Abhijit Wanjari Wins Nagpur Graduates’ Constituency, Sudhakar Kohale Concedes Defeat
Maharashtra MLC election 2026: Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari has won the Nagpur Graduates’ Constituency seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election, defeating BJP’s Sudhakar Kohale in a result that dealt a setback to the BJP in Nagpur.
A Straight Contest Between Congress and BJP
Thirty-eight candidates contested the Nagpur seat, but the real fight was between Wanjari, the sitting MLC, and Kohale. The BJP was trying to win back a seat it had held for around six decades before Congress took it in 2020.
During counting, Wanjari moved ahead and kept his lead, and Congress workers began celebrating outside. Kohale has acknowledged his defeat.
Celebrations in Nagpur
Congress supporters gathered and raised slogans against the BJP as the trend became clear. Earlier in the day, Congress and BJP workers had faced off in Nagpur before the result was declared, and police were deployed to keep the peace.
What Wanjari Said
Wanjari described the win as a victory of strategy over strength. He pointed out that this was not a direct vote but a preferential one, which he said worked in his favour. He added that his side’s votes reached him, and that the result reflects support for the issues he raised in the Legislative Council as an MLC.
He also said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) fought as a united alliance. In his view, the rival camp put up a show at polling booths, with many leaders present but few actual graduate voters. He said he had expected to win from the start.
The Bigger Picture: Five Council Seats
The Nagpur contest was one of five seats in this Legislative Council election: three graduates’ constituencies (Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur) and two teachers’ constituencies (Amravati and Pune). A total of 182 candidates were in the fray.
According to the report, the MVA has won three of the five seats and the Mahayuti two, based on results declared so far.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Nagpur Graduates’ Constituency election?
Abhijit Wanjari of the Congress.
Who was the runner-up?
Sudhakar Kohale of the BJP, who has conceded.
How many candidates contested the Nagpur seat?
Thirty-eight.
How many Legislative Council seats were up for election?
Five: three graduates’ and two teachers’ constituencies.
Why is this win significant?
The BJP was trying to reclaim a seat Congress won in 2020, so Wanjari’s re-election keeps it with Congress.
