Lok Sabha polls: Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan casts vote in Maharashtra's Nanded

Nanded: After casting his vote at a polling booth in Nanded here, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Friday urged the people to exercise their franchise in large numbers.
During the second phase of Lok Sabha polls, polling is being held in the state's eight Lok Sabha constituencies including Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal-Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, Buldhana and Parbhani.
"My appeal to the people is to go and vote in large numbers. Contribute to the democratic process and vote because your vote is important in bringing a strong government," Chavan stated, urging widespread engagement in the electoral process.
Upon his defection from the Congress party ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections, Chavan refrained from saying anything.
"I don't want to say anything. Whatever it is, the public will say," he said.
Chavan highlighted the recent progress in addressing the demands of the Maratha community, noting the implementation of a 10% reservation for the group.
"All the misunderstandings have been sorted, there is no doubt among the people. Marathas have got a 10% reservation," he asserted.
Earlier, in February, after quitting the Congress party, the former Maharashtra CM joined the BJP, after "observing the mood of the nation."
"In politics, you need to understand the mood of the nation. Considering the mood of the people, I decided to join the BJP. I won't comment on Congress, whatever happens in Congress it will be their karma. I respect Sonia Gandhi. I have just left the party, and I am not so big to comment on her," Chavan said.
The second phase of voting in Maharashtra began on Friday.
The second phase polls across the country has 88 Lok Sabha constituencies, including all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, five each in Assam and Bihar, six in Madhya Pradesh, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.
Initially, 89 constituencies were scheduled to go to polls today. However, the EC later announced that the voting in Madhya Pradesh's Betul would not take place during the second phase due to the death of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate.
The first phase of voting for the seven-phased Lok Sabha election, the world's largest electoral exercise, was held on April 19 in 102 constituencies across 21 states and UTs. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout registered was over 62 per cent. The third phase election will be held on May 7.