Maharashtra Civic Polls: Baramati in Focus as Counting Begins Amid Violence Allegations
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Voting for 23 municipal councils, 143 civic body seats, and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra concluded on Saturday with reports of violence, bogus voting, and cash distribution. The counting of votes begins today at 10 am, with key positions in Baramati, a prominent civic body in Pune district, at stake. Violence and election malpractices marred the polls, with clashes reported in Ambernath between Shiv Sena and Congress workers. In another incident, 208 women were detained in Ambernath for allegedly being brought in for impersonation. A person was also found carrying ₹35,000, leading to a police FIR. In Nanded district, a hall was sealed after allegations of women being sequestered and prevented from voting in exchange for money. The Congress and BJP have accused the Shiv Sena of orchestrating the incident. The counting of votes also sets the stage for the upcoming BMC polls on January 15, with 2,869 seats up for grabs and 3.48 crore eligible voters. The municipal corporation polls are expected to be high-stakes, amid allegations of 'vote chori' and intense rivalry between BJP and Shiv Sena.
