What Happened During the Maha Civic Polls?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Maha civic polls witnessed turmoil as voting was disrupted by violence, technical issues, and irregularities in voter lists. Significant incidents, including a shooting in Jalgaon and allegations of bogus voting, have raised serious concerns about the electoral process in Maharashtra. This election has brought forth critical questions regarding transparency and integrity.
Key Takeaways
- Voting disrupted by violence in Jalgaon.
- Technical glitches reported across multiple cities.
- Concerns over voter list discrepancies raised.
- Voter turnout reported at 41.13%.
- Investigation initiated into allegations of fraudulent voting.
Mumbai, Jan 15 (NationPress) The voting for the 29 municipal corporations, which includes the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, was significantly disrupted by violence, technical malfunctions, and discrepancies in voter lists.
Jalgaon emerged as a key hotspot during the polling period. Reports indicated a shooting incident in Chalisgaon within Jalgaon district during the voting hours.
Local authorities and police were mobilized to ensure order while an investigation into the culprits commenced. Voters and candidates at various booths in Jalgaon claimed that the EVM machines were improperly arranged, leading to confusion among voters.
This situation incited heated disputes between polling staff and local party representatives.
In the Tukaram Wadi area, a widely circulated video depicted residents challenging a Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) candidate about his performance before he was asked to leave. Multiple cities reported technical difficulties with Electronic Voting Machines.
In the Pune Municipal Corporation region, sporadic EVM issues were noted in the morning.
Election officials assured that malfunctioning machines were quickly swapped out for backup units to maintain the voting process. Unlike Assembly or Lok Sabha elections, VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines were not utilized in these municipal elections, adhering to local election protocols.
This raised concerns regarding transparency, voiced by several Opposition leaders. Several districts experienced notable irregularities that heightened tensions.
A significant controversy arose after viral videos suggested voters were using acetone (nail polish remover) to erase the “indelible” ink. Leaders such as Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray questioned the integrity of the SEC.
The SEC has initiated an inquiry into these allegations, cautioning legal repercussions for those disseminating “false narratives”.
Police apprehended 208 women in Ambernath who were reportedly transported from Bhiwandi to cast fraudulent votes. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established to investigate this issue.
An enormous discrepancy was reported in Panvel, where one person was listed as the father of 268 different voters. There were also accounts of duplicate entries and “phantom addresses” involving out-of-town youth.
Instances of cash confiscation and allegations of monetary distribution were noted in Akola, Buldhana, Beed, and Nanded. In Nanded, police intervened to rescue voters who were allegedly being “detained” in a marriage hall where cash was being dispensed.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) reported that 41.13 percent of eligible voters participated in the elections across 29 Municipal Corporations by 3:30 p.m. The SEC decided not to publish the day's voting percentages after polling concluded, sources indicated.
To avert potential conflicts and controversies surrounding turnout figures, the SEC refrained from releasing even the estimated voting percentages late into the night. Voting for the Municipal Corporation elections was conducted from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Among the civic bodies with higher turnout, Kolhapur led with 50.85 percent, followed by Parbhani (49.16 percent), Ahilyanagar (48.49 percent), Malegaon (46.18 percent), Chandrapur (46.23 percent), Ichalkaranji (45.94 percent), Vasai Virar (45.71 percent), and Thane (43.96 percent).
The municipal corporations with lower turnout included Jalgaon (34.27 percent), Mumbai (34.88 percent), and Pune (36.94 percent).
Point of View
It is our duty to illuminate the challenges facing the democratic process in Maharashtra. The recent municipal elections, marred by violence and technical issues, underscore the urgent need for electoral reforms to ensure free and fair voting. The integrity of our elections must be preserved to uphold public confidence in democratic institutions.
NationPress
16/01/2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the major issues reported during the Maha civic polls?
The Maha civic polls faced significant challenges including violence, technical glitches with Electronic Voting Machines, and discrepancies in voter lists.
What was the voter turnout for the municipal elections?
The Maharashtra State Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 41.13 percent across the 29 Municipal Corporations by 3:30 p.m.
What actions did the authorities take in response to the incidents?
Police deployed in various areas, conducted investigations, and a Special Investigation Team was formed to address allegations of fraudulent voting.
Were there any notable incidents reported?
Yes, a shooting incident occurred in Jalgaon, and there were reports of individuals using acetone to erase indelible ink from voters.
What is being done to address the irregularities?
The Maharashtra State Election Commission has initiated an investigation into the reported irregularities and warned of legal action against those spreading false narratives.
