Teachers’ Constituency polls: Campaign to end today
   Date :28-Jan-2023

Teachers’ Constituency polls 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
The campaign for the Nagpur Division Teachers’ Constituency polls to Maharashtra Legislative Council will come to an end on Saturday at 4 pm. The enrolled voters will exercise their franchise on January 30.
As is the case, the main contest is considered to be between Nago Ganar, two-time MLC from the constituency who is backed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); and Sudhakar Adbale, who is supported by Congress. The other prominent candidates in the fray include Rajendra Zade of Shikshak Bharati, Dr Devendra Wankhede of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Nima Moharkar-Rangari of Bahujan Samaj Party. From BJP’s side MLA Mohan Mate and MLA Sameer Meghe are looking after Ganar’s campaign overall and in rural areas respectively. From Congress’ side, MLC Adv Abhijit Wanjari and senior academician Dr Babanrao Taywade are campaigning for Adbale.
Once the campaign ends on Saturday at 4 pm, all eyes will be on polling scheduled on January 30. The polling will be conducted in five districts in Nagpur Division namely Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur from 8 am to 4 pm. The polling will be conducted in Gadchiroli district from 7 am to 2 pm. Hence, in Gadchiroli, the campaign will end at 3 pm on Saturday, that is, 48 hours prior to polling.
Already, the Election Commission has issued directions on how to exercise franchise and preferential voting method. The voters may write preference for candidates viz. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in front of the name of candidate of their choice, using prescribed sketch pen only. If any voter uses pencil, ball-point pen, or other material to write preference, his/her vote will be rendered invalid.
As far as number of voters is concerned, Nagpur district has total 16,480 enrolled voters. The district has total 43 polling booths where teachers enrolled as voters may exercise their franchise. The voters have been asked to follow COVID-19 protocol. Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector and Assistant Returning Officer, stated in a press release issued on Friday that voters suffering from fever or were COVID-19 should exercise their franchise between 3 pm and 4 pm only.