Leaders embrace inside Nagpur count centre as BJP, Congress workers scuffle outside

A strikingly contrasting scene played out during counting of votes for the Nagpur graduates' constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Inside the counting centre, senior leaders of rival parties put political enmity aside and embraced each other, while just outside, BJP and Congress workers clashed badly.

The mood inside the counting centre at the Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur was quite cordial. As soon as Congress Legislative Council candidate Abhijit Wanjari entered, BJP MLA Praveen Datke called out and beckoned him over. The two leaders came close and hugged each other.

It did not end there. Video clips of Congress MLA Vikas Thakre and Praveen Datke embracing also went viral on social media. For supporters and officials of both parties present at the centre, the leaders' warmth came as a pleasant surprise.

But at night the picture outside the centre wall was entirely different. From Tuesday night until early Wednesday, tension ran high between supporters of the two parties outside the Mankapur sports complex. As counting advanced round by round and Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari began to build a decisive lead, workers on both sides grew restless.

Buoyed by hopes of victory, Congress workers gathered at the main gate of the counting centre and raised loud slogans, alleging vote theft. In response, workers of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha also gathered in large numbers and began shouting slogans against the Congress.

Soon the two sides came face to face. An exchange of words and pushing led quickly to a heated argument and scuffles. The situation grew so tense that police had to step in and use force to push back the unruly crowd.

Some excited Congress workers climbed onto a police vehicle. Seeing the situation slip out of control, police immediately detained several workers and removed them from the spot. Later, when the result was formally announced and Wanjari's victory was confirmed, police released the detained workers. Additional police personnel remained deployed outside the centre until late at night for security.

Amid all this, a serious lapse in the security of the counting centre and the strong room also came to light. Head Constable Rahul Wankhede of the Police Headquarters, posted at the centre, tried to switch off a harsh halogen light shining on his face because of fatigue and mistakenly pulled out the main power plug. As a result, the CCTV cameras remained off for about 20 minutes.

The candidate lodged an objection when the CCTV went off. Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil then ordered an inquiry and suspended the head constable with immediate effect.

The leaders' embraces and the supporters' street clashes have become a facet of this Nagpur election that will be talked about for a long time.