Nagpur: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday exercised their franchise in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation polls and appealed to the people to turn out in large numbers to vote in the civic polls, saying widespread participation was key to building better cities.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, Fadnavis said not voting amounts to a dereliction of responsibility. Voting was underway on Thursday for 29 municipal corporations in the State, including Nagpur and Mumbai. “I appeal to everyone to come out and vote to create better cities,” he said.
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13 Jan 2026
Union Minister Gadkari, after casting his vote in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, expressed confidence that the BJP will win with record margins in the civic polls across Maharashtra.
Gadkari and his family members cast their votes at New English School in the Mahal area in the city. He said the people have elected the BJP thrice in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) polls and gave it an opportunity to work for development.
“We have fought this election again on the basis of the work done by us, and we will certainly perform better, as we did in the last elections. We will certainly win with a record-breaking margin,” he said, responding to a query from reporters.
Gadkari appealed to the people to exercise their franchise, noting it is their fundamental right.
To a query on the lower voting percentage in the last NMC elections, Gadkari said it is true that there had been problems with names in the voters’ list. He said the voters’ list should be properly organised to ensure no one is left out of voting, adding that he was confident the Election Commission would take appropriate steps to address the issue.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis slammed the Opposition for casting doubts on institutions like the State Election Commission. “They should write a new script and stop practising what they will speak tomorrow after defeat. Our win is sure in all the 29 corporations,” the senior BJP leader said.
He accused the Congress of the brutal attack on Nagpur’s ward no. 11 BJP candidate Bhushan Shingne on Wednesday night. The Opposition has resorted to attacks as it cannot win the election, he added.
Shingne went to the Gorewada area on Wednesday after he came to know that some anti-social elements were trying to vitiate the atmosphere and distribute money, BJP city chief Dayashankar Tiwari told reporters. But when Shingne reached the spot, he was allegedly attacked by a group of more than 100 persons and suffered injuries, he said. Based on a complaint, a case has been registered against one person and others, who are yet to be identified, a senior police official said.
