Congress Ends Zero-Win Streak as Abhijeet Vanjari Wins Nagpur Graduates' Seat

Vanjari's win is also being seen as a signal for the BJP to review its political position in Nagpur and the Vidarbha region.

Who Is Abhijeet Vanjari?

Abhijeet Vanjari has won the Nagpur Graduates' constituency for the second consecutive time. He had previously won the seat in 2020.

A lawyer by profession, Vanjari began his political career through student politics. From 1998 to 2002, he served as the General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh National Students' Union of India (NSUI). Following this, he was entrusted with the responsibility of Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress.

Vanjari's Political Legacy and Education

Abhijeet Vanjari comes from a political family. His father, Govindrao Marotrao Vanjari, was elected as an MLA from the South Nagpur Assembly constituency twice.

Following in his father's footsteps, Abhijeet Vanjari also chose a career in politics.

He completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. He has also served as a member of the university's Senate and Management Council.

How Abhijeet Vanjari Won and Ended Congress's Zero-Win Tag

The election results were determined through a preference-based counting process, as no candidate could secure the required quota of 75,438 votes in the first two rounds of first-preference counting.

According to the election process, a second-preference elimination round was conducted.

Out of the 165,906 votes counted in the first two rounds of first-preference counting, 15,032 votes were declared invalid, while 150,874 votes were declared valid.

Even during the second-preference elimination round, no candidate could reach the required quota. Consequently, after combining the first- and second-preference elimination rounds, Abhijeet Vanjari was declared the winner after securing the highest number of votes, with 67,231.

BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale received 63,960 votes, making him Vanjari's closest rival.

The Indian National Congress candidate won the Nagpur Division Legislative Council Graduates' election with a total of 67,231 first- and second-preference votes.

Vanjari's victory has ended the Congress party's zero-win tag in the Legislative Council elections, while the BJP's defeat in Nagpur has brought its political position in the region into focus.