Allegations of bogus voting, clashes, heated exchanges and complaints marked Rajasthan’s first phase of urban local body elections as residents of 162 urban bodies cast their ballots on Wednesday.

Voting from 7 am to 6 pm in four municipal corporations, 27 municipal councils and 131 municipalities saw 65 percent of 57,52,278 voters cast their ballots.

Independent MLA Yunus Khan — a former member of the BJP — alleged he was mauled by Congress and BJP supporters when he arrived with his family to cast his vote at a polling booth in Ward 11 of Deedwana in the Didwana-Kuchaman district.

By evening, thousands of people had gathered in Didwana city in support of Yunus Khan.

“Congress workers who are not happy with my performance and winning my seat as an independent have been creating hurdles for me. They did this in the last elections as well. These people call men from outside to put pressure on me and not let me vote. I’m at the police station, and we will be filing an FIR against this lot,” Yunus Khan said.

In Sikar’s Fatehpur, stone-pelting was reported in Ward 14 during a dispute between Congress and an independent candidate. Two people were injured in the incident.

Jhunjhunu also witnessed complaints over the alleged conduct of a polling officer. A Block Level Officer posted at booth number 24 in Ward 18 of Jhunjhunu Municipal Council was accused of influencing voters. Following a complaint, he was removed from the polling booth.

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In Nathdwara, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Kan Singh, who is contesting from Ward 2 of the Municipal Council, was detained in connection with a case registered earlier. Singh had reached Ward 5 to cast his vote when police took him into custody.

In another incident in Ward 2, the BJP alleged that Congress workers were distributing money near the polling booth. Police intervened and removed people gathered within 100 metres of the polling station.

Tensions were also reported in Jodhpur district, where two groups clashed at polling stations in Wards 23 and 25 of Balesar Durgawatan. Police reached the spot and removed members of both groups to prevent the situation from escalating.

A total of 5,550 wards in Rajasthan’s 41 districts will vote in the first phase. The second phase of polling will be held on September 11, while counting for both phases is scheduled for September 14.