MUMBAI: The Polling for the post of Congress President ended in Maharashtra with 96 percent of the delegates casting their votes in the state, an official said on Monday evening.

Of the 561 eligible voters in Maharashtra, 542 cast their ballots for the two contenders in the race--senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor -- at three polling places set up inside the state Congress headquarters, including through mail.

While Krishna Punia monitored the elections, former Union Minister M.M. Pallam Raju and his team, which included Dinesh Kumar, Narendra Rawat, and others, served as the state's returning officer.

Only after the AICC had confirmed the validity of each voter's barcoded identity card with a photo before allowing them access to the polling places.

State Congress President Nana Patole, Congress Legislature Party Chairman Balasaheb Thorat, three former Chief Ministers namely Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan, and Ashok Chavan, as well as other qualified delegates were notable votes.

While individuals selected as election officers in other states cast their votes via postal ballots, many regional representatives who were involved in the Bharat Jodo Yatra chose to vote in the polling booth set up there.

The poll workers, state election officials, and other officeholders will travel to New Delhi with the sealed ballot boxes.
The counting of the ballots will be conducted on October 19 and the results are likely the same day, a party spokesperson said.