Thane Election Brawl: Shinde-Bhoir Factions Clash, Chili Powder Thrown

• A fierce clash erupted between supporters of former Mayor Meenakshi Shinde and independent candidate Bhushan Bhoir outside St. Xavier's polling station in Brahmand, Thane, after voting for Ward No. 3.
• The dispute escalated during EVM machine collection, with both factions accusing each other of attempting to snatch machines and vandalize vehicles.
• Meenakshi Shinde alleged that Bhushan Bhoir's supporters had weapons and plotted to kill someone, while Bhoir's supporters accused Shinde's faction of throwing chili powder into Bhushan Bhoir's eyes.
• The incident is rooted in an old rivalry, as Bhoir ran as an independent after being denied a Shiv Sena ticket, and an alleged controversial audio clip involving Shinde had previously heightened tensions.
• Police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, and a heavy police presence is now maintained in the area to prevent further incidents.

Why It Matters: Post-election violence in Thane saw Shinde and Bhoir factions clash, leading to serious allegations and police intervention.