"India is the land of the strongest democracy:" Union minister Bharati Pravin Pawar

Nashik (Maharashtra) [India], May 20 : Union Minister and BJP candidate from Dindori, Bharati Pravin Pawar, expressed her pride and joy as India celebrates its democratic processes. Pawar on Monday emphasised India's position as the "land of the strongest democracy."
"I am very happy that today we are celebrating the festival of democracy and India is presenting an example to the world. India is the land of the strongest democracy, often called the mother of democracy. So, I feel we are celebrating this festival," Pawar said before casting her vote.
Pawar believes that the resolve taken by PM Modi for a developed India is progressing steadily.

"Today, I am in the Lok Sabha constituency, and in my village, I will vote here. Mothers and sisters of this village are with me, and taking their blessings today, I will vote in this festival of democracy. I feel that the resolve taken by PM Modi for a developed India is certainly moving in that direction, and we are all going to be part of it to enhance the prosperity of this country and its development. We are moving forward in unity with the resolve of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas' (together with all, development for all, trust of all, efforts by all)," Pawar said.
"There is happiness in this, and the public has shown their trust and decided once again that it will be Modi government again, and this time with over 400 seats," she added.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister and BJP candidate Bharati Pravin Pawar cast her vote at a polling booth in the Nashik district of Maharashtra.
Dindori is one of the 48 constituencies covering part of the Nashik district of Maharashtra and comprises 6 assembly segments. The 6 assembly segments are Nandgaon, Kalwan, Chandvad, Yevla, Niphad and Dindori.
The BJP fielded Bharati Pawar for the Dindori Lok Sabha seat, while the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) had given a ticket to Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare for the seat.
In 2019, Bharati Pawar won this seat with 567,470 votes. While Congress' Dhanraj Mahale was second with 368,691 votes, CPI(M) Jeev Pandu Gavit was third with 109,570 votes. The Dindori Lok Sabha seat witnessed a voter turnout of 65.64 per cent.
She contested the Lok Sabha election in 2014 as a Nationalist Congress Party candidate (SP) and was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Harishchandra Chavan. She requested candidature again in 2019 but her request was declined by the Nationalist Congress Party (SP). She joined the BJP in 2019, before the Lok Sabha election.
The voting of the Dindori Lok Sabha seat is ongoing in the Fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election.
Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, stands as the second-largest state in terms of parliamentary constituencies after Uttar Pradesh. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, with the final results scheduled to be declared on June 4. Voting commenced at 7 am and will continue until 6 pm, with provisions to allow voters in line by the closing time to cast their ballots.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), over 8.95 crore voters are participating in this fifth phase, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors. These voters will decide the fate of 695 candidates vying for seats in this phase.