A major political development has emerged from Maharashtra, where the Congress has retained the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency in the Legislative Council elections, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party in a closely contested battle. The result is particularly significant because Nagpur is considered the home turf of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Congress candidate and sitting Member of the Legislative Council, Abhijeet Wanjari, defeated BJP candidate and former MLA Sudhakar Kohale by a margin of 3,271 votes. Wanjari secured 67,231 votes, while Kohale received 63,960 votes. The result was declared in the early hours of Thursday, October 29, after an extended counting process that lasted more than 40 hours.
BJP Takes an Early Lead, but Congress Makes a Comeback
The Nagpur Graduates’ constituency election witnessed a closely fought contest between the Congress and the BJP. During the second round of counting, BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale was ahead by 4,294 votes.
At that stage, Kohale had received 60,924 first-preference votes, compared with 56,630 votes for Abhijeet Wanjari. Independent candidate Nitesh Karale had also secured 24,249 votes.
However, no candidate reached the required quota for victory through first-preference votes alone. As a result, the counting process moved to the second-preference votes and subsequent elimination rounds under the applicable counting procedure.
The final outcome changed the direction of the contest. Wanjari finished with 67,231 votes, defeating Kohale by 3,271 votes and retaining the seat for the Congress.
Why the Nagpur Result Matters
The political significance of the result extends beyond the victory margin. Nagpur is the home city of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, both prominent BJP leaders who campaigned for Sudhakar Kohale.
Gadkari himself represented the Nagpur Graduates’ constituency in the Maharashtra Legislative Council for several years, from 1990 to 2014. The constituency has therefore held considerable political importance for the BJP.
Against this backdrop, the Congress victory has drawn attention across Maharashtra. It also marks the party’s second consecutive win in the constituency, as Wanjari had defeated BJP candidate Sandip Joshi in the previous election.
The result highlights the competitive nature of the graduates’ constituency election and demonstrates that the outcome can depend on the counting of preference votes, even when one candidate leads during an earlier round.
Maha Vikas Aghadi Wins Three of Five Seats
The Nagpur result was part of the wider Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, in which polling was held for five constituencies on October 23, 2026.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi secured three of the five seats, while the ruling Mahayuti alliance won the remaining two. The BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena each won one seat, while the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar secured two seats.
The results included victories for Congress in Nagpur and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction in the Pune Graduates’ and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates’ constituencies. The BJP won the Pune Teachers’ constituency, while the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde retained the Amravati Teachers’ seat.
Political Reactions and the Road Ahead
The Nagpur outcome prompted political reactions, with Congress leaders highlighting the party’s victory in a constituency widely associated with senior BJP leaders. The result also became part of the broader political debate surrounding the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections.
For the Congress, retaining Nagpur provides an important electoral result in a region where the BJP has traditionally maintained a strong political presence. For the BJP, the defeat raises questions about its performance in a constituency where senior leaders actively campaigned for their candidate.
However, the result of a single graduates’ constituency should not automatically be interpreted as a verdict on the entire state. The Legislative Council election involved a specific electorate and a preference-based counting process, making it distinct from a general election.
The key takeaway is that Abhijeet Wanjari has retained the Nagpur Division Graduates’ seat for the Congress, defeating Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes. The victory, combined with the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s overall performance in Maharashtra, has added a significant development to the state’s political landscape.
The Nagpur result will remain an important point of discussion as political parties assess their organisational strength, voter outreach and performance ahead of future electoral contests.
