Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Counting of votes for a total of 10 prabhags under election returning office (ERO) numbers 4, 5 and 6 was carried out at Garware IT Park in the Chikalthana MIDC area. A large shamiana had been erected in the open ground, but the actual counting was conducted inside a small hall. Counting for Prabhags 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24 and 25 was carried out simultaneously in the same hall.
Due to lack of space, the representatives of all candidates were made to sit behind iron barricades, resembling a poultry cage. Many candidates were kept outside, while only their representatives were allowed inside the hall.
Even by 10.30 am, candidates and their representatives were made to wait outside the centre. Eventually, a verbal altercation broke out between the police and the candidates, after which the doors were suddenly opened, leading to chaos as everyone rushed inside at once. The initial arrangements were poor. The loudspeakers emitted crackling sounds, making announcements unclear. A massive crowd had gathered near the Garware Stadium, but the announcements were not audible to them. Additional loudspeakers were installed at the last minute, yet problems persisted as announcements for different rounds overlapped, with two voices crossing each other, causing frequent confusion.
BJP and AIMIM supporters face off…
After the eighth round, as it gradually became clear who would emerge victorious, the enthusiasm, celebrations and sloganeering among supporters intensified. At one point, BJP and AIMIM supporters came face to face. Although police intervened in time and dispersed the crowd using force, the atmosphere in the area remained tense on several occasions. Supporters threw gulal and green powder in large quantities, leaving a thick layer of coloured powder on the road outside Garware Stadium.
Candidate’s ‘Hanuman leap’ for recount; supporters stage sit-in
While counting was underway for Prabhag 24 (A) at the Garware IT Park counting centre, BJP candidate Gangabai Bhavre won with 7,373 votes, while her rival, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi candidate Satish Gaikwad, secured 6,604 votes. Alleging tampering with the EVMs, Gaikwad demanded a recount. Accusing the election decision officer of not listening to him, Gaikwad climbed onto the barricade at the counting centre and leapt into the officers’ chamber, triggering brief chaos.
Gaikwad also raised objections while Bhavre was being issued her victory certificate, but his protest was ignored there as well. By then, hundreds of Gaikwad’s supporters had begun a sit-in protest outside the counting centre. The situation calmed down only after a heavy police deployment arrived. Eventually, everyone dispersed peacefully and returned home. However, during the protest, one woman protester felt dizzy. An ambulance was immediately summoned and she was taken to hospital.
Meanwhile, Gaikwad’s dramatic “Hanuman leap” became the main topic of discussion among the counting staff and officials.