Maha: Polling for LS sees only 0.37 per cent rise over 2014

The final percentage of voting in Maharashtra in four phases of Lok Sabha elections which got over last month was 60.79, a slight increase of .37 points over the 2014 figure of 60.42 per cent, official data showed.

According to the statistics released by the state's Chief Electoral Office, polling in 2014 had shown considerable increase of 9.45 per cent over 50.97 per cent in 2009.

The highest turnout was witnessed this time in Gadchiroli-Chimur (71.98 per cent) while the lowest was in Kalyan near Mumbai (45.28 per cent).

Thane, a growing urban center on the outskirts of Mumbai, too recorded a low 49.27 per cent polling, while Pune recorded 49.84 per cent turn out.

Kolhapur in western Maharashtra saw a turnout of 70.70 per cent, lower than 72.05 per cent five years ago.

Hatkanangale, in the same region, registered 70.28 per cent polling, lower than 73.05 per cent in 2014, highest in the state then.

In Mumbai, Mumbai North seat saw the highest turnout of 60 per cent, against 51.67 per cent in 2014.

Another steep increase was seen in Mumbai North East: 57.15 per cent compared to 52.76 per cent in 2014.

In the affluent Mumbai South constituency, the polling percentage declined to 51.46 from 52.49 in 2014.

For the first time, more than 300 'Sakhi' booths, staffed entirely by women, were set up during this election.

At these booths, voters were treated to 'kokum sarbat', a popular summer drink, and sanitary napkins were distributed to women voters.

Of the 95,473 polling stations, about 10,000 were designated as VIP or critical. Proceedings at such centers were webcast (broadcast online), and monitored from a control room in the state secretariat.

Maharashtra currently has 8.73 crore registered voters. There are 867 candidates in the fray in 48 Lok Sabha constituencies.