Solapur, Sept 26: An estimated 40 to 45 per cent of voters today exercised their franchise for the by-election to the Solapur Lok Sabha seat. "An estimated 40-45 per cent of the total voters have cast their ballot in the peaceful by-poll," state election commission office sources said here. There are ten candidates in fray, including Congress nominee Anand Deokate and BJP's Pratapsinh Mohite-Patil. The by-poll was necessitated as Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had vacated the constituency, which he represented for consecutive three terms, to head the state government. The election had assumed much significance as it was the first trial of strength for the Democratic Front government in Maharashtra after Sushilkumar Shinde took over the reins of the state.
BJP is facing its first election under the leadership of Gopinath Munde, who recently took over the mantle of the party's state unit chief, and left no stone unturned to wrest this Congress bastion to repeat its performance in the 1996 polls.
Counting of votes would be taken up on September 29.
Bureau Report