The ruling NCP is leading over the opposition BJP in the by-election to Pandharpur-Mangalvedha Assembly constituency in Maharashtra's Solapur district.
The ruling NCP is leading over the opposition BJP in the by-election to Pandharpur-Mangalvedha Assembly constituency in Maharashtra's Solapur district, as per initial trends of counting of votes on Sunday morning.
"At the end of the fourth round of counting, BJP's Samadhan Autade bagged 11,303 votes, while NCP's Bhagirath Bhalke polled 11,941 votes, taking the lead of 638 votes," a district election official said.
The NCP and the BJP are in a direct fight in the bypoll, which was necessitated following the death of NCP legislator Bharat Bhalke due to post-COVID-19 complications in November last year.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fielded Bhagirath Bhalke, the late MLA's son, against BJP's Samadhan Autade, who had contested the 2019 Assembly elections as an Independent and the 2014 polls on the Shiv Sena ticket.
Political observers feel the bypoll will test the popularity of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies - Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress - three ideologically different parties which have been sharing power in the state for the last one-and-a-half years.
Over 66 percent voting was recorded during polling held in the constituency on April 17, as per the Election Commission. Solapur Collector Milind Shambharkar said all COVID-19 prevention protocols and guidelines were being followed during the counting process.
"The counting staff has been provided sanitizers, masks, and gloves. Social distancing is being maintained and only candidates and their polling agents are allowed inside the counting center," he said.
Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the assembly of five or more people at one place, has already been imposed and no victory celebration is allowed outside the counting center, the collector said.
Adequate police security has been deployed outside the counting center, he added.
Also Read: Voting underway for Pandharpur-Mangalvedha assembly bypoll in Maharashtra
