Nitesh Karale
A Wardha-based social media influencer-turned-politician, Karale, turned the Nagpur poll into a thriller by securing over 25,000 first-preference votes in the 34 th round, thus delaying the straightforward victory plans of both BJP and Congress as neither could touch the winning quota of around 75,000 votes. Nagpur: The Nagpur graduates’ constituency contest remained on a knife edge since counting began on Tuesday morning, with Independent Nitesh Karale’s second preference votes emerging as a crucial factor in the closely fought battle between BJP ’s Sudhakar Kohale and Congress ’s Abhijit Wanjari.
Even after 40 hours of counting, no clear winner emerged in Nagpur.
In one of his video posts, Karale said, “I built this support of people without the backing of any established party. Karale entered the contest after being denied a ticket by his party, NCP (SP), as the seat had gone to Congress under the alliance’s formula. The party expelled him for six years after he refused to withdraw his nomination. I did not distribute cash, nor gave liquor and meat parties.