Mumbai, October 15
Around 64% of Maharashtra's 8.35 crore voters on Wednesday cast their ballots in a bitterly fought elections that pollsters said will throw up a hung Assembly with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party in the 288-member House.

"Approximately 64% polling has been recorded. The exact details are being worked out," Election Commission sources said. The polls, considered the first major test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity after the Lok Sabha elections, passed off peacefully.

No incident of violence was reported in the state, said officials. The police said around 20 persons were arrested across the state on various charges, including impersonation.

EC officials said Kagal constituency in Kolhapur district reported the highest turnout, while Bramhapuri in Chandrapur saw the lowest voting.

Mumbai reported 36% turnout by 3 pm which went up to 40% later. With just 13% voters turning up by 11 am, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray came before the media and appealed to people to come out and vote. Across Mumbai workers of political parties were seen going door-to-door to persuade people to vote.

The EC had deputed volunteers to man housing societies so that voters could access their names and addresses properly. Several political parties said Mumbaikars in many places simply chose to go away on an extended weekend.