27 October,2026 10:17 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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Counting of votes for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats began on Tuesday, in contests that will test the ruling Mahayuti alliance's ability to manage internal differences and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) efforts to benefit from divisions among its rivals.
A total of 182 candidates are contesting three graduates' and two teachers' constituencies, which together have 10,68,072 registered voters. Polling was held on October 23 across 2,419 polling stations, with an overall turnout of 72.96 per cent, according to officials. The election process is scheduled to conclude by October 31.
In the Nagpur Graduates' constituency, BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohale is challenging sitting Congress MLC Abhijit Wanjari. The BJP is seeking to regain the seat, which it held for decades before Wanjari won it in 2020. BJP leader Anil Sole, who had rebelled after being denied a ticket, withdrew from the contest and extended support to Kohale.
The Pune Graduates' constituency has the largest field, with 47 candidates and 3,88,019 registered voters. BJP nominee Smita Jadhav is contesting against Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar). Independent and rebel candidates have added to the contest, making the outcome significant for both alliances.
The Pune Teachers' constituency has emerged as another test of coordination within the ruling alliance. BJP candidate Kaustubh Gawde is contesting against sitting Congress MLC Jayant Asgaonkar. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is backing independent candidate Sachin Sanap, while former MLC Dattatray Sawant is also in the fray.
In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates' constituency, sitting NCP MLC Satish Chavan is facing NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Pratapsinh Patil, along with other contenders. The constituency has 41 candidates.
In the Amravati Teachers' constituency, sitting MLC Kiran Sarnaik of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is contesting against Congress nominee Aditi Pohare. BJP rebels Sangeeta Shinde, Shekhar Bhoyar and Sumit Pawar are also in the race, while Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Dattatraya Lahane.
Amravati recorded the highest turnout at 92.25 per cent, followed by Pune Teachers' at 85.86 per cent, Nagpur Graduates' at 64.82 per cent, Pune Graduates' at 62.76 per cent and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates' at 59.12 per cent.
The counting process involves preferential voting, meaning transfers of votes may be required if no candidate reaches the prescribed quota on first preferences. The results will determine the five representatives and offer an indication of support for the Mahayuti and MVA among graduates and teachers.
(With inputs from ANI)
