Congress maintained its grip on the Nagpur Division Graduates constituency in the Maharashtra Legislative Council following a closely contested election. Incumbent MLC Abhijit Wanjari secured victory over his nearest opponent from the Bharatiya Janata Party by a margin of 3,271 votes. The counting process, which commenced on Tuesday morning, concluded early Thursday morning after extensive scrutiny. According to the final tally, Wanjari gathered 67,231 votes, while BJP nominee and former MLA Sudhakar Kohale finished with 63,960 votes.
Setback For BJP In Home Bastion Of Senior Leaders
The outcome in the Nagpur Graduates seat represents a major setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party, as Nagpur serves as the home city of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Both leaders had actively campaigned on behalf of party candidate Sudhakar Kohale. Despite the high-profile campaign, voters favored Abhijit Wanjari of the Congress. The contest remained tight throughout the initial counting stages, with Kohale leading his Congress opponent by 4,294 votes at the end of the second round of counting on Wednesday.
Lack Of First-Preference Quota Triggered Elimination Round
The determination of the winner required counting beyond the initial phase. At the conclusion of the second round of first-preference votes, BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale had accumulated 60,924 votes, while Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari held 56,630 votes. Independent candidate Nitesh Karale also polled 24,249 votes in the race. Because no individual crossed the mandatory victory quota through first-preference ballots alone, election officials proceeded to examine second-preference preferences and conduct the elimination process. Following the elimination rounds, Wanjari surged ahead to reach 67,231 votes against Kohale's 63,960 votes, sealing the win for the incumbent lawmaker.
Second Successive Term For Abhijit Wanjari In Historic Seat
This result marks the second consecutive victory for Abhijit Govindrao Wanjari from the Nagpur Division Graduates constituency. He initially captured the seat in 2020 by defeating BJP nominee Sandeep Joshi. A lawyer and academician by profession, Wanjari has spent years working within the Congress organization and serving as an MLC representing the graduate electorate of the division. The constituency carries notable political significance, having been represented for several terms by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Wanjari's repeat victory reaffirms his electoral standing in this prestigious legislative council seat.
