MUMBAI, Dec. 21 -- Incidents of violence, bogus voting, cash distribution and other election malpractices were reported across the state as voting for 23 municipal councils was held on Saturday. Prominent civic bodies that went to the polls were Baramati in Pune district and Ambernath in Thane district. The polling was part of the first phase of elections to local bodies in Maharashtra, where 247 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats were to go to the polls on December 2. The results of elections to all these civic bodies will be declared on Sunday. There was a lathi-charge incident in Ambernath on Saturday, when two groups clashed with each other. Police detained 208 women, who had arrived from nearby Bhiwandi. Opposition parties alleged that the women had been brought for impersonation, while the women said they had come for a public meeting. In one case, a person was found with Rs.35,000 and a first information report was registered. Elsewhere, the Shiv Sena and Congress clashed. Large-scale election-related offences were reported in other parts of the state, and in Dharambad area in Nanded. Here, women were sequestered in a hall and not allowed to vote in lieu of money, to allegedly refrain from casting their vote. Both the Congress and BJP claim the Shiv Sena had orchestrated the stunt. Nanded collector Rahul Kardile said, "We had information that money was being distributed in a hall. But the people left before the team reached there. We filed an FIR on the hall management for violating prohibitory orders.'' An official with the State Election Commission said, "We have told local police and administration officials to record statements and give us reports on the Nanded incident.'' State election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare said, "The police and election machinery have taken prompt action in cases where there was trouble.'' Meanwhile, preparations are underway for counting for the first phase of elections, on Sunday. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare held discussions with police officers on Saturday and instructed them to ensure that law and order was maintained. Waghmare also asked Thane police commissioner Ashutosh Dumbare to take adequate preventive measures in Ambernath and Badlapur. Both these satellite towns of Mumbai are located in Thane district, a stronghold of deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde. Meanwhile, state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the BJP was confident of winning most of the civic bodies. The opposition, however, alleged that money had been used liberally, tainting the election process. All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, while speaking to reporters, claimed there was massive use of money by the ruling alliance in the local self-government body elections....