Maharashtra Election 2024: Mukesh Ambani casts vote with family at Malabar hill booth

Maharashtra, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is a crucial battleground in the elections, second only to Uttar Pradesh in the number of seats.

A voter turnout of 48.88% was recorded till 7 pm in the state.

While addressing a press conference, Former Maharashtra CM & Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said, "I have seen that voters are going in huge numbers at the voting centre but due to inconvenience they had to go back. A lot of time is being taken inside so that they are not able to vote. I request all the voters that even if it takes time please go to the voting centres and cast your vote..."

Polling is being held across 13 Lok Sabha constituencies across Maharashtra, including six in Mumbai. According to the latest figures from the poll body, the state recorded a turnout of 48.66% till 5 pm.

Addressing the press, former Maharashtra CM & Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said: "I have seen that voters are going in huge numbers at the voting centre but due to inconvenience they had to go back. A lot of time is being taken inside so that they are not able to vote. I request all the voters that even if it takes time please go to the voting centres and cast your vote..."

The main contest is between the Mahayuti comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP, and the opposition alliance of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP).

Among the key candidates in fray are Union ministers Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North), Bharati Pawar (Dindori), and Kapil Patil (Bhiwandi) and lawyer Ujjwal Nikam from the Mumbai North Central. Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde (Kalyan) and city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad (Mumbai North Central) are also in the fray.

Catch LIVE updates of 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) will be closed. Schools and colleges are closed as they are serving as polling stations.

Follow all the live updates here:

6: 10 pm: Maharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 48.66% till 5 pm.

5.15 pm: Actor Salman Khan arrives at a polling centre in Mumbai.

5.08 pm: Actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan casts her vote.

4.50 pm:  Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani along with their son arrive at a voting centre in Mumbai to cast their vote.  "It is important as an Indian citizen to vote. It is our right & responsibility to vote. I urge everyone to go out and exercise their right to vote," says Nita Ambani.

4:38 pm: Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan as well as his wife Gauri and children Suhana, Aryan cast their votes in Mumbai. Actors Amitabh Bachchan and wife Jaya Bachchan also cast their votes in Juhu.

3.32 pm: Ranbir Kapoor arrives at a polling centre in Mumbai.

3.30 pm: After casting his vote, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla said, "I urge all the young voters to come and vote...It is a true expression of democracy"

2.56 pm: "Anyone who thinks about the nation should come and vote. I am voting for development. My younger daughter, who is 19 has voted for the first time. I urge the voters to vote. It's very important," said Aditya Birla Capital Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla.

2.26 pm: FIR registered at Trimbakeshwar Police station against Lok Sabha independent candidate Shantigiri Maharaj after he garlanded the voting machine at a polling booth in the constituency.

2.12 pm: Former Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal shows his inked finger after casting a vote at a polling station in Mumbai.

1.22 pm: "I am the national icon of ECI. I was involved in many initiatives for raising awareness and the importance of casting a vote. Problems happen because of two reasons, one is when you act without thinking and second is when you keep thinking and don't act. I would like to urge everyone to come and cast their vote," said Sachin Tendulkar.

1.09 pm: Former Indian Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and his son cricketer Arjun Tendulkar cast their votes.

12.57 pm:  Actor Shilpa Shetty casts her vote at a polling booth in Andheri West.

12.50 pm: HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh said after casting his vote at a polling booth in Peddar Road, Mumbai. "There is a low voting. The process is slow also. People stood even for one hour. It is necessary to have a stable government. We have to grow rapidly. Infrastructure is getting good in Mumbai. The priority of the government will be to bring the lower strata up. With 7-9 pc growth rate, India will be a different place," he said.

12.41 pm: Actor Ranveer Singh arrives at a polling station in Mumbai.

12.35 pm: On Mumbai Police detaining 3 workers from Shiv Sena (UBT) for allegedly installing dummy EVMs near the polling station in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Raut said, "Dummy EVM was kept more than 100 metres away from the polling station, for the people who do not know how to cast their votes. Police have detained three of our workers. We request the Police to release our workers. BJP knows that their candidate is going to lose from here so they are using the Police to put pressure on us, but Shiv Sena (UBT) will not get scared by all this..."

12.28 pm: "I have cast my vote. All citizens of India should vote," says Actor Anil Kapoor after casting his vote.

12.24 pm:  Lyricist and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar arrives at a polling booth in Juhu, Mumbai to cast his vote.

12 pm:  Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut casts his vote in Bhandup.

11.35 am: "It is the biggest celebration of democracy. You get this chance to elect your leader only once in five years. I appeal everyone to use your rights because you will get this change again after five years and for those five years, you will not have to right to complain," says  actor Manoj Bajpayee.

11.30 am: "The arrangements could have been better. People have been standing here since 7:30 am and it's 10:30 am when they have registered their vote. I also continue to be in the queue because I believe it is important that our democracy and Constitution should prevail over everything else,” says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi at a polling booth in Goregaon.

11.12 am: We have done as much as possible for publicity to encourage people to come out and vote. We are hopeful that voters' turnout will be good here, says Hema Malini.

11.10 am: "Our state (Maharashtra) is developing and I have cast my vote for this state,” says Noted poet and lyricist Gulzar.

10.55 am:  Maharashtra: Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray along with his son Aaditya Thackeray arrives at a polling booth in Mumbai to cast vote.

10.54 am: “I have voted for the future of our country and my future. Everyone should do this. Do cast your vote and may the best man win,” says actor Randeep Hooda.

10.51 am: Noted poet and lyricist Gulzar casts his vote along with filmmaker and his daughter Meghna Gulzar at a polling booth in Bandra, Mumbai.

10.47 am: Actor Dharmendra casts his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.

10.46 am: The work that Shrikant Shinde has done is in front of the people and I think they are going to vote for him to bring him back to power for the third time. Everyone should cast their votes. I can see people coming out of their houses to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of the country again..., says CM Shinde.

10.36 am: RBI deputy governor Michael Patra casts his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.

10.31 am: BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said, "It is the most important day for a democracy. As we have the chance to decide otheirur future government and our expectations from them. I want to appeal to people to get out of your homes and exercise their right to vote."

10.10 am: Actor and Shiv Sena leader Govinda arrives at a polling booth in Mumbai to cast his vote

10.06 am: Actor Suniel Shetty arrives at a polling booth in Mumbai to cast his vote.

10.00 am: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde cast his vote at a polling booth in Thane.

9.28 am: Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal said, "...There should be some provisions for those who don't vote, like an increase in tax or some other punishment."

9.14 am: Congress candidate from Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, Varsha Gaikwad casts her vote at a polling station in Mumbai.

9 am: Independent candidate from Nashik, Shantigiri Maharaj puts garland over the voting machine after casting his vote at a polling booth in the constituency.

8.40 am: After casting his vote, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said, "It's a very proud moment for every Indian. It's a moment of pride to participate in an election of 140 crore people. The process of voting today was very smooth and I would like to congratulate the Election Commission of India and all the officials who have been working throughout the country. It's really a moment of pride for every indian to vote in these elections. I appeal to every voter to come out and vote..."

8.35 am: "Please come out and vote, " actor Janhvi Kapoor says after casting her vote.

8.30 am: BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani shows the indelible ink mark on his finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai.

8.23 am:  Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and candidate from South Mumbai, Arvind Sawant says, "I am amazed by the love people have given me. 100% I will score a hat-trick (of victory)..."

8.18 am: Actor Akshay Kumar shows the indelible ink mark on his finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Mumbai. He said, "...I want my India to be developed and strong. I voted keeping that in mind. India should vote for what they deem is right...I think voter turnout will be good..."

8.17 am: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das arrives at a polling station in  Mumbai to cast his vote.

8.10 am: Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar casts his vote.

7 am: Voting begins across 13 Lok Sabha constituencies.