Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Tension that erupted on Friday continued for the second consecutive day on Saturday in the Sangharshnagar and Mukundwadi areas after Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) candidate Satish Gaikwad was defeated by 769 votes in the final rounds of counting. Gaikwad objected to the election result, alleging tampering with EVM machines following the intervention of MLA Narayan Kuche. Anticipating possible attacks by an agitated mob, police have deployed tight security outside the houses of the winning candidates as well as outside MLA Kuche’s residence in the concerned prabhag.
Satish Gaikwad was the VBA candidate from Prabhag No. 24(A). In the final round of counting, Gangabai Bhavare was declared elected with 7,373 votes, while Gaikwad secured 6,604 votes, according to officials. However, alleging that EVM machines were changed and manipulated at the behest of MLA Kuche, Gaikwad demanded a recount, leading to chaos at the counting centre. Subsequently, thousands of his supporters gathered outside the centre, resulting in scuffles with the police. Later, the supporters marched on foot towards Sangharshnagar. Some youths attempted to proceed towards Mukundwadi village and MLA Kuche’s residence, prompting the police to carry out a mild lathi charge to control the situation.
Large gathering on Saturday
On Saturday, several city-level office-bearers of the VBA and elected candidates met Satish Gaikwad, during which a crowd of hundreds gathered. Supporters warned that if justice was not delivered, they would not allow the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected corporators to take place and would gherao the municipal corporation headquarters during the formation of the civic body. Party chief Balasaheb Ambedkar and Sujat Ambedkar also contacted Gaikwad and discussed the possibility of approaching the court to challenge the election result.
In view of these developments, heavy police deployment was maintained in Mukundwadi, Sangharshnagar and Sanjaynagar areas.