Hyderabad: 16 January, Posted at 11:55 AM IST
The municipal election in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has turned into a closely fought contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, with early trends showing a narrow margin between the two sides as vote counting continues.
The civic poll battle in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has intensified, with the Bharatiya Janata Party leading with 15 seats, closely followed by the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, which has secured 12 seats so far.
The counting process, covering 115 wards declared until now, reflects a fragmented mandate. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has won six seats, while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has emerged as a key player with eight seats.
The Indian National Congress has managed to secure three seats, while the Nationalist Congress Party has won two. The Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP has claimed one seat, with one seat going to other candidates.
Meanwhile, vote counting at the Garware Stadium counting centre was disrupted earlier in the day following rumours of a police baton charge. Disorder was reported from early morning, forcing a temporary halt in the counting process. Normal operations resumed only after a delay of nearly one to one-and-a-half hours.
Fresh panic later spread after unverified reports of another baton charge in the Garware area. According to eyewitness accounts, fear of police action led several people to jump into roadside pits and ditches in an attempt to flee, adding to the confusion around the counting centre.
Authorities later clarified that the situation was brought under control and appealed to the public not to believe or spread rumours. Security has been tightened around all counting centres as counting continues.
Raftaar e Deccan Newsdesk is the central editorial desk of Raftaar e Deccan, responsible for compiling, editing, and publishing breaking news, official statements, and verified inputs from reporters and agencies.
