In all, 7,00,223 voters were to vote to decide the fate of 816 candidates in the Aurangabad municipal corporation polls. The polling started at 7.30 am in 618 booths today.
Election to 98 wards, out of 99, for the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which held today, was peaceful.
There were some minor incidents of violence at three to four places but police controlled it in time. According to preliminary information, a total of 55 to 60% of voters exercised their franchise. Election officers are yet to confirm the exact percentage.
In all, 7,00,223 voters were to vote to decide the fate of 816 candidates. The polling started at 7.30 am in 618 booths today. 3,800 election officers and employees were pressed into service and 4,000 police and security personnel were deployed to ensure peaceful voting. 60 video cameras were also affixed at various booths.
Baring a few incidents of violence, the voting was peaceful. According to police, former minister of state Gangadhar Gade and Shiv Sena leader Nandkumar Ghodele had heated argument at a polling station in Kabirnagar, Ward 92. The atmosphere became tense and police had to intervene and control the situation.
At Chatrapati College polling booth, police had to cane-charge activists of Congress and BJP when they got into scuffle, police said. Similar tension was experienced in Ward number 23 Masnatpur where supporters of two candidates scuffled and voters started running away from booth. Police used cane to restore peace.
In Ward number 7, two youths were detained by the police on charges of bogus voting. Police said that these youths are the residents of Shahabazar locality.
Meanwhile, the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had problems at two booths-one at Narlibagh veterinary hospital centre and the other at the Jawaharnagar area. Voters had to wait for about 40 minutes in queues for exercising their franchises.
The Congress-NCP-SPA (Shahar Pragati Aghadi) combine and BJP-Shiv Sena alliance had fielded their candidates and claimed that they would grab power in this election. Pradeep Jaiswal, the chief of SPA said, "The ruling Shiv Sena-BJP had done nothing for the development of the city in last ten years. This time the voters would surely give mandate for the Congress-NCP-SPA front and we will be in power."
Satish Chauhan, NCP MLC said, "This is the first time in last two decades that voters are seen voting for change and development. The voters have voted to throw out the saffron alliance who were good for nothing. They only wanted power for their vested interests."
Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire said, "The people who want this city to be Aurangabad had asked the voters to give them the mandate and we asked the voters to vote for Sambhajinagar. I am confident that the ruling saffron alliance will regain power in the AMC. Notably, the counting would be taken up on Monday.
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