BJP Faces Setback in Nagpur MLC Polls Following Candidate Selection Disputes

Election Outcome

Abhijit Wanjarri secured a second consecutive term in the Nagpur graduates' constituency, defeating BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes. This result marks a significant shift in the constituency, which is considered a traditional stronghold for the BJP and the home turf of senior leaders including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The polling, held on October 23, was part of a larger election cycle covering 28 constituencies across four states.

Factors Influencing the Result

• Internal Dissension: Former MLC Anil Sole, a known confidant of Nitin Gadkari, ran as an Independent candidate after being denied a party ticket, reportedly complicating the BJP's campaign efforts.
• Invalid Votes: A high number of invalid ballots—exceeding 15,000 in Nagpur—has sparked debate. Approximately 9,000 of these ballots were reportedly marked only with the number '2' against Kohale, without indicating preferences for other candidates.
• Allegations: Candidate Sudhakar Kohale stated he plans to appeal regarding the high count of invalid votes. BJP campaign in-charge Chandrashekhar Bawankule accepted responsibility for the loss and emphasized that corrective measures would be implemented for future elections.

Broader Mahayuti Dynamics

Reports indicate friction among Mahayuti alliance partners in other regions as well:

• Pune: While the BJP won the Pune graduates' seat, internal disputes persisted. BJP members alleged that Shiv Sena workers did not support their candidate in the teachers' constituency, while local Sena leaders claimed the BJP should not take allies for granted.
• Aurangabad: The NCP-SP candidate defeated the official NCP nominee. Sena leader Abdul Sattar openly acknowledged backing the NCP-SP candidate due to disagreements over the choice of the official alliance nominee.

Official outcomes can be verified through the Election Commission of India's official records.