Lok Sabha Election:Polling begins in Marathwada, 43 in fray for two seats

Poll began in all the constituencies with tremendous response from voters, sources further said.

There are more than 37 lakh voters in both constituencies comprising Aurangabad with 18.86 lakh voters and Jalna lok sabha constituency has 18.45 lakh voters, said election official sources from both constituencies.

In both the constituencies web casting arrangement has been made by the Election Commission (EC) in the polling booths declared as sensitive and critical, they said.

The returning officers have appealed to the voters, to exercise their franchise without any fear or favour.

Prominent faces among the contestants were four-time sitting MPsChandrakant Khaire (Sena-Aurangabad) and Raosaheb Danve(BJP-Jalna), who are once again in poll fray for fifth consecutive times in a row.

Jalna and Aurngabad local bodies MLC Subhash Zambad and Vilas Autade, who is also seva dal state chief were congress nominees from Aurangabad and Jalna respectively.

AIMIM Imtiaz Jaleel (Aurangabad),Harshwardhan Jadhav of Shivswaraj Bahuja Paksh(Auranagabad) and Dr Sharadchandra Wankhede (VBA) from Jalna are contesting the election.

Apart from the other smaller parties and independents are also in poll arena.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the in these two districts to ensure fair and smooth conduct of the elections. So far, the areas have remained peaceful and no untoward incident was witnessed, police said.