Chaos Unfolds in Maharashtra Municipal Elections: Voter Frustration Peaks

The Maharashtra municipal elections faced significant disruptions as voters encountered technical glitches and administrative mismanagement. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik experienced delays while trying to vote, highlighting the chaos that affected many polling stations across the state. Reports of missing names from voter lists and malfunctioning EVMs led to public outrage against the State Election Commission. In cities like Mumbai and Solapur, voters faced long waits and confusion, raising concerns about the electoral process's integrity. This situation has sparked widespread frustration among citizens eager to participate in the democratic process.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 15, 2026, 11:19 IST

Voting Disruptions in Maharashtra

Mumbai: The municipal elections across Maharashtra commenced at 7:30 AM on Thursday, but were marred by significant administrative issues. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik faced considerable delays, having to navigate multiple polling stations for over an hour before successfully casting his vote in Navi Mumbai.

Numerous reports emerged regarding missing names from voter lists, malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs), and unresponsive buttons, leading to widespread frustration among voters who had turned out in large numbers. Public dissatisfaction is growing against the State Election Commission's management of the voting process. In major cities such as Mumbai, Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, many polling booths opened with non-operational machines.

After an hour of confusion, Minister Naik and his family finally managed to vote. He criticized the SEC, claiming that the system was failing to function effectively. The chaos began promptly at 7:30 AM, and after visiting two polling locations without success, Naik, along with his son Sanjeev Naik and daughter-in-law Kalpana Naik, eventually located their names at St. Mary’s High School in Koparkhairane. However, his nephew, former Mayor Sagar Naik, and his wife were assigned to a different polling station.

For a family accustomed to voting at the same booth, the SEC's mismanagement forced them to vote separately this time. Minister Naik expressed, “If a minister like me can encounter such issues with missing names, one can only imagine the challenges faced by ordinary voters.” Naik has been a prominent BJP figure in Navi Mumbai, notably challenging Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a heated electoral contest.

In Mira-Bhayandar, a lack of awareness campaigns left many voters uncertain about their designated polling centers, resulting in confusion as they searched for their booths.

In Mumbai's Lalbaug area, known for its Marathi population, the EVM experienced a 30-minute delay before it became operational. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sudhir Salvi voiced his frustration over the unnecessary wait imposed on voters.

At Pant Walawalkar School in Kamgar Nagar, Kurla, voters reported unhelpful election staff, leading to heightened confusion as names, centers, and booth numbers were altered without proper notification.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, chaos erupted at Gujarati Kanya Vidyalaya due to an EVM malfunction, causing a nearly hour-long repair delay and resulting in long queues for voters.

Voting was also interrupted in Solapur at Sangameshwar Public School from 7:30 AM due to a technical issue with the EVM, which resumed only after a 45-minute delay.

In Nagpur's Ward 28, voting at GRK Convent (Aradhana Nagar) was postponed for 40 minutes due to a technical fault, with the process only starting after the EVM was replaced.