Close contest in both LS constituencies: EC data
The election commission (EC) has issued Assembly segment-wise data of voting in both constituencies.
Mumbai: Detailed data on the pattern of voting in Monday’s Palghar Lok Sabha (LS) bypoll has revealed a neck-and-neck fight between the Shiv Sena and the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA). In the Bhandara-Gondia bypoll, the BJP seems to have done well in pulling out its voters in areas dominated by the party, according to preliminary figures. Both constituencies went to polls on Monday.
The election commission (EC) has issued Assembly segment-wise data of voting in both constituencies. In Bhandara Gondia, 742,716 voters exercised their franchise on Monday, of which, 401,726 were men and 340,990 women. Bhandara-Gondia saw 42.25 per cent voting.
Out of the six Assembly segments in this LS constituency, Sakoli, the bastion of former MP Nana Patole, recorded the highest voting percentage at 55.14%. The byelection took place after Mr Patole resigned from the BJP and LS. So, he pulled out all stops to get the maximum number of voters out. A total 170,000 voters cast their vote in Sakoli. Mr Patole supported the NCP candidate as his party is in an alliance with the NCP.
Meanwhile, the BJP too, did well in its pocket. At 47.87 per cent, Arjuni Morgaon Assembly constituency recorded the second-highest voting percentage. Cabinet minister in Maharashtra, Rajkumar Badole, represented this constituency. The BJP pulled out voters in other constituencies known to be party bastions. This is being interpreted as a neck and neck fight between the BJP and the NCP-Congress alliance.
As regards the Palghar LS, Vasai, Nalasopara and Boisar are Assembly constituencies known for the dominance of the BVA. 435,486 out of the total 887,687 voters were registered from these three Assembly constituencies alone. Had the BJP been able to attract north Indian voters, only then would the BVA have been kept in check.