Voting for the biennial elections to fill in 10 seats of Maharashtra Legislative Council began at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai at 9am. There are 11 candidates in fray and Congress and NCP have fielded three each. While Shiv Sena and BJP have two candidates each. Vijay Sawant is contesting as an Independent backed by Congress. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, alongwith the three Congress candidates, was first to arrive at Vidhan Bhavan. Shiv Sena MLAs came to vote together. <br/><br/>MLAs of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly are strictly prevented from carrying mobile, pen or any type of camera to the voting hall. The MLAs have also been asked to carry their identity cards to the booths. The voting would end at four in the evening. The biennial elections are being held to fill in vacancies to be created by retirement of ten members on July 7.<br/><br/>Principal Secretary of Maharashtra Legislature and the returning officer for this election, Mr. Anant Kalse has informed that each candidate will need 27 first preferential votes in the 288 member electoral college to ensure victory in the first round. Besides Vijay Sawant who is contesting as an independent, the Congress candidates are Hussain Dalwai, Sanjay Satishchandra Dutt and Dipti Chaudhari; the NCP candidates are Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, Prakash Binsale and Vinayak Mete. <br/><br/>The Shiv Sena has given tickets to Anil Parab and Diwakar Raote while Shobha Phadanvis and Dhananjay Munde will represent BJP. The counting will start as soon as the polling gets over. The results are expected to come around seven in the evening after the Election Commission's permission.