Maharashtra MLC polls: All 285 MLAs cast vote; ailing legislators taken in wheelchairs to exercise franchise

The strength of the 288-member Assembly is reduced to 285 following the death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, while two NCP MLAs - Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh - are currently in jail and have not been allowed to vote

Voting for the elections to 10 seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council was completed at 4 p.m. on June 20, with all 285 eligible MLAs casting their vote, including some ailing legislators who were taken in wheelchairs inside the Legislature complex in Mumbai, an official from the Vidhan Bhavan said.

The counting of votes will begin at 5 p.m., he said.

The polling process had commenced at 9 a.m.

The state MLAs form the electoral college for the MLC elections.

The effective strength of the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly is reduced to 285 following the death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, while two NCP MLAs - Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh - are currently in jail and have not been allowed to vote by a court.

BJP MLA Mukta Tilak, who is suffering from a serious ailment, arrived in a car at the Vidhan building in Mumbai after travelling from Pune. She was then taken inside the Legislature complex in a wheel-chair to cast her ballot.

Another BJP legislator Laxman Jagtap, who has been bed-ridden for a long time, arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan from Pune in an ambulance. He was also taken in a wheelchair to the central hall of the Vidhan Bhavan building to cast his vote.