As polling began for Maharashtra, Haryana assembly elections as well as bypolls across 18 states on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to cast vote and "enrich the festival of democracy".
Haryana's 90 assembly seats have over 1.83 crore voters, including 85 lakh women and 252 transgenders, who will cast their votes in 19,578 booths. The 2014 Assembly elections in Haryana had recorded the highest voter turnout for the state at 76.54 per cent.
In Maharashtra, a total of 8,98,39,600 people, including 4,28,43,635 women, are eligible to vote. Polling will take place in 96,661 booths on Monday. As many as 3,237 candidates, including 235 women, are contesting in 288 seats. In Maharashtra, voter turnout in 2014 was recorded at 63.38%.
Besides the two states, assembly bypolls are underway in 51 seats and Lok Sabha by-elections in two constituencies across India.
"Elections are taking place for Haryana and Maharashtra assemblies. There are also by-polls taking place in various parts of India. I urge voters in these states and seats to turnout in record numbers and enrich the festival of democracy. I hope youngsters vote in large numbers," the prime minister wrote on Twitter.
Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah also appealed to voters of Haryana and Maharashtra to turn out and vote to ensure a "stable" government in the state.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also tweeting urging higher voter turnout. "Voting is our Right, Voting is our Duty, And voting is an integral part of democracy. DO VOTE!" he wrote.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has also appealed to voters to turnout in record numbers.
"I appeal that all of you must participate in the festival of democracy and exercise your right to franchise in great numbers," he said.
Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda too appealed to voters to come out in large numbers to ensure a record turnout.
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