“The party stands with those who work hard,” says CM as Congress readies Abhijit Wanjarri for re-election
With a year still left for the Nagpur Graduates’ Constituency Legislative Council election, political activity in both the BJP and Congress has already gained momentum. While the Congress has almost confirmed sitting MLC Abhijit Wanjarri as its candidate, the suspense around the BJP’s nominee appears to be lifting — thanks to a clear hint from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Speaking on the sidelines of an internal review, Fadnavis said that the party “stands firmly behind those who connect with people and work on the ground,” a remark widely seen as an endorsement of former MLA Sudhakar Kohale. Kohale currently leads the voter registration drive for the constituency and is said to be working tirelessly to mobilize graduates across Nagpur.
The Nagpur Graduates’ Constituency has long been regarded as a BJP stronghold, producing leaders such as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. However, in 2020, the party suffered a rare defeat when Congress candidate Adv. Abhijit Wanjarri wrested the seat, breaking the BJP’s decades-long dominance. Determined to reclaim the bastion, the BJP began preparations a year in advance.
In a strategic move, the party also appointed Sudhir Dive, a close confidant of Gadkari, as co-incharge of voter coordination to boost registration numbers. Both Kohale and Dive were seen as potential contenders, but Fadnavis’s statement — made while Kohale sat beside him — has sent a strong signal within party circles about who the likely candidate will be.
With registration drives intensifying and the BJP sharpening its organisational machinery, the 2026 graduates’ poll is already shaping up to be an early political battle to reclaim lost ground.
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