The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday announced its candidates for three of the five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats going to polls on October 23, naming contestants for the graduates' and teachers' constituencies in Pune and Nagpur.
The BJP's picks
The party fielded Smita Yogesh Jadhav for the Pune Division Graduates' constituency, Sudhakar Vitthalrao Kohle for the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency and Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde for the Pune Division Teachers' constituency. The announcement came a day after the Election Commission's notification, with nominations closing on October 6.
The poll schedule
The Election Commission issued the notification for the biennial elections on September 29. Polling will be held on October 23 and counting on October 27. The last date for filing nominations is October 6, scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 7, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 9. The sitting members on these five seats retire on December 6, 2026.
Around 8.7 lakh voters are enrolled across the five constituencies, and about 2,100 polling booths have been set up for the election.
The alliance picture
Reports said the ruling MahaYuti alliance has split the five seats in a 3:1:1 arrangement — the BJP contesting three seats, the NCP fielding its candidate for the Sambhajinagar Graduates' constituency and the Shiv Sena contesting the Amravati Division Teachers' seat.
The Congress has named Abhijit Wanjari for the Nagpur Graduates' seat, Jayant Dinkar Asgaonkar for the Pune Teachers' seat and Aditi Pohare for the Amravati Teachers' seat, setting up direct contests in at least three of the five constituencies.
The MLC elections, decided by graduates and teachers rather than the general electorate, are seen as a test of organisational strength for both alliances ahead of bigger electoral battles in the state.
Sources:
Maharashtra MLC Polls: BJP Announces Three Candidates for Five Seats – ANI via Dailyhunt
Maharashtra MLC polls: BJP announces candidates – Daijiworld
The BJP's picks
The party fielded Smita Yogesh Jadhav for the Pune Division Graduates' constituency, Sudhakar Vitthalrao Kohle for the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency and Kaustubh Muralidhar Gawde for the Pune Division Teachers' constituency. The announcement came a day after the Election Commission's notification, with nominations closing on October 6.
The poll schedule
The Election Commission issued the notification for the biennial elections on September 29. Polling will be held on October 23 and counting on October 27. The last date for filing nominations is October 6, scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 7, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 9. The sitting members on these five seats retire on December 6, 2026.
Around 8.7 lakh voters are enrolled across the five constituencies, and about 2,100 polling booths have been set up for the election.
The alliance picture
Reports said the ruling MahaYuti alliance has split the five seats in a 3:1:1 arrangement — the BJP contesting three seats, the NCP fielding its candidate for the Sambhajinagar Graduates' constituency and the Shiv Sena contesting the Amravati Division Teachers' seat.
The Congress has named Abhijit Wanjari for the Nagpur Graduates' seat, Jayant Dinkar Asgaonkar for the Pune Teachers' seat and Aditi Pohare for the Amravati Teachers' seat, setting up direct contests in at least three of the five constituencies.
The MLC elections, decided by graduates and teachers rather than the general electorate, are seen as a test of organisational strength for both alliances ahead of bigger electoral battles in the state.
Sources:
Maharashtra MLC Polls: BJP Announces Three Candidates for Five Seats – ANI via Dailyhunt
Maharashtra MLC polls: BJP announces candidates – Daijiworld
