The polling for the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) was peaceful, except a few unruly scenes in the walled city on Saturday. The voting that started at slow pace in the morning at 7 am gained momentum later in the day at by the time it came to an end at 5 pm, 56.74 per cent polling was reported, causing concern among the political parties, candidates and also in the administration. The concern is because the polling per cent is much below the expected lines.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) mayoral candidate Alok Sharma while talking to media persons after casting his vote said, “My city Bhopal is a very beautiful city, I have full faith in the people of Bhopal and I am confident that they would give me a chance to serve them. If voted to power I would work to make the city more beautiful, modern and clean.”
Congress party’s mayoral candidate Kailash Mishra after casting his vote with his family members said, “Every candidate in the electoral fray stands for his victory. I also want to win and my party also wants to win the BMC election. If voted to power I would lead Bhopal towards development and would make it a clean and green city.” Some incidences of verbal duals and minor scuffles were reported from some wards of the BMC during the polling; else by and large the polling remained peaceful.
Most of the disputes were held between supporters and workers of BJP and the Congress. In polling booth number 398 of ward number 20 the situation went out of order when a Burqa clad lady voter Javeda Naz after having heated arguments with the Congress Corporator candidate Rasheed Chand hit him with the slipper. Naz is mother of former Congress leader Amjad Anjum who crossed over to BJP only a week back. The Congress leader was perturbed as Anjum and his family and followers were reportedly denting his vote base.