Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Dr Rajiv Potdar registered a win with a huge margin in the Nagpur Local Authorities Constituency by-election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC), defeating Congress nominee Atul Londhe by 552 votes. The by-poll was necessitated after Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule resigned from the Legislative Council following his election to the Maharashtra Assembly and subsequent induction into the State Cabinet. Dr Potdar secured 682 votes, while Londhe managed 130 votes. Of the 823 votes polled, 812 were declared valid and 11 invalid.

 

The counting of votes commenced at 8 am at the Bachat Bhavan Hall in the Collectorate under the supervision of Election Observer Sanjay Yadav and District Election Officer Kumar Ashirwad. Four counting tables were set up for the exercise. The result was on expected lines as the BJP-led Mahayuti enjoyed a clear numerical advantage among the electorate. However, the margin of victory indicated cross-voting in favour of the BJP, while the Congress failed to retain the support of all Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) members. 

 

The MVA had a combined strength of 213 voters—Congress (174), Shiv Sena (UBT) (20) and NCP (Sharad Pawar) (19). However, Londhe secured only 130 votes, falling short by 83 votes, suggesting substantial cross-voting or abstentions within the opposition camp. On the other hand, Mahayuti’s official strength stood at 538 votes—BJP (500), Shiv Sena (33) and NCP (5). Dr Potdar’s tally of 682 votes was 144 votes more than the alliance’s numerical strength, indicating significant support from outside the ruling coalition. Political observers said it would be difficult to identify the exact source of these additional votes because the election was conducted through a secret ballot. 

 

Election officials said 11 ballots were rejected due to incorrect voting procedures. Some voters marked ‘2’ instead of the mandatory first preference ‘1’, one voter placed a cross mark against a candidate’s name, while a few submitted blank ballot papers without indicating any preference. Such ballots are treated as invalid under election rules. 

 

Polling for the by-election was held on June 18, with 823 of the 836 eligible electors casting their votes, resulting in a voter turnout of 98.44 per cent. Total 13 members abstained from voting, including representatives from the Indian Union Muslim League (6), AIMIM (4), BSP (1), Congress (1) and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) (1). 

 

Bhandara-Gondia: Brahmankar scores comfortable victory n Gondia Correspondent Mahayuti’s official BJP candidate Avinash Bramhankar emerged as the winner for the Maharashtra Legislative Council Bhandara-Gondia Local Authority Constituency elections. Bramhankar defeated his nearest rival Naresh Ishwarkar by comfortable margin of 148 votes. Naresh Ishwarkar was a Congress supported candidate. Of the 457 votes polled Bramhankar got 302 votes as against 154 votes of Ishwarkar. Independent Sachin Kumbhalkar failed to fetch even a single vote. The counting began at 8 am at the Wainganga Hall in the District Collector’s Office, Bhandara, and was conducted in a peaceful and transparent atmosphere.

 

Election Observer Nitin Patil, District Election Officer and District Collector Sawan Kumar were prominently present during the counting. Additional District Collector Rajendra Kumar Jadhav, Resident Deputy District Collector and Assistant Returning Officer Manohar Chavan, Deputy District Collector Vikas Vyawahare (Election), Deputy District Collector J P Londhe, Naib Tehsildar Roshni Dighore along with officers and staff of the Election Department were also present. Out of a total of 457 votes, one vote was found invalid and 456 votes were declared valid. After the counting of votes, the Returning Officer presented the certificate to the winning candidate Avinash Brahmankar. MLC Dr Parinay Fuke, BJP Organising Secretary Virendra Anjankar, District BJP President Ashu Gondhane (Bhandara), Seeta Rahangdale (Gondia) were also present with Bramhankar. Soon after the result was declared , the supporters of Bramhankar started celebrations. MLC Fuke, Anjankar, Gondia Zilla Parishad President Layakram Bhendarkar, Sadak Arjuni Panchayat Smaiti President Chetan Wadgaye, Nitin Kashiwar, Dharmishta Sengar and Sagar Kadam were among the first to greet Bramhankar.

 

Amravati: Pravin Pote records a hattrick of victories 

Amravati Bureau Pravin Pote, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), candidate secured a third consecutive victory in the Amravati Local Authorities Constituency election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council, registering a record breaking win with 390 votes in the first round itself. The result was largely on expected lines amid political uncertainty triggered by the withdrawal of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) rebel Viplav Bajoria, the illness of Congress candidate Harshjeet Deshmukh, and growing dissent within the Congress ranks over his candidature. Pravin Pote polled 390 votes, accounting for 92.63 percent of the 421 valid votes, comfortably crossing the victory quota of 211 votes in the first round itself.

 

Dr Nilesh Vishwakarma of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) secured 31 votes, while Congress candidate Harshjeet Deshmukh failed to secure a single vote, marking one of the party's poorest performances in the constituency’s electoral history. A total of 427 votes were cast in the election, of which six were declared invalid (including five were blank and one with right mark), leaving 421 valid votes for counting. Counting was held on two tables. With this emphatic win, Pravin Pote has not only retained the seat for a third consecutive term but has also reinforced the BJP’s organisational strength and political dominance in the Amravati Local Authorities Constituency.