Around 53.40 per cent polling reported in Maha

An estimated 53.40 per cent of over 2.09 crore electorates in 11 parliamentary
constituencies of Maharashtra cast their votes in third phase Lok Sabha elections till 1700 hours on Tuesday.

These constituencies are scattered in Western Maharashtra, Konkan and Marathwada regions of the state.

As per sources in Election Commission, the highest poll percentage of 63.71 was recorded in Kolhapur LS constituency, while the lowest of 45.68 per cent was recorded in Baramati.

The poll percentage in rest of constituencies was as such Hatkangale-62.18 pc, Latur-55.38 pc, Satara-54.11 pc, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg-53.75 pc, Osmanabad-52.78 pc, Sangli-52.56 pc, Raigad-50.31 pc, Madha-50 pc and Solapur-49.17 pc.

Around 2.09 crore electorates, including 1.07 crore men and 1.02 crore women, sealed their votes in favour of 258 candidates in EVMs at 23,036 polling centres spread across 11 constituencies in the state.

There is a direct fight between the ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in all these constituencies, however, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi poses a challenge to both the fronts.

In Kolhapur, MVA candidate Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj is contesting election against sitting Shinde Sena MP Sadashiv Mandalik.

In Baramati, the home turf of NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, his daughter and sitting MP Supriya Sule is pitted against Sunetra Pawar, wife of state Deputy Chief Minister and rival NCP president Ajit Pawar.

In Sangli, Sena-UBT's Chandrahar Subhash Patil is up against BJP's Sanjaykaka Patil. However, Congress' Vishal Patil, the grandson of former chief minister late Vasantdada Patil, has thrown his hat in the ring as an Independent candidate.

In Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been fielded by BJP to take on Shashikant Jaywantrao Shinde of Sharad Pawar-headed NCP.

In Solapur (SC) constituency, former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde's daughter and Congress MLA Praniti Shinde is taking on BJP's MLA Ram Satpute.

In prestigious Madha seat, sitting BJP MP Ranjitsinh Nimbalkar is once again contesting election against NCP-SP nominee Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil.

In Hatkangale, there is a triangular fight between Shinde-Sena's sitting MP Dhairyasil Mane, UBT's Satyajit Patil and Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana chief Raju Shetty.

In Raigad, sitting NCP MP Sunil Tatkare is pitted against Sena-UBT nominee Anant Gite.

In Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, Union minister and BJP candidate Narayan Rane is challenging sitting Sena-UBT MP Vinayak Raut.

In Osmanabad, sitting Sena-UBT MP Omraje Nimbalkar is facing challenge from NCP's Archana Patil, wife of BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsinh Patil.

In Latur (SC) constituency, sitting BJP MP Sudhakar Shrungare is contesting election against Congress nominee Dr Shivaji Kalge.