Kohale leads by 4,294 votes after second-preference counting; neither candidate has crossed the winning quota of 75,438 votes
Nagpur, October 28, 2026: The Nagpur Division Graduate Constituency election has witnessed a dramatic turnaround after the second round of counting, with BJP candidate Sudhakar Vithalrao Kohale taking the lead over Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari.
According to figures released by the election authorities, Kohale secured 32,853 second-preference votes in the second round, taking his cumulative tally to 60,924. Vanjari received 27,632 votes in the round, bringing his total to 56,630.
Kohale is now ahead by 4,294 votes, reversing the trend from the first round, when Vanjari had held a lead of 927 votes.
Second-Round Results: Top Three Candidates
- Sudhakar Kohale (BJP): 28,071 first-round votes + 32,853 second-round votes = 60,924 total votes
- Abhijit Vanjari: 28,998 first-round votes + 27,632 second-round votes = 56,630 total votes
- Nitesh Karale: 14,708 first-round votes + 9,541 second-round votes = 24,249 total votes
Kohale emerged as the biggest beneficiary in the second round, securing 5,221 more votes than Vanjari in this round alone.
Winning Quota Still Out of Reach
Despite Kohale’s lead, the election remains undecided as neither candidate has reached the prescribed winning quota of 75,438 votes.
The counting figures after the second round are as follows:
- Total votes polled: 1,65,906
- Valid votes: 1,50,874
- Rejected votes: 15,032
- Winning quota: 75,438
Kohale needs another 14,514 votes to reach the quota, while Vanjari requires 18,808 additional votes.
With neither candidate having secured the required quota, further preference-based counting and vote transfers may determine the final outcome.
Other Candidates’ Vote Tally
The cumulative vote counts of other candidates after the second round are:
- Sanjay Thul: 3,091
- Sumedh Gadapayle: 1,096
- Mangesh Wankhede: 1,029
- Atul Deshmukh: 921
- Dhananjay Borkar: 849
Second-Preference Votes Could Prove Decisive
The second-round figures indicate that Kohale has benefited significantly from the redistribution of second-preference votes. Nitesh Karale’s vote transfers appear to have played a role in strengthening Kohale’s position, although the complete preference-wise transfer data would be needed to establish the precise source of his gains.
The contest remains closely fought, with Kohale holding a 4,294-vote advantage but still short of the winning quota. The next stages of counting will be crucial in determining whether he can maintain his lead and secure victory over Vanjari.
The final result is awaited.
