Mumbai: The Maharashtra Election Commission officials Wednesday began the vote count for Bandra East (Mumbai) and Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal (Sangli) assembly constituencies in the state.
The results are expected in next few hours.
As per tentative estimates, a modest 43 percent and 45 percent polling were recorded in Bandra East and Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal respectively in the elections held on Saturday.
Congress candidate Narayan Rane and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) candidate Siraj Rehbar Khan are pitted against Shiv Sena's Trupti Sawant, widow of Bala Sawant.
Whereas, in Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal, Patil's widow Suman R. Patil contested with the support of all major state parties, barring Bharatiya Janata Party rebel Swapnil Patil.
The elections were necessitated by the demise of sitting Bandra East legislator Bala Sawant, a senior Shiv Sena leader and Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal legislator R. R. Patil, former deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader.
The result is crucial — both for the city and state politics — as it will decide the fate of two parties involved – Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). For the Sena, the victory is more of a matter of pride.
Low voter turnout and an ambiguity in the voting pattern, especially by the Muslim community, have made it difficult to predict the winner. However, information available with leaders indicates that Sena candidate Trupti Sawant has an edge over her rivals.
On the other hand, Congress leaders are sure of a victory, claiming MIM’s Rehbar Khan failed to garner a significant chunk of Muslim votes.
In the Assembly polls, Khan had managed to get the third largest number of votes after the Sena and BJP. Following an aggressive campaign by MIM’s Owaisi brothers, it is expected that the minority votes could be split between the Congress and MIM.
On the other hand, for Uddhav Thackeray, maintaining a hold in the constituency is a prestige issue as it is being held in the Sena’s backyard. Matoshree, the residence of the Thackerays, falls in this constituency.
According to reports, around 30,000 Muslims cast their votes this bypoll, while Maharashtrian and North Indians roughly accounted for 73,000 of the total 1,03,003 valid votes.
While the Sena is rejoicing the low turnout in Muslim-dominated areas, the Congress camp has claimed it has received substantial number of votes from Maharashtrian and North Indians as well.
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