07 May,2024 05:27 PM IST | Sindhudurg | mid-day online correspondent
Union minister Narayan Rane at a press conference. File Pic/Sameer Markande
Narayan Rane, the BJP candidate from Maharashtra's Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency, expressed confidence in the party's performance, stating that he expects to win 40-42 seats.
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Rane emphasised his commitment to creating job opportunities in the region, proposing the construction of engineering and food processing companies over the next two years.
"I am working to bring employment here. In the coming 2 years, we will get engineering and food processing industries here. We will win 40-42 seats in Maharashtra," Rane told ANI.
Voting has begun in the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency, with Rane casting his ballot after praying at a local temple in Sindhudurg district. Rane will compete against the incumbent MP, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vinayak Raut, the news agency further reported.
According to the report, Rane, the BJP-led Central Government's Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), is determined to win despite the challenge provided by Raut, who won the 2019 general elections.
In earlier polls, Raut received approximately 50.8 per cent of the votes, while Rane, representing his own party Maharashtra Swabhimaan Paksh, received 31 per cent, the report added.
Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats and elections are held in five phases. The BJP hopes to repeat its performance from the 2019 elections when it won 23 out of 25 contested seats and the Shiv Sena won 18 out of 23.
42.63 per cent in Maharashtra
Voter turnout was 42.63 per cent as of 3 p.m. in 11 of Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha constituencies, where polling is taking place in the third round of the general elections on Tuesday, election officials said.
According to the data shared by the authorities, Kolhapur polled 51.51 per cent, followed by Hatkanangale at 49.94 per cent, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg at 44.73 per cent, Latur at 44.48 per cent, Satara at 42.83 per cent, Raigad 41.43 per cent, Sangli 41.30 per cent, Osmanabad 40.92 per cent, Solapur 39.54 per cent, Madha 39.11 per cent, and Baramati 34.96 per cent.
