Nagpur: Congress candidate and sitting MLC Abhijit Wanjari has taken a narrow lead over BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale in the Nagpur Division Graduate Constituency election, according to the official first-preference vote tally.
As per the official counting sheet, Wanjari secured 28,998 votes, while Kohale received 28,071 votes, giving the Congress candidate a lead of 927 votes.
Independent candidate Nitesh Karale emerged as the third major contender, securing 14,708 first-preference votes.
Official First-Preference Vote Tally
- Abhijit Govindrao Wanjari (Congress): 28,998
- Sudhakar Vitthalrao Kohale (BJP): 28,071
- Nitesh Balkrushnaji Karale (Independent): 14,708
- Sanjay Thul: 1,762
- Mangesh Chhatrapati Wankhede: 642
- Borkar Dhananjay Tulshiram: 612
- Atul Sheela Dinkar Deshmukh: 576
- Sumedh Boudh Gadapayale: 521
The remaining candidates received smaller numbers of first-preference votes.
More Than 7,000 Votes Rejected
The official sheet records a total of 84,003 votes, of which 76,875 were declared valid and 7,128 were rejected.
The high number of rejected votes is a significant feature of the first-round tally. With 38 candidates contesting the election, the validity of ballots and the distribution of preferences remain important factors in determining the final outcome.
Final Winner Yet to Be Determined
Although Wanjari has established a lead of 927 votes over Kohale in the first-preference count, the lead alone does not establish the winner.
The Graduate Constituency election follows a preferential voting system. The prescribed winning quota and the applicable counting procedure will determine whether the result can be declared on first preferences or whether further counting is necessary.
The official first-round sheet provides a clearer picture of the contest, with Wanjari narrowly ahead of Kohale and Karale securing a substantial share of first-preference votes.
Nagpur Today will update the report as the election authorities release further counting details and announce the final result.
Source: Official first-preference vote-counting sheet for the Nagpur Division Graduates’ Constituency election, 2026.
