"Complete failure of Election Commission": NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad on low voter turnout in Maharashtra

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 22 (ANI): After Maharashtra reported a sluggish voter turnout in the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jitendra Awhad on Wednesday alleged that the Election Commission failed to conduct elections in a proper manner in Maharashtra, adding that the voters faced "inconvenience."

"There was no water, no fans at the polling stations, machines stopped at some places. ECI had completely failed in conducting elections in a proper manner in Maharashtra. I'm talking about my constituency Kalva and Mumbra, there process was too slow. Long queues was there and people were standing there for long time. The voters faced inconvenience. There is low voting in Maharashtra in compare to other States," said Jitendra Awad while addressing a press conference in Mumbai.

In the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections, Mumbai disappointed with voter turnout failing to cross 50 per cent. Maharashtra recorded an approximate 53.63 per cent voter turnout.

Mumbai North recorded a turnout of 46.91 per cent; Mumbai North Central saw a turnout of 47.46 per cent, Mumbai North East saw a turnout of 48.67 per cent per cent, Mumbai North West recorded a turnout of 49.79 per cent. Mumbai South had the lowest turnout in the city with 44.63 per cent recorded till 7 pm. Mumbai South Central saw a turnout of 48.26 per cent.

The voting was held in eight states/UTs comprising Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal during the phase 5 Lok Sabha polls.

Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second largest after Uttar Pradesh. The remaining phases of the polls will continue until June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. (ANI)