Pune Municipal Corporation Election Results 2026: Vote counting for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections was disrupted on Friday after a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate raised objections over the electronic voting machines at a counting centre in the city. The incident took place at the New English School counting centre, where NCP leader Rupali Patil Thombre alleged irregularities in the vote-counting process. She claimed that the serial numbers of the electronic voting machines used during polling did not match those brought for counting and alleged that the machines had been replaced. Thombre protested outside the centre and demanded an immediate explanation from election officials. Following a heated exchange with officials, counting was stopped for nearly two hours. Several independent candidates supported her objections and joined the protest.
During the agitation, Thombre tried to move towards the strong room where the EVMs were kept. Her supporters raised slogans against the election administration, leading to tension at the site. Police stepped in and deployed additional personnel to prevent any escalation. A video of the protest later circulated widely on social media, showing Thombre climbing a fence at the counting centre as police officers attempted to restrain her.
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Thombre, who is contesting the PMC polls from Ward No. 25A and Ward No. 26B, alleged discrepancies in EVM seals and serial numbers. She said the counting process should not continue until her concerns were addressed and added that she would submit a formal complaint with evidence.
Election officials rejected all allegations, saying all machines were sealed and handled according to rules. Thombre said she would submit a formal complaint with evidence. After counting resumed, early trends showed Bharatiya Janata Party candidates leading in Ward No. 25.