Counting of votes begins for Maha Lok Sabha bypolls

Counting of votes for bypolls to Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra began this morning.

The results of the two seats are important for all four major political parties - BJP, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP - as the outcome is likely to have a bearing on their future course.

The polling, held on Monday, was marred by allegations of malfunctioning in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines.

Following the Election Commission's order, re-polling was yesterday held at 49 booths in five of the six Assembly segments in Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency.

However, no re-polling was ordered in the Palghar (ST) Lok Sabha constituency.

While 53.22 per cent of the 1.73 crore electorate exercised their franchise in Palghar, in Bhandara-Gondiya, 53.15 per cent of the total 1.76 crore voters cast their votes on Monday.

Besides, an estimated 45 per cent voters cast their votes in the repolling yesterday at 49 booths in Bhandara- Gondiya till 5 pm, an election official said.

The by-election in Palghar was necessitated due to the death of sitting BJP MP Chintaman Wanaga. The Bhandara-Gondiya seat was vacated after BJP's Nana Patole resigned from the party and quit his Lok Sabha membership.

As many as 25 candidates were in the fray for the two seats - 18 in Bhandara-Gondiya and seven in Palghar.