Political Test
Elections were held for three graduates’ and two teachers’ constituencies, with 182 candidates in fray. These constituencies together had 10,68,072 registered voters and recorded an overall turnout of 72.96%. BJP is seeking to reclaim a constituency it held for nearly six decades before losing it to Wanjarri in 2020. The Pune graduates’ constituency has the largest field, with 47 candidates and 3,88,019 registered voters. The constituency has 41 candidates and 3,26,700 registered voters.
As per political observers, the contests have distinct local dynamics but a common political dimension — can established party networks overcome rebel candidates, competing alliances and preferential voting complexities. The results could also offer an indication of the relative strength of the ruling coalition and the opposition MVA in Maharashtra. In Nagpur, BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale is challenging sitting Congress MLC Abhijit Wanjarri. The contest is a test of the party’s ability to regain ground in its political stronghold. BJP nominee Smita Jadhav is contesting against NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav, while Sena (UBT) candidate Sunil Modi is also in the race. The Pune teachers’ constituency has exposed divisions within Mahayuti. BJP nominee Kaustubh Gawde is challenging sitting Congress MLC Jayant Asgaonkar, while Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde is backing independent candidate Sachin Sanap. Former MLC Dattatray Sawant of Rashtriya Samaj Paksha i s also contesting, adding to competition in a seat where rival candidatures could affect the Mahayuti’s electoral calculations. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the graduates’ constituency is a contest involving two NCP factions. Sitting MLC Satish Chavan, representing NCP led by Sunetra Pawar, faces NCP (SP) nominee Pratapsinh Patil. Sena (UBT) has also fielded a candidate. Differences within Mahayuti, including opposition to Chavan from Shiv Sena leaders, have complicated the contest. The Amravati teachers’ constituency is another test of the ruling alliance’s ability to manage dissent. Sitting MLC Kiran Sarnaik, official candidate of Shinde’s Shiv Sena, faces Congress nominee Aditi Pohare. BJP rebels Sangeeta Shinde, Shekhar Bhoyar and Sumit Pawar are also contesting, while Sena (UBT) has fielded Dattatraya Lahane.
The seat was previously held by NCP (SP) leader Arun Lad. Nagpur: Counting of votes for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats on Tuesday will test BJP-led Mahayuti’s ability to hold its ground, contain internal dissent and counter the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).