Violence and clashes mar polling day in Maharashtra

Polling day in Maharashtra, where the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Maha Vikas Aghadi are locked in a tight contest, saw candidates' vehicles being attacked, polling booths being vandalised, political workers attacking each other and death threats being openly levelled against rival candidates.

In Nashik, a clash broke out between supporters of Shiv Sena candidate Suhas Kande from Nandgaon constituency and supporters of NCP (Ajit) rebel candidate Sameer Bhujbal outside a polling booth. As police officials tried to keep the two groups away from each other, Kande was seen threatening 'tuzha murder fix ahe' (your killing has been fixed) at Sameer Bhujbal and his supporters. Sameer Bhujbal claimed that Kande threatened to kill him and that the latter was trying to distribute money to voters.

The Shiv Sena candidate later claimed that he had not threatened Sameer but was telling his own party worker who was beating up another worker, not to do so as he might be killed if he continued beating him.


In Baramati, where Ajit Pawar is fighting a battle with his nephew Yugendra Pawar from the NCP(SP), Sharmila Pawar, the mother of Yugendra Pawar alleged that Ajit Pawar's party workers threatened the NCP(SP) party functionaries. She also accused the Ajit Pawar camp of trying to woo voters inside the polling booth.

In Parli Ghatnandur village, polling had to be suspended for a while after a few people vandalised the polling booth. In Parli, a local NCP(SP) leader was also beaten up by NCP(Ajit) Dhananjay Munde supporters.

In Naregaon, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, the police had to resort to a light lathi charge when two groups clashed. In Borhipura in Khamgaon constituency, Congress candidate Dilipkumar Sananda's vehicles were stoned by people.

In Wardha, BJP cadres allegedly beat up an NCP(SP) leader in public. In Ashti, BJP candidate Suresh Dhas supporters clashed with the NCP(SP) supporters outside a polling booth.