Officials, however, maintained that there were no major incidents in Mumbai, the largest corporation and the most closely contested. EVMs reportedly developed faults in wards across Nagpur, Amravati, Shirgaon, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Kanya Vidyalaya), Akola (Pink Polling Center), and Dhule
Voting staff seal an EVM after polling concluded at 5.30 pm at the Jambori Maidan polling centre in Worli, Mumbai. PIC/ASHISH RAJE
Polling for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra on Thursday witnessed clashes between political groups, allegations of bogus voting and cash distribution, as well as glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs), news agency PTI reported.
Officials, however, maintained that there were no major incidents in Mumbai, the largest corporation and the most closely contested.
“There were only routine model code of conduct-related issues in the commercial capital,” a police official said.
EVMs reportedly developed faults in wards across Nagpur, Amravati, Shirgaon, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Kanya Vidyalaya), Akola (Pink Polling Center), and Dhule, an official told PTI.
Incidents of bogus voting were reported in Sangli, Virar, Thane (Kajuwadi), Malegaon (Ward 9), Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Ward 24), Pune (Wards 3 and 40), Ahilyanagar, and Pimpri Chinchwad (Golande School). In Golande School, confusion erupted after a rumour circulated that the polling station had been shut due to bogus voting. Allegations were also raised by groups in Pune and Ahilyanagar.
“In Amravati, Shiv Sena candidates clashed with another group. Police intervened and removed everyone from the spot. A clash took place between BJP workers at Manvel Pada polling station in Virar, including verbal abuse directed at a voter. A scuffle was reported between Shiv Sena and BJP workers at Deolali polling station in Nashik,” the official told PTI.
Maharashtra civic body elections: Clashes between rival party workers reported in multiple districts
A dispute over cash distribution between BJP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) supporters occurred in Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district, while an EVM was damaged during a fight between two groups in Dhule.
“On Thursday morning, two groups had a scuffle in a school in Ward 18 in Dhule, after which some persons entered the polling booth and damaged an EVM. Polling was stalled for over an hour and resumed after a new EVM was installed,” the official said.
In Akola, candidates of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed verbally and physically, while All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Congress workers fought in Solapur. Clashes between Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates were reported in Bhandup, and scuffles in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar left some people seriously injured, the official added.
Additionally, a case was registered against the husband of a BJP candidate after a photograph showing him with an EVM while voting went viral on social media.
(With PTI inputs)
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