States » WestPosted at: Oct 29 2026 6:51PM


BJP Minister Nitesh Rane says Congress won in Nagpur due to second preference votes

Mumbai, Oct 29 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Ports Development Minister Nitesh Rane said here on Thursday that the Congress won the Nagpur seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election, because of second-preference votes and not because of party leader Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking to media persons here, Rane said, “The Nagpur seat was won by the Congress purely due to second-preference votes for an independent candidate. When first-preference votes were counted, our BJP candidate was ahead”.
Commenting on the celebrations by the Congress after winning the seat, Rane stated that the Congress candidate won purely because of second-preference votes for an independent candidate and not because of Rahul Gandhi.
“They should understand that their candidate did not win because of Rahul Gandhi’s face or their theatrics,” Rane said.
Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjarri won the Maharashtra Legislative Council election from the Nagpur Division Graduates' Constituency, securing a total of 67,231 votes through first- and second-preference voting.
BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale secured 63,960 votes, while Abhijit Wanjarri of the Congress won by a margin of 3,271 votes.
Rane said that steps will be taken to analyse the result and learn lessons.
“Senior leaders, including Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, will sit together and discuss these results. Appropriate steps will be taken wherever necessary,” Rane said.
Rane said that if all constituent parties of the ruling Mahayuti alliance had contested the elections like they did during the assembly elections, the picture of the Legislative Council results would have looked very different.
“Nobody should break the strong bond of the Mahayuti alliance, which we call the bond of Fevicol. If we stay together, we will definitely be able to develop Maharashtra. If we fight together as a grand alliance, it will be beneficial. Therefore, every constituent party should keep this in mind,” Rane said, urging ruling Mahayuti allies to maintain coordination.
Alleging that statements of some leaders in the BJP-led Mahayuti have caused differences among the ruling party alliance, Rane expressed the need to examine such positions. He also raised the question about whether some leaders from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have been making statements favourable to opposition parties.
“Aren’t some people working in the BJP-led Mahayuti to ensure that Uddhav Thackeray and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi can sleep peacefully? Aren’t some people in the Mahayuti playing tricks? It’s time to check this,” Rane said.
Nitesh Rane stated that all Mahayuti ruling alliance parties need to act responsibly so that the opposition does not benefit from internal differences.
UNI BA RSA
Tags: #BJP Minister Nitesh Rane says Congress won in Nagpur due to second preference votes
More News

MSEDCL achieves milestone: 1,000 MWh battery-stored power supplied - A first in India

29 Oct 2026 | 9:55 PM

Mumbai, Oct 29 (UNI) Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has reached a milestone of 1,000 MWh (megawatt-hours) of battery-stored power.

see more..

Maha: Six cops injured in mob attack in Hingoli

29 Oct 2026 | 7:52 PM

Hingoli, Oct 29 (UNI) Six police personnel were injured after a group of nine people allegedly assaulted a team of the Latur Local Crime Branch during a raid to arrest a burglary suspect in Palshi village of Maharashtra’s Hingoli district early today, officials said.

see more..

Congress terms Nagpur MLC win a victory for democracy, Constitution

29 Oct 2026 | 7:39 PM

Nagpur, Oct 29 (UNI)The Congress has described its consecutive victory in the Nagpur Division Graduates’ constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Council as a mandate in favour of democracy, the Constitution and the people’s voice.

see more..

Legislative Council results in Nagpur the beginning of a great transformation in Maharashtra: Harshwardhan Sapkal

29 Oct 2026 | 7:07 PM

Kolhapur/Raigad, Oct 29 (UNI) Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal has termed the Legislative Council election result in the Nagpur graduate constituency as "the beginning of a great transformation in Maharashtra" and a blow to the reputation of Chief Minister Fadnavis and the RSS.

see more..

NCP must review organisational strength after Electoral Setbacks: Saleem Sarang

29 Oct 2026 | 6:57 PM

Mumbai, Oct 29 (UNI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Maharashtra vice-president Saleem Sarang has called for serious introspection within the party following electoral setbacks, emphasising the need to strengthen its organisation, reconnect with grassroots workers and adhere to its ideological commitments.

see more..