Nagpur MLC Results 2026: Congress’s Abhijeet Wanjari Retains Graduate Seat, Defeats BJP

Congress candidate Abhijeet Wanjari has retained the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Sudhakar Kohale by 3,271 votes. The result was declared on October 29, 2026, after an extended counting process that lasted more than 40 hours.

Wanjari secured 67,231 votes, while Kohale received 63,960. The contest attracted considerable political attention because Nagpur is the home region of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, both of whom had campaigned for the BJP candidate.

Abhijeet Wanjari Secures a Second Consecutive Term

The victory gives Wanjari a second consecutive term representing the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency. He previously won the seat in 2020 as a Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate.

The constituency has historically been associated with the BJP, and Gadkari represented it in the Legislative Council for several terms before entering national politics. Wanjari’s latest victory therefore carries significance for both the Congress and the BJP in the Nagpur region.

Counting Continues for More Than 40 Hours

The counting process began on October 27 and continued into the early hours of October 29. BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale initially moved ahead during the first-preference count, leading Wanjari by 4,294 votes after the second round.

Neither candidate secured the required quota through the initial first-preference count. Officials subsequently conducted further rounds involving second-preference votes and candidate eliminations, as prescribed under the applicable counting procedure.

Wanjari eventually overtook Kohale and secured the victory by a margin of 3,271 votes.

BJP Faces a Setback in Nagpur

The result was a setback for the BJP in a constituency where senior party leaders had actively campaigned. Congress leaders highlighted the victory in response to earlier political remarks about the party’s performance in the wider Legislative Council elections.

However, the Nagpur result represents one specific constituency and should not be interpreted as a verdict on the entire state’s electorate.

Maha Vikas Aghadi Wins Three Maharashtra MLC Seats

The Nagpur outcome formed part of the wider Maharashtra Legislative Council elections held across five constituencies. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi secured three seats, while the ruling Mahayuti alliance won two.

The results also reflected competition among the ruling alliance’s constituent parties and opposition groups across different constituencies.

The Congress’s retention of Nagpur gives the party a result to highlight as political parties continue preparing for future elections in Maharashtra. For the BJP, the defeat provides an opportunity to review its performance in a constituency where it had campaigned extensively.

Conclusion: Abhijeet Wanjari’s victory keeps the Nagpur Graduates’ seat with Congress for a second consecutive term. The close margin and prolonged counting process made the contest a major talking point in Maharashtra politics.

Source: The Economic Times and PTI reports, October 29, 2026.