Polling for the Nagpur Local Authorities' Constituency by-election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council was conducted peacefully, on Thursday, with an impressive 98.44 per cent voter turnout. Of the 836 eligible electors, 823 cast their votes at 14 polling centres across the district. A total of 13 electors did not vote, including 11 from Nagpur city and one each from Umred and Kamptee. The by-poll is witnessing a direct contest between Dr Rajiv Potdar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, and Atul Londhe of the Indian National Congress (INC). The electorate comprised 419 male and 417 female voters.

 

Polling stations were set up at 14 locations, covering voters from municipal corporations, municipal councils, nagar panchayats and the Kamptee Cantonment Board across the district. The polling process was held from 8 am to 4 pm without any reported disruptions. The election schedule began with the issuance of the notification on May 25. The last date for filing nominations was June 1, scrutiny of nominations was conducted on June 2, and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations was June 4. The ballot boxes have been secured in a strong room at the Bachat Bhavan, Collectorate, Nagpur, where the counting of votes will take place on June 22. The result is expected to be declared after the completion of the counting process. 

 

 

MLC by-poll in Nagpur though seemed one-sided, the events turned interesting. Dr Rajiv Potdar of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enjoying support of 538 votes of Mahayuti while Atul Londhe of Congress contested based on the support of MVA’s 213 votes. Earlier it was thought that Congress will not remain united, but putting all the rumours to rest, all corporators remained with Atul Londhe. It might have been the effect of Congress’ recent tough stand against its own partymen. Shockingly six candidates of Indian Union of Muslim League (IUML), four of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), one of BSP remained absent from Nagpur. From rural area one candidate of Shiv Sena Shinde from Bhiwapur and one candidate of Congress from Kamptee did not vote. The reason of Shinde Sena candidate could not be known. But Kamptee candidate has gone to Gujarat so he could not exercise the franchise.