The counting of biennial elections to four seats of the Maharashtra legislative council in Mumbai, Konkan, and Nashik regions has started amid tight security in respective places on Monday.
A total of 55 candidates are trying their luck in the Mumbai Graduates, Mumbai Teachers, Nashik Teachers, and Konkan Graduate constituencies.
The process of mixing ballot papers will take place first. The counting of trends will be available this afternoon, and the results will be declared late at night.
Among the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi partners, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is contesting the Mumbai Graduates, Mumbai Teachers, and Nashik Teachers seats, while the Congress has fielded its candidate in the Konkan Graduates constituency.
From the ruling side, the BJP is contesting the Mumbai Graduates and Konkan Graduates seats and backing an independent candidate in the Mumbai Teachers constituency.
The Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has fielded Kishor Darade in the Nashik Teachers constituency.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), headed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, has nominated Mahesh Bhavsar in the Nashik Teachers constituency and Shivajirao Nalawade in the Mumbai Teachers constituency.
In the Mumbai Graduates constituency, there are eight candidates in the fray. The main contest is expected between former state minister Anil Parab of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Kiran Shelar of the BJP.
The Konkan Graduates constituency has a direct fight between sitting MLC Niranjan Davkhare of the BJP and Congress candidate Ramesh Keer.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), headed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, has nominated Mahesh Bhavsar in the Nashik Teachers constituency and Shivajirao Nalawade in the Mumbai Teachers constituency.
