Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called on voters in Maharashtra and Jharkhand to actively participate in elections, underscoring the critical role their votes play in strengthening democracy and driving development in sectors like education, healthcare, employment, and infrastructure.
“Every vote matters in realizing the vision of a developed India,” Dhami stated, emphasizing the transformative power of voter participation.
केदारनाथ विधानसभा की देवतुल्य जनता से विनम्र निवेदन है कि राष्ट्रहित और क्षेत्र के विकास में अपनी महत्वपूर्ण भागीदारी निभाते हुए अधिक से अधिक संख्या में मतदान करें। आपके एक-एक वोट से आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व में संचालित विकास कार्यों को नई गति मिलेगी।… pic.twitter.com/X60R6BQkiY
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 20, 2024
Addressing the Kedarnath by-election, CM Dhami appealed to residents of the constituency to exercise their franchise and contribute to the region’s progress.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dhami wrote, “Dear residents of Kedarnath, it is a humble request to all of you to exercise your valuable right to vote to take the development journey of Kedarnath Assembly to new heights. Your vote will not only strengthen democracy but will also pave the way for overall development and prosperity of the region along with education, health, employment and infrastructure.”
Dhami also expressed optimism about the BJP’s prospects in the Kedarnath constituency, citing a favourable atmosphere for the party.
As of 9 am on Wednesday, Maharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 6.61% in its single-phase Assembly elections, while Jharkhand registered a higher turnout of 12.71% in the second phase of its polls, according to the Election Commission of India.
In Maharashtra, the Naxal-affected district of Gadchiroli reported the highest turnout of 12.33%, while Osmanabad recorded the lowest at 4.85%. Kedarnath by-election turnout was reported at 4.30% by 9 am.
Maharashtra and Jharkhand Elections Underway
Voting began at 7 am on Wednesday for 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra and for the second phase of the Jharkhand elections covering 38 seats. Security arrangements have been tightened to ensure a peaceful polling process. Mock polls were conducted earlier to finalize preparations.
Kedarnath By-Election: A Crucial Contest
The Kedarnath Assembly seat fell vacant following the demise of BJP MLA Shaila Rani Rawat in July. Among six candidates in the fray, the main contest is between BJP’s Asha Nautiyal and Congress’s Manoj Rawat.
Elections Across Other States
Polling also commenced earlier in the day for by-elections in 15 Assembly seats across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand. Election officials have worked meticulously to ensure a smooth voting process in all constituencies.
Dhami reiterated that voter participation is essential not only to strengthen democracy but also to accelerate the country’s overall development and prosperity.
