PMC, PCMC POLLS EXPERIENCE CHAOS

TURBULENT ELECTIONS | Bogus voting claims, cash allegations and clashes mar long-awaited civic elections in twin cities

- Ankit Shukla and Indu Bhagat

The much-awaited Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) elections were held amid chaos on Thursday, with multiple claims of bogus voting, discrepancies in voter lists, allegations of cash distribution and scuffles between party workers reported from several areas.

At Undri Chowk in Ward No. 41, Mohammadwadi Undri, Shiv Sena Pune city chief Pramod Nana Bhangire claimed to have caught individuals allegedly involved in bogus voting at a polling booth. He said suspicious activity was noticed, following which he and party workers intervened and alerted election officials. He alleged that attempts were being made to cast votes illegally and demanded immediate action. After the complaint, election officials reached the spot and began verification, while security was tightened. The incident led to tension for some time, with residents and party workers gathering at the site.

In another case, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Snehal Ganpat Dagade from Ward No. 41 alleged similar incidents at multiple polling booths in Undri, — Pisoli, Wadachiwadi and Handewadi. Speaking to the media, Dagade claimed that voters from Beed and Khed were being brought to Pune under the pretext of a pilgrimage and made to vote illegally.