6 months ago
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The Maharashtra section assemblage polls held connected Saturday (December 20, 2025) were marred by allegations of bogus voting, elector database irregularities, impersonation, and currency distribution, prompting constabulary enactment and peculiar investigations successful aggregate districts.
In Ambernath, constabulary detained 208 women allegedly brought from Bhiwandi to formed fake votes. A elder authoritative from the Ambernath municipal predetermination bureau told The Hindu, “Last night around 12, we learnt astir an allegation that successful Krishna Marriage Hall in Ambernath, 208 women were brought from Bhiwandi for the intent of bogus voting. Police reached the spot and since it was midnight, and arsenic per rule, women can’t be questioned oregon taken into custody astatine that time, the questioning began from Saturday (December 20, 2025) greeting and it is inactive ongoing. A peculiar probe squad (SIT) is formed to probe the matter. The study volition travel retired tomorrow.”
Police confirmed individuality checks are nether mode and that the predetermination section is assisting in the probe. The incidental triggered hostility during polling, with rival groups clashing implicit EVM tampering allegations and cash-for-votes claims, forcing constabulary to edifice to mild lathi-charge astatine one centre.
In Panvel, a elector database contention sparked outrage aft reports that 1 antheral was listed arsenic the begetter of 268 voters. Many names were linked to non-local younker belonging to Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, raising concerns astir duplicate entries and phantom addresses, officials said.
In Nanded district’s Dharmabad, polling was disrupted aft allegations that voters were confined successful a matrimony hallway portion wealth was being distributed. Police rescued the detained voters and dispersed the crowd. The incidental led to heated exchanges betwixt leaders of the BJP, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and NCP(SP) astatine Ward No. 8 polling station. “There were allegations that immoderate radical were kept successful a temple also but erstwhile the flying squad visited, they said they had come to pray. We are inactive investigating the matter; issues person erupted from antithetic locations,” a section constabulary serviceman said.
In Nashik district’s Sinnar, a 25-year-old antheral was detained for allegedly impersonating his member utilizing a fake Aadhaar card. Cash seizures happened successful Akola, Buldhana, Beed, and Pune, with claims of inducements ranging from ₹500 notes to ₹10,000 per ballot successful immoderate areas.
Voting for the posts of president and members successful 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, arsenic good arsenic for 143 vacant subordinate posts, concluded astatine 5.30 p.m. connected Saturday (December 20, 2025), officials said. Prominent section bodies included Baramati successful Pune territory and Ambernath in Thane district.
Polling began astatine 7.30 a.m., and by afternoon, the State Election Commission reported a 47.04% turnout. Six wards in Sinnar, Ozar and Chandwad recorded 49.47% voting.
Counting of votes for each 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, including those that went to polls connected December 2, volition statesman astatine 10 a.m. connected Sunday (December 21, 2025). Elections for Dondaicha municipal assembly and Angar nagar panchayat were unopposed, portion the canvass for Jammer municipal president besides saw nary contest.
‘Misuse of money, power’
Addressing reporters successful Mumbai, All India Congress Committee (AICC) wide caput and Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala accused the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti of “massive misuse of wealth and power” successful section assemblage polls. “Ruling parties are misusing money, power successful a large mode successful section polls. Maharashtra has go a starring State successful corruption,” Mr. Chennithala said, describing municipal elections arsenic “workers’ elections” and announcing that the Congress was afloat prepared to instrumentality connected “this question of corruption.”
He added, “We volition rise cardinal issues specified arsenic corruption and contamination during the BMC elections,” and confirmed that the Congress would contention the BMC polls alone, promising to merchandise a chargesheet and manifesto targeting alleged civic-level misgovernance.
He said seat-sharing nether the absorption INDIA bloc would beryllium decided by section enactment based connected crushed realities. Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged that “there is nary regularisation of instrumentality near successful Maharashtra” and described the combat arsenic ideological.
Officials said the SIT in Ambernath will submit its findings aft verifying elector credentials, portion constabulary successful Nanded and Panvel continue inquiries. The State Election Commission has not yet issued a ceremonial connection connected these incidents.
