BJP Has Advantage in Nagpur MLC Bypoll Nagpur: The bypoll for the Nagpur local authorities constituency of Maharashtra Legislative Council has become a significant internal contest within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with the Mahayuti alliance—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and National Congress Party (NCP)—holding a clear numerical edge. This has placed the opposition in a disadvantaged position even before the nomination process begins. The seat became vacant after Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule resigned from the Legislative Council following his victory in the Kamptee Assembly constituency in the 2024 elections. The Election Commission announced the bypoll schedule on Monday, sparking intense lobbying within the BJP over who will represent the alliance. Among the names circulating within the party are state spokesperson Dr. Rajiv Potdar, corporator Virendra Kukreja, former mayor Anil Sole, and city president Dayashankar Tiwari, according to BJP officials. However, party insiders suggest that the BJP’s history of making last-minute surprises in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council selections has led to speculation that an entirely new candidate could emerge at the final moment. According to BJP sources, the electoral arithmetic strongly favors the ruling alliance. Out of the total 896 voters in the constituency, only 826 are effectively eligible due to vacancies in Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis. The BJP alone commands 520 votes, accounting for nearly 63% of the effective strength. Adding the 30 votes from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and nine members from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, the Mahayuti tally rises to 559 votes. The nomination process will continue until June 1, with BJP leaders indicating that behind-the-scenes negotiations are still ongoing.#nagpur #bjp #chandrashekhar_bawankule #mahayuti #rajiv_potdar
