areas of the constituency, there was a delay,'' he said.
"In Pimpri and Chinchwad, the polling ended by 7 pm, but in Karjat and Uran which are in Raigad district the polling went on till 9 pm,'' Sangla said.
NCP (SP) claims wrongdoing after CCTVs get turned off at godown storing EVMs from Baramati
The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) alleged wrongdoing after CCTV cameras got turned off for 45 minutes at a godown where the EVMs from the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency were stored in Maharashtra's Pune district.
The election authorities, however, clarified that a cable of the cameras had to be removed for a short period during some electrical work on the premises in the morning.
The CCTVs were turned off between 10.30 am and 11.15 am at the Food Corporation of India's godown, where the EVMs from the constituency are stored, said Laxmikant Khabiya, the election representative of Baramati candidate Supriya Sule.
Elderly voters make way to polling booths
Rakhmabai Dattoba Shelke, a 106-year-old voter in the Shirur Assembly constituency, chose to visit the polling booth in Pimpale Jagtap village, although she was made aware of the vote-from-home option.
At the same booth in Pimpale Jagtap, 105-year-old Anusaya Kashinath Sondekare also visited the polling station to vote. In Pune city parliamentary constitutency, 98-year-old Vimala Dattatray Shingane, a resident of Shivajinagar, visited the booth to vote.
In the Pimpri Assembly constituency, 98-year-old Lakshmibai Garade, and 90-year-old Kalavati Kambale asserted their right to vote by visiting the polling station.
Pregnant woman casts her vote before being admitted to hospital
Shalu Rathod, a woman who is in the ninth month of pregnancy and is due to deliver this week, voted at a booth before getting admitted to a hospital. Rathod, who is a voter in Shivajinagar but was visiting her maternal home in Chakan, contacted the district administration expressing her desire to vote.
Deputy Collector Archana Tambe arranged an ambulance for Rathod to travel to the voting booth located inside the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) campus. Rathod travelled from Chakan to COEP in the afternoon where she voted and then to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Yerwada, where she has been admitted for the due delivery.
At 5 pm, Pune city voters' turnout at 44.9%; Maval leads with 46.03%
Pune recorded 44.9 percent voting till 5 pm, with a 11 percent jump from the 3 pm tally of 33.07 percent.
Among the six assembly constituencies, Shivajinagar recorded the lowest numbers with 38.73 percent turnout till 5 pm. Kasba constituency, the home ground for Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar, recorded the highest turnout at 51.07 percent.
Shirur constituency recorded 43.89 percent turnout till 5 pm. Urban parts of Shirur continue to lag behind the rural areas in terms of voter turnout. Bhosari and Hadapsar (which come under Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune Municipal Corporation) have reported 42.24 percent and 38.04 percent voting respectively. Khed (48.07), Shirur (41.15) and Junnar (47.31) have reported good turnout.
Among the three Lok Sabha constituencies in Pune District that are polling today, Maval has reported the highest voter turnout so far at 46.03 percent by 5 pm. Uran assembly constituency has seen the highest turnout 55.05 percent and Pimpri the lowest at 42.20 percent by 5 pm.
49 voting machines changed so far due to malfunctioning
In Pune Lok Sabha constituency, 49 voting machines have been changed due to malfunctioning, of which of which 30 are ballot units, 10 are control units, and 19 are VVPATs. Among the six Assembly constituencies, Vadgaon Sheri saw the most malfunctions with 15 ballot units, 5 control units, and 7 VVPATs malfunctioning and requiring a replacement.
Shiv Sena (UBT) city chief arrested for 'obstructing work' at poll booth, released
Sachin Bhosale, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief in Pimpri Chinchwad, was arrested by police for obstructing the work of poll officers. As per preliminary information, the poll officials at a polling booth at Barne School in Thergaon registered a police complaint with Wakad Police against Bhosale after he allegedly created ruckus inside a polling booth. He was later released on bail.
Amid voting, rains reported in Karjat, Khopoli and Khalapur
An intense but short spell of rains and hailstorm was reported in parts of Karjat, Khopoli and Khalapur areas amid voting for the Maval Lok Sabha constituency. The rain is said to have not affected voting adversely.
Pune Police chief votes along with wife, son
Lok Sabha elections in Pune: Voting picks up in Maval
Voting has picked up in Maval Lok Sabha constituency – which is made of parts of Pune and Raigad districts – with 36.54 percent voting taking place till 3 pm.
Among the six constituencies that are its parts, the Uran turnout is highest so far with the assembly constituency recording 42.89 percent till 3 pm. Least voting has happened in Pimpri 33.74 percent. Shiv Sena’s Shrirang Barne is in direct contest with Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) candidate Sanjog Waghere.
‘Heat, rain doesn’t deter farmers from voting’, says Adhalrao Patil
Adhalrao Patil, who recently joined Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and is in a tight contest with Sharad Pawar faction's sitting MP Amol Kolhe for Shirur constituency, said, “I am more than 100 per cent confident of winning by a handsome margin. Voters are mostly from the farming community, for them rain and sun these things don’t matter. In urban areas too the voter turnout is enthusiastic. I am confident that the final tally would be around 60 to 65 per cent."
City's voter turnout at 33.07% at 3 pm
The voter turnout slowed down in Pune Lok Sabha seat as it registered 33.07 percent polling till 3 pm, after 26.48 percent in first six hours till 1 pm. It increased only by 6.59 percent from 1 pm to 3 pm.
Pune's first woman police commissioner flies in to vote
Former Pune Police commissioner Meeran Chadha Borwankar, who has settled down in Delhi after retirement, made sure she exercises her right to vote.
On Sunday, Borwankar flew down from Delhi to Pune only to be able to cast her vote in the city. "I flew in from Delhi last evening to cast my precious vote and I fly back tomorrow. To my mind I have a right to discuss the situation in the country for the next five years only if I vote," said the former top cop.
Actor Subodh Bhave posts photo of his family on Instagram after voting
Actor Subodh Bhave exercised his democratic franchise and posted a photograph of his family on Instagram.
Actor Sonali Kulkarni urges people to exercise their right over social media
Actor Sonali Kulkarni voted and urged fellow citizens to do the same on Monday.
"Duty and rights are two sides of the same coin. You don't get the right without fulfilling your duty. Keep this in mind. Please go vote," she wrote on her social media account.
Assisted by daughter, 94-year-old cast his vote, says 'will exercise his right of franchise till he can'
Shripad Shankar Kanhere, 94, exercised his voting right at Bal Shikshan Mandir in Pune today. He said it was a pretty good experience and will 'exercise his right of franchise till he can'.
Sadhana Bhagwat, his daughter who assisted Kanhere, said she will now go back home to assist her mother, Jyotsna Kanhere, 86, who uses a wheelchair. 'I feel good that I am participating in the process of free India,' Shripad Kanhere said.
District administration provides first aid kits, rehydration salts to voting centres amid high temp in Chakan
The district administration in Chakan provided voting centres with first aid kits and rehydration salts amid high temperatures.
Ramdas Gaikwad (80), a voter at Shivaji School in Chakan was administered ORS as he felt he would faint after voting on Monday.
Gaikwad who is a patient of hypertension was not able to walk after casting his vote. He was allowed to vote on priority and escorted out in a wheelchair.
At 31.1%, Kasba Peth records highest voting percentage till 1 pm
Among the six assembly constituencies, Kasba Peth has recorded highest voting percentage so far (31.1% by 1 pm) closely followed by Kothrud (29.1% by 1 pm).
Slowest voting has been recorded in Pune Cantonment which has reocorded 23.21% votes so far.
Voter turnout at 26.48% in Pune as of 1 pm
Pune Lok Sabha seat continued to witness good voter turnout with 26.48 percent till 1 pm.
There are five more hours left for polling and is likely to register an increase in overall turnout as compared to 49.89 percent in 2019.
Someone had already voted in my name: Pune Congress Chief Arvind Shinde
When Pune City Congress chief Arvind Shinde reached the voting booth at Saint Mira's English Medium School in Rasta Peth on Monday, he was surprised to find that although his name was on the voters' list, someone had already cast the vote.
Shinde said that after finding out, he raised an objection and was later allowed to vote using the 'tender vote' process.
A tender vote, as specified in Section 49P of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, is the vote which is allowed to be cast on ballot paper when a voter realises that someone has already voted in her name and the officials are satisfied of the correct identity of the voter. The voter has to approach the presiding officer at the polling booth and flag the issue. Upon answering the presiding officer’s questions about their identity satisfactorily, the voter will be allowed to cast a tender vote.
These votes are cast on ballot papers and sealed and locked away. These votes are useful when the margin between the winning candidate and the runner-up is slim. However, if the difference is large, tender votes are not counted.
Voter with cerebral palsy, physical disability cast his vote after receiving timely help from Pune Collector
Nachiket Sinha, a resident of Florida Estate, Keshav Nagar, Mundhwa cast his vote with special and timely help provided by Pune Collector Suhas Diwase.
Nachiket has cerebral palsy and suffers from a physical disability due to which long-distance movement by walking is difficult for him. His father Niraj Kumar Sinha had contacted the Chief Election Officer Maharashtra and Pune Collector Suhas Diwase requesting that his polling booth be shifted to a closer location.
Diwase took note of the request but as it was not possible to shift the voting at a short notice, he provided a special vehicle and an assistant to help Nachiket reach the voting booth which was about a kilometre away from his residence.
'He is very happy that he was able to vote and we are thankful to the district collector and the election officials who have helped,' said father Sinha.
Drivers contesting independently from Maval, Pune constituency cast vote
Santosh Ubale (37), a cab driver contesting independently from Maval constituency, cast his vote at Jai Hind High School in Pimpri.
Moreover, Manoj Vetal, a 39-year-old tempo driver who is fighting as an independent candidate from Pune constituency, expressed his views while casting his vote at Mahatma Gandhi School Urdu, Kasbapeth. He said that gig workers employed by mobile app-based platforms should consider their future rights when voting.
Pune Cong chief Arvind Shinde unable to vote, claims someone else voted in his name
Pune Congress chief Arvind Shinde unable to vote as he claimed someone else already voted in his name.
BJP Pune candidate Muralidhar Mohol with daughter, wife vote at MIT School
BJP Pune Loksabha candidate Muralidhar Mohol with his first time voter daughter Siddhi and wife voted at MIT school on Monday.
(Express photo by Arul Horizon)
Voter turnout at 16.16% in Pune till 11 am
Pune Lok Sabha seat registered a jump in voter turnout with 16.16 percent in first 4 hours (till 11 am) from 6.61 percent in first two hours (till 9 am).
Selfie points for voters at Vadgaon Sheri's Vitthalrao Gadgil Primary School
One of Pune's polling stations, located at Vadgaon Sheri's Vitthalrao Gadgil Primary School, stands out as a unique site. During the last general election, it boasted an impressive voter turnout of 80 to 90 percent in PS 109.
Its premises are adorned with green plants intended for distribution to voters, though no volunteers were spotted handling that task.
According to supervisor Priyanka Aherkar, this polling station earned its unique status due to its exceptional voter participation in the previous election. 'Even this time, people are eagerly turning up to vote and capture moments,' she remarked.
Aherkar also mentioned that, in addition to promoting environmental awareness, the station features selfie points for the public to use.
Voters express frustration at missing names from voters' list
Many voters, speaking to the media, expressed their frustration at missing names from voters' list.
Prabhakar Vadimbe, 70, voiced his frustration that despite always voting and being excited to do so this time, his name was not on the list. He stated that he would now opt to go straight home instead of wandering around searching for his name.
Ameet Thakkar, who recently moved from Bombay to Pune, expressed concern that her handicapped mother couldn't vote as she has no name on the voters' list. He said that she herself wanted to vote as it might be her last opportunity. However, officials informed her that her name was not on the list. "If our names are listed after transferring from Bombay, then why isn't my mother's name included?" Thakkar questioned.
Ballot units, control units, VVPATs changed during mock polls in Pune, Shirur
During the mock polls held for Shirur Loksabha seat, 24 ballot units, 8 control units, and 24 VVPATs were changed. Whereas in Pune mock polls, 37 ballot units, 13 control units, and 17 VVPATs were changed.
Actor Shruti Marathe cast vote with parents at Katariya High School
Actor Shruti Marathe Monday cast her vote with her parents at the polling booth in Katariya High School.
Veteran actor Dr Mohan Agashe cast vote at Bhandarkar road
Veteran actor, director and psychiatrist Dr Mohan Agashe cast his vote at Bhandarkar road.
(Express photo by Pavan Khengre)
Amol Palekar, Sandhya Gokhale head back after deciding to vote later in the day
Actor Amol Palekar and Sandhya Gokhale decided to head back from the polling booth at Kalmadi Shamrao School, and vote later in the day owing to to heavy morning crowd on Monday.
(Express photos by Arul Horizon)
Names missing from voters' list at Pune Cantonment assembly constituency
Reports have emerged about missing names from the voters' list at Pune Cantonment Assembly constituency.
Rohan Desai, member of National Society for Clean Cities, said he has got calls mostly from senior citizens whose names are missing from the list. “Most had voted in the last election and this time they can’t find their names,” he said.
Police officials ask voters to switch off mobile phones, avoid its use inside polling booth
Officials from Pune city, Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune Rural police have asked voters to keep their mobile phones switched off and avoid its use inside the polling booth.
They said that a large number of people are coming to voting centres with their cell phones. "And because checking every voter and asking them to deposit phones is not practical, voters are being asked to switch off phones and not take them out when they enter the booth," they said.
In Pics | People arrive to vote at MIT school in Kothrud
People arrived at MIT School in Pune's Kothrud to vote on Monday. Officials allowed controlled entry owing to large number of voters.
(Express Photos by Arul Horizon)
Women flock to the women-run booth at Cummins College of Engineering in Kothrud
Women are flocking to the women-run booth at Cummins College of Engineering in Kothrud constituency, one of the six such booths in Pune.
"I believe such an initiative really encourages women voters and makes them feel comfortable," said presiding officer Gouri Kopardekar, otherwise a college professor. She is one of the four women from various fields who are managing the poll booth.
While Kopardekar has volunteered for election duty twice before, this is her first time at a women-run poll booth.
Voters dissatisfied with arrangements at polling centre at Kasturba Co-operative Housing Society in Vadgaon Sheri
Some voters were dissatisfied with arrangements at polling centre at Kasturba Co-operative Housing Society in Vadgaon Sheri.
Shaktipada Ghosh, aged 62, arrived at the Kasturba Housing Society polling station in Vadgaon Sheri with his wife despite being paralyzed. However, his wife, Sharmila Ghosh, expressed dissatisfaction with the mismanagement and waited for two hours due to a malfunctioning machine.
"There were no volunteers available for my husband and me. They neglected to provide a wheelchair for him. After numerous difficulties, they eventually provided a chair, and it was the voters who came to cast their votes who volunteered to assist me," Sharmila stated.
In Pics | Ministers vote in the 4th phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024
BJP leader and Kothrud legislator Chandrakant Patil voted in Kothrud. He had transferred his name as a voter from Kolhapur to Pune.
(Express Photo)
City NCP working president Pradeep Deshmukh with his wife after casting vote at Gokhalenagar. (Express Photo)
Names of Vishambhar Choudhari, wife missing from voter's list, 'first time in many years', says Choudhari
Vishambhar Choudhari, the co convenor of Nirbhay Bano Manch and his wife could not vote as their names did not appear in the voter's list. Choudhari said this was the first time in the last many years he could not vote.
Nirbhay Bano manch had started an outreach program in favour of opposition to protest against what they said was the threat to democracy.
BJP leader Chandrakant Patil votes in Kothrud
BJP leader and Kothrud legislator Chandrakant Patil voted in Kothrud. He had transferred his name as a voter from Kolhapur to Pune.
BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni with her husband Vishram Kulkarni after casting vote in Kothrud.
Cong candidate Ravindra Dhangekar, wife and son votes at Kamala Nehru School
Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar along with his wife Pratibha and son Pranav voted at the polling booth in Kamala Nehru School in Pune's Raviwar Peth.
(Express Photo by Pavan Khengre)
After Pune collector tells voters to keep phones at home, police say switch it off before entering booths
HOURS before the Pune city, Shirur and Maval Lok Sabha constituencies go to polls, confusion prevailed among voters as to whether they will be allowed to carry their cellphones inside the polling centres.
The Pune city police clarified that the voters will have to switch off their cellphones before they enter the polling centres.
When contacted, District Collector Suhas Diwase said the cellphones have been banned within 100 metre radius of the polling centres in Pune, Maval and Shirur.
The cellphone ban order was issued on Saturday night by Joint Police Commissioner (law and order) Praveen Pawar under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the Pune City police limits. For other police jurisdictions, similar prohibitory orders were issued by respective authorities. Read more here.
Police bans entry of people with mobile phones at polling booth in Moshi
The Pune Police on Monday banned the entry of any one with mobile phones within 200 meters from the polling booth in Moshi. People were cooperating with the police.
Voting begins in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Pune, Maval and Shirur today
Voting begins in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra as 11 constituencies of Maharashtra will exercise their franchise on Monday.
Out of the 11 constituencies, three of them–Pune, Shirur and Maval— are in Pune district. The electoral contest in Pune is set to be a straight fight between the BJP and the Congress.
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