The polling, which began on a peaceful note at 7 am, was marred by an incident of firing at a polling party in naxal-infested Gadchiroli district.
Union Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, industrialist Anil Ambani, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Mumbai Police chief D Sivanandan and BCCI chief Shashank Manohar were among the early voters.
Over 1.29 lakh state police and Central paramilitary forces (CPMF) have been deployed across the state to ensure fair and peaceful poll, police said.
Adequate security personnel have been deployed in Naxal-hit Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts of Vidarbha to thwart any attempt by the Maoists to disrupt the election process, police said.
On October eight, 17 policemen were killed in an ambush by the Naxals in Gadchiroli district.
Congress rebel Sunil Deshmukh, pitted against Rejendra alias Raosaheb Shekhawat, son of President Pratibha Patil and Maharashtra Textile Minister Anees Ahmad were among the early voters who exercised their franchise in Vidarbha region, official sources said.
Deshmukh went to a polling station near Science college ground in Amravati while Ahmad cast his vote in Sadar.
Meanwhle 7.45 per cent polling recorded in city within first two hours, officials sources added.
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