Nagpur: The headquarters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) emerged as Congress ’ sole winning ground in a round of Legislative Council elections that covered 28 graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Karnataka.
Wanjari defeated BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes to retain the seat for a second consecutive term. He polled 67,231 votes against Kohale’s 63,960 after the counting process moved beyond first preferences. Gangadharrao Fadnavis, the chief minister’s father, represented the seat in 1978 and 1984. Gadkari won it four times, in 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2008.
For Congress, the victory was more about “where” it happened rather than absolute numbers. For Congress, the fact that this lone victory happened in hometown of Union minister Nitin Gadkari and CM Devendra Fadnavis , gave the grand old party enough reason to cheer. BJP had appointed revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, as the poll in-charge. The result extended Congress’ tenure in a constituency long associated with the BJP and its predecessor, the Jan Sangh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked Congress over its failure to win seats in the four states despite voting being conducted through ballot papers, a method the party has repeatedly advocated in its criticism of electronic voting machines. Wanjarri’s victory gives Congress a counterpoint, even as it remains shut out of the other MLC contests cited. For now, BJP has to wait for another six years before it can try to regain its traditional seat.