Maharashtra Elections: Sena Workers Clash With Sameer Bhujbal's Supporters In Nandgaon

As many as 21 electronic voting machines (EVMs) were replaced by election authorities in the Hingoli assembly constituency.

A clash broke out between supporters of Shinde-led Shiv Sena's Suhas Kande and independent candidate Sameer Bhujbal in Nashik's Nandgaon seat during voting for the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday. Bhujbal is contesting the election after separating from the Ajit Pawar faction.

Sameer Bhujbal, the nephew of senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal, was the Mumbai NCP president. He resigned from the party to contest the assembly elections as an independent candidate from Nashik's Nandgaon constituency. The Nandgaon seat has been allocated to the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as part of the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar.

Police and poll authorities later reached the spot, police said, adding the situation was in control and polling was not affected due to the incident. Verbal clashes erupted between the two candidates in Nandgaon assembly constituency over the identity of voters, PTI reported quoting Nashik Collector Jalaj Sharma. The police and election observers reached the spot immediately and action has been initiated as per the Representation of the People Act, he said.

Maharashtra Voter Turnout Remains Low

Maharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 18.14 per cent till 11 am as polling was underway in all 288 assembly constituencies of the state, election officials said. Gadchiroli district recorded 30 per cent turnout in the first four hours of voting. Aheri in the district saw 30.6 per cent voting, while Armori assembly registered 30.75 per cent polling. Mumbai city district recorded 15.78 per cent voting, while that of Mumbai suburban district was 17.99 per cent.

The Colaba assembly segment in the megapolis registered 13.03 per cent polling, Mahim 19.66 per cent and Worli 14.59 per cent.

Meanwhile, as many as 21 electronic voting machines (EVMs) were replaced by election authorities in the Hingoli assembly constituency after they were found faulty during mock polls, officials said. They added that this did not impact the voting process in the booths concerned. Voting for assembly polls is underway in Basmath, Hingoli and Kalamnuri assembly constituencies of Hingoli district in Marathwada region.