An estimated 47 per cent voters exercised their franchise today in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) polls where the ruling allies BJP and Shiv Sena are contesting separately and the campaign was marked by strident acrimony between them in its concluding phase.
About 47 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the elections to the 122-ward civic body of Kalyan-Dombivili twin cities today, according to the State Election Commission of Maharashtra (SECM).
During the last civic polls in 2010, the total voter turn out was 43.49 per cent.
The Congress and NCP are also in the field in the civic body, close to Mumbai, where the saffron allies had shared power in the last five years.
The final phase of the campaign witnessed a flare-up in Sena-BJP belligerence, with Uddhav Thackeray declaring that his party would not hesitate to pull out of the state government if the BJP continued its "arrogance".
In a sharp reaction, Fadnavis dubbed the Sena posturing as a mere drama. But, he later exuded confidence that the government would run its full term and a verbal duel in Kalyan-Dombivili was over local polls.
About 70 per cent polling took place in Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) polls which were also held today, the State Election Commission of Maharashtra said, adding in 2010 elections, the voter turn out was recorded at 67.69 per cent.
Officials said that polls were largely conducted peacefully and no major untoward incident was reported from the two places.
The polls to the 81-ward KMC appear to be a keenly fought contest between the BJP-Tara Rani Aghadi alliance and the Congress, NCP and the Shiv Sena.
The counting of votes will be held tomorrow.
There are 12.93 lakh registered voters across 1,010 polling booths in KDMC, while 4.53 lakh voters will cast their franchise across 378 polling booths in KMC.
In KDMC, no nomination papers were received in ward numbers 114 and 119, while in three wards - 46, 105 and 113 - just one nomination paper each was filed, hence, the candidates there will be declared elected unopposed.
