Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Civic Polls Begin Amid Political Rivalry and Election Controversies

Voting commenced in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal elections amid tight security and political rivalry between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Several high-profile and closely contested wards have emerged, with allegations of campaign violations and controversies, including disputes over voter ink and mobile phone use inside polling booths. Key leaders like Ajit Pawar and Chandrakant Patil actively participated, while voter turnout showed early engagement. Authorities urged peaceful and transparent polling throughout the day.