36% polling in Maharashtra till afternoon

Around 36 per cent polling was recorded in the first six hours of voting for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly today.

"Thirty-six per cent of the over 7.56 crore eligible voters in the state exercised their franchise till 1 pm," an election official said.

Over 1.29 lakh state police and Central paramilitary forces (CPMF) have been deployed across the state to ensure fair and peaceful poll.

Adequate CPMF contingents 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 8, 17 policemen were killed in an ambush by the Naxals in Gadchiroli district.

The fate of 3,559 candidates including Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal and 37 ministers is being decided by an electorate of 7,56,34,525.

There are 1,820 Independents, mostly rebels in fray, The number of women candidates is 211.