65% polling in Maha municipal council polls

Around 65 per cent polling was reported in elections to 147 municipal councils and 17 nagar panchayats in Maharashtra on Sunday.

The voting which began at 7.30 AM and ended at 5.30 PM, witnessed sporadic incidents of group clashes, an official said.

Voters of Raghuchiwadi village in Osmanabad district boycotted the election to protest non-availability of basic amenities to the village, the official said.

During polling for the Karad municipal council in Satara district, chairman of the Maharashtra State Cooperation Council, Shekhar Charegaonkar allegedly warned a woman police constable of suspension after she objected to him taking his vehicle near the polling booth.

In Wardha district, Rs 3.5 lakh cash was seized from the vehicle of an NCP candidate.

In Chandrapur district, an Independent candidate climbed atop a high power cable tower and tried to woo voters. In Parbhani district, three people were injured during quarrel between two groups, while polling for the Gangakged municipal council was on, police said.

In Osmanabad district, police registered an offence under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC against 27 persons, after two policemen were injured in stone pelting near a police station during polling for the Murum municipal council.

In Sangli district, a call for bandh was given for Monday after clashes between BJP and Congress activists during polling for the Tasgaon civic body.

In 41 cases during the campaign for the first phase of elections, Rs 26.04 crore cash was seized, police said.