BJP Exerted All Might, But Voters Stood With Us: Abhijit Wanjari Wins Nagpur MLC Seat
Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari wins the Nagpur Division Graduates' Constituency MLC seat, defeating BJP's Sudhakar Kohale.
In a closely contested battle for the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari has emerged victorious in the Nagpur Division Graduates' Constituency. Despite a massive push from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Wanjari secured the seat, defeating his nearest rival, Sudhakar Kohale of the BJP, by a margin of 3,271 votes.
The Final Tally
The election saw a tight race between the two primary contenders. Abhijit Wanjari garnered a total of 67,231 votes, accounting for both first- and second-preference ballots. On the other hand, the BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale secured 63,960 votes. Following the official declaration, the certificate of election was presented to Wanjari by Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Vijayalakshmi Bidari.
Wanjari Credits Unity and Organisational Support
Speaking to the media after his victory, an elated Abhijit Wanjari highlighted the intensity of the campaign. He noted that while the BJP deployed its full strength and brought in top leadership to Nagpur to ensure a win, the electorate ultimately chose the Congress.
"The BJP exerted all its might—all their leaders were present in Nagpur—yet the voters stood with us. Our party remained united, and the leaders and workers of the Maha Vikas Aghadi stood together as one," Wanjari stated.
Wanjari also attributed his success to a broad coalition of support. He revealed that 48 different organisations had backed his candidacy, a fact he had prominently featured in his campaign materials. He credited the dedicated workers and leaders of these organisations for steering him toward victory.
A Gruelling 41-Hour Counting Process
The road to the final result was long and complex. Counting began at 8 am on October 27 at the Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur, Nagpur. With 84 counting tables in operation, the process stretched over 41 hours before a winner could be declared.
The Voting Breakdown
- Total Votes Counted: 1,65,906
- Invalid Votes: 15,032
- Valid Votes: 1,50,874
- Winning Quota Required: 75,438
The election followed a preferential voting system. During the first two rounds of counting for first-preference votes, no candidate managed to hit the required quota of 75,438 votes. This triggered the elimination rounds, where second-preference votes were factored in.
Even after the elimination rounds, no candidate reached the prescribed quota. Under the rules of the system, the candidate with the highest total votes is declared the winner. Consequently, Abhijit Wanjari was declared elected with his total of 67,231 votes.
Election Timeline and Oversight
The entire process was monitored by Election Observer Harshdeep Kamble, Returning Officer Vijayalakshmi Bidari, and District Collectors from all six districts within the Nagpur Division.
The election cycle began with the Election Commission of India announcing the schedule on September 22, followed by the official notification on September 29. Polling took place on October 23, with voters casting their ballots between 8 am and 4 pm across the Nagpur Division. According to the Election Commission, the entire election process is scheduled for completion by October 31, 2026.