"I hope all Mumbaikars exercise their right to vote," BJP candidate from Mumbai North Central Ujjwal Nikam

As the voting begasn for the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, BJP candidate from Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, Ujjwal Nikam, on Monday hoped that all Mumbaikars would exercise their right to vote.

"First, I will go to a temple and then cast my vote, and after that, I will visit polling stations in my constituency. Voting is a festival in a democracy, and I hope all Mumbaikars will exercise their right to vote," Nikam said.

Voting across 49 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) amid tight security and arrangements began on Monday morning.


The voting started at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with those in line by the closing time still allowed to vote.

In a bid to retain the sitting seat, the BJP has fielded 26/11 special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, replacing two-time MP Poonam Mahajan against Congress' Varsha Gaikwad from Maharashtra's Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat.

Varsha Gaikwad is currently serving as Dharavi MLA. Nikam, a senior Public Prosecutor, has appeared for the government in several high-profile cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai attack case.

The Mumbai North Central, comprises six assembly segments, including Vile Parle, Chandivali, Kurla, Kalina, Vandre East, and Vandre West.

BJP leader and daughter of Pramod Mahajan, Poonam Mahajan, has been representing the seat since 2014. Both times, Mahajan won the seat against Congress' Priya Dutt, the daughter of Bollywood actor Sunil Dutt.

The state, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the Lower House of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh.

The results of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will be announced on June 4.