Congress Wins Nagpur Graduates Seat, Triggers Political Fallout in Maharashtra MLC Elections

On October 29, 2026, the Maharashtra Legislative Council election for the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency concluded after counting that began on October 27, 2026. Congress candidate Abhijeet Govindrao Wanjari secured 67,231 votes, defeating BJP challenger Sudhakar Kohale who received 63,960 votes – a margin of 3,271 votes. The victory gave the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) three of the five seats contested on October 23, 2026, while the ruling Mahayuti alliance won the remaining two.

Congress opens account in MLC polls as Abhijit Wanjari retains Nagpur seat after nail-biting contest

The biennial MLC polls covered 28 seats across Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka and were conducted using ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines. Nagpur, home to the RSS headquarters and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saw senior BJP leaders campaign for Kohale.

Congress rout in MLC poll, BJP loses Varanasi & Nagpur

• Votes cast (Nagpur Graduates): 67,231 (Congress) vs 63,960 (BJP).

Abhijit Wanjarri is Congress face saver in MLC polls, retains seat in RSS bastion

• Invalid ballots: 15,032 of 1,65,906 first-preference votes.

Maharashtra MLC polls: Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjarri wins Nagpur graduates' constituency with 67,231 votes

• Turnout (all five Maharashtra constituencies): 72.96 % of 10.68 lakh registered voters.

Council polls: Nagpur seat no longer BJP stronghold, it's our bastion, says Congress winner Abhijeet Wanjari

• Seat distribution: MVA – 3 seats; Mahayuti – 2 seats.

The Indian Express

• Shiv Sena leader Anand Paranjpe said there was “a complete lack of co-ordination about seat sharing, from day 1,” accusing the BJP of sidelining allies.

The Hindu

• Congress unit chief Harshwardhan Sapkal declared “the balloon of illusion has burst; hatred has been defeated.”

The Hindu

• Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera challenged Modi to prove confidence in the BJP’s strength by committing to ballot-paper voting in future elections.

'Fadnavis forced to delete tweet': Congress takes swipe at Maharashtra CM after win in Nagpur MLC polls CNN-News18Congress rout in MLC poll, BJP loses Varanasi & Nagpur Zero seats, blame ballot box? Shah joins PM in mocking Congress over MLC results

Shiv Sena’s criticism highlighted internal friction within the Mahayuti alliance. NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto demanded a return to ballot-paper voting, arguing the system exposed the BJP’s weakened position.

The Hindu

• “If Narendra Modi is so confident that EVMs have no bearing on election results, let him prove his confidence in the BJP’s electoral prowess through action, not rhetoric,” — Pawan Khera, Congress Rajya Sabha MP

'Fadnavis forced to delete tweet': Congress takes swipe at Maharashtra CM after win in Nagpur MLC polls

• “The way the BJP put its all into these elections; big leaders of the BJP were in Nagpur. However, voters were with us,” — Abhijeet Wanjari, Congress MLC candidate

BJP Dominates UP And Karnataka In MLC Polls, Opposition Wins 3 In Maharashtra

The Nagpur result marks a symbolic setback for the BJP in a constituency it held for nearly six decades. It reinforces the MVA’s resurgence in Maharashtra and fuels intra-alliance blame-games that may affect seat-sharing negotiations for future elections. The episode also amplified the Congress-led demand for ballot-paper voting, positioning electoral-process reform as a rallying point ahead of the 2027 state assembly polls.

BJP-led NDA wins big in 4-state MLC polls, Congress retains Nagpur, SP stuns in Varanasi

Early counts on October 28, 2026 showed Kohale leading after the second-preference round, creating temporary uncertainty. Final certification by Returning Officer Vijayalakshmi Bidari on October 29, 2026 confirmed Wanjari’s victory. No substantive discrepancies remain regarding the final numbers.

Maharashtra MLC polls: Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjarri wins Nagpur graduates' constituency with 67,231 votes