Maha: 98.36% elected representatives vote in MLC polls

As many as 98.36 per cent elected representatives of six self-government local bodies exercised their franchise in the biennial elections to the Legislative Council held today.
Polling began this morning for six seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) at 8 AM, which ended at at 4 PM. Counting of votes will take place on November 22.
Elected members of Municipal Corporations, Councils, Zilla Parishads, Nagar Parishads and Gram Panchayats in the six constituencies voted in these polls for the state's Upper House.
In Nanded 471 of the 472 elected representatives voted, while in Jalgaon 546 of the total 549 voters exercised their franchise.

In Pune, 658 of the total 698 representatives cast their votes, while in Yavatmal 433 of the 439 voters exercised their franchise, an official of State Electoral Office said.
In Satara-Sangli, 569 of the 570 elected representatives voted, in Bhandara-Gondia, all 387 voters cast their votes.

The six-year term of sitting legislators - four from NCP, one each from Congress and BJP - ends on December 5.
NCP is at present holding Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal, Bhandara-Gondia and Pune seats, while Congress has Nanded and BJP Jalgaon.
Congress and NCP are contesting the polls separately.
While NCP has withdrawn its candidate in Yavatmal and extended support to Shiv Sena, Congress has fielded candidates in Nanded, Sangli-Satara, Yavatmal, Bhandara-Gondia and Pune.

The Sharad Pawar-led party is contesting Sangli-Satara, Pune and Bhandara-Gondia seats and backing Independent Shyamsunder Shinde in Nanded, and nominees of Sena and BJP in Yavatmal and Jalgaon respectively.
BJP has fielded its candidates in Jalgaon, Bhandara-Gondia and Pune, Sena's nominee is in fray in Yavatmal.
In the 78-member Upper House of the legislature, BJP has 16 MLCs, Congress (19), NCP (26), Shiv Sena (8), Lok Bharti Party (1), PWP (1), PRP (1) and Independents (6).
In Nanded, sitting Congress MLC Amar Rajurkar is pitted against Shyam Sunder Shinde (Independent).
Pune is witnessing a triangular contest among Anil Bhosale
(NCP), Ashok Yenpure (BJP) and Sanjay Jagtap (Congress). Two Independents, one of them former NCP MLA Vilas Lande, are also in the fray there.

In Jalgaon, Chandulal Patel (BJP) and seven Independents are in the ring as NCP and Congress have withdrawn their nominees.
Bhandara-Gondia is also seeing a triangular contest between Praful Agrawal (Congress), Rajendra Jain (NCP) and Parinay Phuke (BJP). Five Independents are also contesting from the seat.