Voting began in 23 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the state of Maharashtra on Saturday at 7.30 a.m., where the electorate will pick the president and members for 143 posts in the local bodies. The polling will continue till 5.30 p.m.
In the first phase, votes were cast for 263 municipal councils and nagar panchayats.
The counting of votes for all municipal councils and nagar panchayats, including those which went to polls on December 2, will begin at 10 a.m. on December 21, the State Election Commission (SEC) said in a statement.
The SEC announced that polling and counting must be conducted “smoothly and peacefully”, warning that any untoward incident would invite immediate and strict action.
In some places, the poll battle has turned interesting and multi-dimensional with the BJP-led Mahayuti and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) contesting against each other, along with “friendly fights” between ruling alliance partners, including the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra state election commissioner, Dinesh Waghmare had directed district administration and police authorities on Wednesday to take strict preventive measures to ensure peaceful polling and counting.
Waghmare also reviewed preparedness through video conferences with district collectors, police commissioners, superintendents of police and election officers over the last two days. Those present during these review meetings include SEC secretary, Suresh Kakani, Inspector General of Police Manojkumar Sharma and other senior officials.
Authorities were also asked to promptly inform the media, voters, candidates and political parties about the action taken to prevent misinformation or any wrong public perception.
IG Sharma assured that all adequate security arrangements were in place to maintain law and order on polling and counting days, and stressed on the need for timely communication of police action to the public.
Also Read: Maharashtra municipal polls begin in 264 local bodies
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