NCP's Rupali Patil Thombre and her supporters raised slogans, alleging that democracy was under threat. She claimed that as many as 17 electronic voting machines (EVMs) used for counting had been replaced, triggering sharp protests at the venue
NCP candidate Rupali Patil Thombre.
A major controversy erupted during the vote-counting process in Ward No. 25 of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), heightening tension at the counting centre.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rupali Patil Thombre raised serious objections over the counting process and staged a boycott along with other candidates.
The incident occurred at the New English School counting centre, where Patil Thombre and her supporters raised slogans, alleging that democracy was under threat.
She claimed that as many as 17 electronic voting machines (EVMs) used for counting had been replaced, triggering sharp protests at the venue.
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Following the objections, the counting process was suspended for nearly two hours, creating a tense atmosphere in the area. Police personnel intervened to bring the situation under control.
According to Patil Thombre, a list had been finalised on January 11 in the presence of polling agents, panchas, and the election officer (ARO), clearly mentioning which EVM would be used for which voter segment. The list was officially recorded and signed by representatives of all concerned candidates. However, she alleged that different machines were used on the day of counting, leading to doubts over transparency.
She further stated that when the assistant returning officer (ARO) was questioned, officials avoided producing the January 11 list. Thombre alleged that pressure was being exerted through the police instead of addressing the concerns raised by candidates.
“Any replacement of machines must follow a legal procedure, which includes informing candidates, taking their signatures, and conducting video recording. None of this has been done so far. If our concerns are not addressed satisfactorily, we will immediately approach the high court,” she said.
The incident has added to the political tension surrounding the PMC Election results, as counting continues under tight security.
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