Counting of votes for the elections of Maharashtra Legislative Counci began on Tuesday and continued till late in the night. The last reports that came in suggest that sitting MLC and Shiv Sena candidate from the Mahayuti, Kiran Sarnaik was leading in the Amravati Division Teachers’ Constituency. Sarnaik took a commanding lead at the end of the first round of counting in Amravati. He secured 3,903 first-preference votes, ahead of his nearest rival and rebel Shiv Sena candidate Shrikant Deshpande by 1,694 votes.

 

Counting of 14,000 first preferential votes was done in the first round while counting of 14,000 first preferential votes was underway in the second round. Total of 33,034 votes were cast. None of the candidates are likely to complete the quota for victory in Amravati Division in the counting of first preferential votes and result is likely to be decided over second preferential vote counting. The quota required for victory would be declared after complete counting of first preferential votes.

 

Till reports last came it, Prof Shrikant Deshpande had polled 2,209 votes and Congress’ candidate Aditi Pohare stood fourth with 1,319 votes. In a surprise development, Suresh Devkar, a Shikshak Bharati candidate, was at third position with 1,582 votes. Dattatraya Lahane, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate secured 1,169 votes to occupy fifth position. Kadu of Vidarbha Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh had received 857 votes while Prof Dr Prashant Vighe, backed by NOTA, secured 512 votes. A total of 14,000 votes were counted in the first round, of which 13,705 were declared valid and 295 invalid. Sarnaik maintained his lead from beginning of the first-preference count. Contest between him and Deshpande remains a key focus.