‘Nearly 100 policemen lathi-charged our workers’: Maha minister Shirsat sparks row on counting day

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Friday alleged police excesses during vote counting for the civic elections, claiming party workers were lathi-charged while entering the counting centre, and demanded action against the officers involved.

"Today is the counting of the votes, and on such a day, when our workers were coming into the centre, nearly 100 policemen opened lathi charge on them and wounded them severely. Action should be taken against this. The police should show their force on the criminals, instead of the workers. This is the misuse of power. We are filing MLC against them," Shirsat said.

The incident was reported as counting began for the LMC election in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where polling was held for 70 seats across 18 wards, with 36 required for a simple majority. Voter turnout in the city stood at 60.07 per cent on January 15. The main contest here is between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC).

Also read: BMC Election Results 2026 LIVE: BJP-led Mahayuti in tight race as Thackeray alliance stays close

Meanwhile, early trends from across Maharashtra indicated the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance opening leads in key municipal corporations. In Mumbai, TV channels reported the BJP leading in 16 of the 227 wards, while Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was ahead in 10 wards. The Thackeray-led opposition alliance trailed behind, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leading in 10 seats and Raj Thackeray’s MNS in six.

In Thane, considered a Shinde stronghold, his party was leading in nine wards, ahead of ally BJP in six. In Pune, the BJP surged ahead in 32 of 165 wards, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction led in 14.

Exit polls have projected a sweeping victory for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the elections to 29 municipal corporations. Voting took place on Thursday, with Mumbai recording a turnout of 52.94 per cent, lower than the 55.53 per cent seen in the 2017 civic polls.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections are being held after a four-year delay and mark the first BMC polls since the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, when Eknath Shinde broke away and formed a government with the BJP. The undivided Shiv Sena had controlled Mumbai’s civic body for 25 years between 1997 and 2022.