The long-awaited elections for the Ambernath Municipal Council concluded on Saturday, marking the end of a decade-long gap since the last civic polls. Despite a day marred by allegations of bogus voting, clashes, and technical glitches, the overall process remained peaceful. The voter turnout stood at approximately 54.5% by 5:30 PM, showing a significant increase from the 48.8% recorded in the 2015 elections.
Allegations of Bogus Voting and Early Morning Raids
Tensions flared even before the voting began. In the early hours of Saturday, the Congress and BJP parties accused Shiv Sena candidate Krishna Rasal of orchestrating bogus voting. They alleged he had brought in voters from outside Ambernath and housed them in his marriage hall, Krishna Hall in Kohajgaon.
Acting on a complaint by Congress leaders, an election flying squad accompanied by police raided the hall. They took around 200 women into custody for questioning. The authorities later initiated action against them under the BNS Act Section 174 for undue influence or personation at an election, along with charges related to unlawful assembly.
DCP Sachin Gore stated that the individuals were questioned and released, adding that an investigation is ongoing to ascertain if they were indeed brought for fraudulent voting. The Shiv Sena candidate, Krishna Rasal, denied the allegations, claiming the women were present to attend a wedding function.
Clashes and EVM Malfunction Claims
The polling day was not without confrontations. Former vice-president of the council, Rajendra Walekar, accused a BJP candidate of distributing money to voters in Matoshree Nagar, leading to a face-off between party workers. Police intervened and used a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Another clash erupted in Kohajgaon between Congress and Shiv Sena supporters, requiring police intervention to restore order.
Technical issues also surfaced at several polling centres. At Municipal School No. 7, BJP leaders alleged a malfunction with an EVM from Panel No. 19. They claimed election officials temporarily used an EVM from Panel No. 24, on which some votes were cast before objections were raised. The machine was subsequently sealed and replaced. At Guru Nanak School, Shiv Sena candidate Manisha Walekar alleged that the button for her party on the EVM was not working, a claim election officials refuted.
High Stakes and Political Confidence
Despite isolated incidents, voters participated enthusiastically from the morning. By 11:30 AM, the turnout had crossed 21%. Senior citizens, youth, and persons with disabilities were among those who cast their votes.
The elections hold high stakes for major political parties. Shiv Sena, which has dominated the council for years, expressed confidence in retaining control. Shiv Sena city president Arvind Walekar credited the party's development work over the past decade for bolstering their prospects.
The BJP mounted an aggressive campaign to break Shiv Sena's stronghold. Former council president Gulabrao Karanjule fielded his daughter-in-law, Tejashree Karanjule, a Chartered Accountant, as the party's candidate for the council president's post. This election also features a direct election for the president's post alongside the corporator elections.
Polling was also held on Saturday for the remaining six seats of the 49-seat Badlapur Municipal Council, with voting for the other 43 seats having taken place on December 2.
With all claims and counter-claims now laid to rest, the final verdict rests with the electorate. The counting of votes for both Ambernath and Badlapur civic bodies will take place on Sunday, revealing the outcome of this closely watched electoral battle.
