Maharashtra MLC Polls: Mahayuti Wins 2 Seats, MVA Bags 3 as Congress Triumphs in Nagpur

MVA Wins Three Seats, Mahayuti Secures Two

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) emerged ahead of the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, winning three of the five seats contested in the state.

The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, secured two seats. The results were announced after a prolonged counting process, with the Nagpur Graduates’ constituency attracting particular attention because of the close contest between Congress and the BJP.

The final outcome gave the Opposition alliance a significant political boost, while the ruling alliance faced setbacks in the Graduates’ constituencies.

Congress Wins Nagpur After Extended Counting

Congress candidate and sitting MLC Abhijit Wanjari defeated BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes to retain the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency.

Wanjari secured 67,231 votes, while Kohale received 63,960. The result came after more than 40 hours of counting, during which the lead changed hands several times.

The counting process involved the transfer of second-preference votes because no candidate initially secured the required quota through first-preference votes alone.

The victory was particularly significant for Congress because Nagpur is the home city of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. It is also the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), making the constituency an important political battleground.

NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Wins Two Graduates’ Seats

The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), an MVA constituent, secured victories in the Pune and Aurangabad Graduates’ constituencies.

In Pune, Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav defeated BJP candidate Smita Jadhav. The result was a setback for the BJP in a constituency where the party had hoped to strengthen its position.

In Aurangabad, also known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pratapsinh Patil defeated NCP candidate Satish Chavan. Chavan was a three-term MLC, making the defeat a notable development for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

The two victories gave the Sharad Pawar-led party an important role in the MVA’s overall performance.

BJP Wins Pune Teachers’ Constituency

The BJP secured a victory in the Pune Teachers’ constituency, where its candidate Kaustubh Gawade defeated Shiv Sena-backed rebel candidate Sachin Sanap.

The contest highlighted differences within the ruling alliance. Although the BJP won the seat, the presence of a candidate supported by its ally Shiv Sena affected the dynamics of the election.

The outcome demonstrated how internal disagreements and competing candidates can influence results even when parties belong to the same political alliance.

Shiv Sena Retains Amravati Teachers’ Seat

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won the Amravati Teachers’ constituency through sitting MLC Kiran Sarnaik.

Sarnaik defeated Congress candidate Aditi Pohare by a margin of 8,027 votes. The victory gave the Mahayuti its second seat in Maharashtra.

The result was important for the Shiv Sena, which had faced competition from rival candidates, including independents and candidates backed by different political groups.

Final Maharashtra MLC Results at a Glance

ConstituencyWinning CandidatePartyAllianceNagpur Graduates’Abhijit WanjariCongressMVAPune Graduates’Harshada Deshmukh-JadhavNCP (SP)MVAAurangabad Graduates’Pratapsinh PatilNCP (SP)MVAPune Teachers’Kaustubh GawadeBJPMahayutiAmravati Teachers’Kiran SarnaikShiv SenaMahayuti

The final tally was MVA 3, Mahayuti 2.

Why the Nagpur Result Matters

Nagpur was among the most closely watched constituencies in the election because of its political significance and the BJP’s strong presence in the region.

The BJP fielded Sudhakar Kohale, a former MLA, while Congress backed sitting MLC Abhijit Wanjari. The result was decided after preference votes were counted, allowing Wanjari to overcome Kohale’s lead during the counting process.

The Congress victory provided the party with a morale boost and allowed the MVA to claim a stronger overall result in Maharashtra.

However, the outcome of a Legislative Council election involving specific Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies should not automatically be treated as a prediction of future Assembly election results.

Alliance Rivalries and Rebel Candidates Influenced Results

The elections also highlighted differences within both the Mahayuti and the MVA.

In Pune, the BJP faced competition from a Shiv Sena-backed rebel candidate. In other constituencies, rebel and independent candidates influenced vote distribution and the counting process.

The Nagpur contest, in particular, demonstrated the importance of preference votes. The transfer of votes after candidates were eliminated ultimately helped Wanjari secure victory.

These developments are likely to prompt political parties to review candidate selection, alliance coordination and voter mobilisation before future elections.

Political Reactions After the Results

The MVA described the results as a positive outcome for the Opposition, pointing to its victories in three constituencies, including Nagpur.

Congress leaders highlighted Wanjari’s win as an important achievement in a region associated with the BJP and RSS. Meanwhile, the Mahayuti maintained that it had secured two of the five seats and defended its performance.

The results also triggered questions within the NCP after its candidate Satish Chavan lost the Aurangabad Graduates’ seat. Party leader Praful Patel described the outcome as a wake-up call and called for introspection.

Key Takeaways

• The MVA won three of Maharashtra’s five MLC seats, while the Mahayuti secured two.

• Congress’s Abhijit Wanjari defeated BJP’s Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes in Nagpur.

• NCP (SP) won the Pune and Aurangabad Graduates’ constituencies.

• BJP’s Kaustubh Gawade won the Pune Teachers’ constituency.

• Shiv Sena’s Kiran Sarnaik retained the Amravati Teachers’ seat.

• Nagpur counting continued for more than 40 hours, with preference votes determining the final outcome.

• The results highlighted the impact of rebel candidates and coordination challenges within political alliances.

• The MVA’s performance provided a boost to the Opposition, while the ruling alliance will need to assess its setbacks.

Bottom Line

The Maharashtra Legislative Council elections ended with a 3-2 advantage for the MVA over the Mahayuti. Congress’s victory in Nagpur was the headline result, with Abhijit Wanjari defeating BJP’s Sudhakar Kohale after an extended counting process. The NCP (SP) added two more seats for the Opposition alliance, while the BJP and Shiv Sena secured one seat each. The results have given the MVA a political boost and raised questions about alliance coordination and candidate selection within the ruling Mahayuti.