The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday officially announced former MLA and senior party leader Sudhakar Kohale as its candidate for the Nagpur Division Graduates’ Constituency poll, ending days of speculation over the party’s choice. However, the contest has taken a new turn with former MLC Anil Sole deciding to enter the fray as an Independent after expressing disappointment over being denied the BJP ticket. On Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself handed over the candidature to Sudhakar Kohale at Ramgiri in presence of MLC Dr Parinay Fuke, MLC Dr Rajiv Potdar, Mayor Neeta Thakre, ex-MLC Sagar Meghe, MLA Sameer Meghe, ex-MLA Vikas Kumbhare, Ruling Party Leader in NMC Balya Borkar. Kohale will file nomination papers on Monday. He will reach Akashwani Square at 10 am from where he would go with the workers and senior leaders to submit his nomination to the office of Divisional Commissioner.

 

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, senior leader of BJP Sudhir Mungantiwar, Ministers of State Dr Pankaj Bhoyar and Adv Ashish Jaiswal, MLC Krupal Tumane, ex- MP Ajay Sancheti, Rajya Sabha Member Maya Iwanate and others will remain present. Sole will file his nomination papers at 1.30 pm, according to his supporters. Abhijeet Wanjari of Congress too will file his nomination at 10 am, on Monday. The party workers will gather at GPO Square. With Sole deciding to contest independently, the Nagpur Graduates’ election is set for an interesting contest involving the BJP, Congress and Independents. Congress has already fielded sitting MLC Adv Abhijeet Wanjari, who is seeking re-election after defeating BJP’s Sandip Joshi in the 2020 election.

 

Apart from Kohale, Wanjari and Sole, Adv Raman Senad of Lok Jagruti Morcha is also contesting the election as an Independent and is scheduled to file his nomination on Monday. Adv Raman Senad is a highly qualified candidate. He claims he has been working in six districts under this constituency for the last several years, established a good connect with people. The BJP’s announcement of Kohale came amid considerable curiosity over its candidate selection. Several names, including those of Kohale and Sole, were discussed within the party circles before the announcement. Senad too had presented his claim for BJP ticket.

 

The delay had also drawn attention because the Congress had announced Wanjari well in advance and he had already started his campaign preparations. Sole’s decision to contest independently adds another dimension to the BJP-Congress contest. A former MLC, Sole has a political base in the constituency and his candidature will make the electoral contest a multi-cornered one. The nomination process for the biennial elections to five MaharashtraLegislative Council seats began with the issuance of the notification on September 29. Candidates can file their nominations up to October 6, while scrutiny will be held on October 7. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 9. Polling for the Nagpur Division Graduates’ Constituency, along with the Aurangabad and Pune Graduates’ and Amravati and PuneTeachers’ constituencies, will be held on October 23 from 8 am to 4 pm. Counting will take place on October 27. The Nagpur Division Graduates’ Constituency covers Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts. The final electoral roll is expected to have more than 2.4 lakh voters, making voter registration, outreach and mobilisation across the six districts important components of the campaign. With Kohale now officially in the BJP camp and Sole entering the contest as an Independent, attention will turn to the campaign strategies of the three principal contenders and the response of graduate voters across the six districts.