Scaling to a height of 4,500 feet, officials trek to Maharashtra's loftiest polling station.

During the third phase of Lok Sabha polls, a team from the Election Commission ventured to Maharashtra's Baramati constituency to set up the highest polling booth. Situated at a remarkable elevation of 4,491 feet near Raireshwar Fort, this polling station catered to 160 voters. The journey was an adventure in itself, involving a 30-kilometer drive from Pune followed by a one-hour trek and a descent down an iron ladder. The polling team, comprising over seven officials, was captured in a video carrying essential poll materials, including Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), control units, and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) devices.

Despite the challenging terrain, the polling staff managed to transport all necessary materials to the polling station. The Raireshwar polling booth falls within the Baramati constituency, which encompasses six assembly seats: Indapur, Baramati, Purandar, Bhor, Khadakwasla, and Daund. On the polling day, India saw a voter turnout of over 64% across 11 states and Union Territories, with Assam leading at 75% turnout and Maharashtra recording the lowest at 53.95%.

Maharashtra, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, holds significant weight in the lower house of Parliament as the second-largest contributor.