Mumbai: Actor Rajkummar Rao was one of the first Bollywood celebs to cast his vote when voting began for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Wednesday morning.

Speaking to the media, the ‘Stree’ actor said, “It (voting) is very important. Everyone, please come out and vote. It’s voting day, it’s very important.”

The actor was seen interacting with the security personnel deployed outside the polling booth, even taking selfies with them.

Filmmaker Kabir Khan also cast his vote.

Voting for the single-phase Maharashtra Assembly elections began at 7 am on Wednesday and will end at 6 pm. Voting is taking place in 288 assembly constituencies.

A total of 4,136 candidates are contesting the election, including 2,086 independent candidates. BJP is contesting on 149 seats, Shiv Sena on 81 seats and NCP on 59 seats. Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95 and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) 86 candidates. BSP is contesting on 237 seats, while other small parties are also in the fray. There are approximately 9.7 crore registered voters in the state.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of voting. Mumbai Police has deployed over 25,000 personnel, including riot-control teams and home guards. According to the Brihanmumbai Police Commissionerate, more than 2,000 police officers and 25,000 policemen are on duty to maintain law and order during the elections.

Changing alliances, ideological clashes, complex caste dynamics and emotional appeals have characterized the fight for power in the Maharashtra Assembly. The primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), while the opposition MVA comprises Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction).

In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena won 56 seats, and the Congress won 44 seats. In 2014, BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena won 63 and Congress won 42 seats.