Congress wins Nagpur Graduates' seat for 2nd time, MVA takes 3 of 5 MLC seats
Synopsis
Congress has won the Nagpur Division Graduates' MLC seat for the second consecutive time — defeating BJP in the RSS headquarters city by 3,271 votes. With MVA taking 3 of 5 Maharashtra Legislative Council seats despite the ruling MahaYuti's incumbency and resources, the result is a pointed political rebuke in one of Maharashtra's most symbolically charged constituencies.
Key Takeaways
Congress candidate Abhijit Govindrao Wanjarri defeated BJP's Sudhakar Kohle by 3,271 votes in the Nagpur Division Graduates' MLC seat on 29 October 2026 .
This is Congress's second consecutive victory in the seat, in a region regarded as an RSS stronghold .
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won 3 of 5 Maharashtra Legislative Council seats; MahaYuti took 2 .
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal said the result shows the 'Modi-Fadnavis illusionary bubble has burst.' The win opens Congress's account in by-elections across 28 MLC seats in four states — Karnataka , Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , and Maharashtra .
Congress on 29 October 2026 secured a second consecutive victory in the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a region long considered a stronghold of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The party described the result as a 'victory for democracy and the Constitution.'
The Winning Margin
Congress candidate Abhijit Govindrao Wanjarri defeated his BJP rival Sudhakar Kohle by a margin of 3,271 votes after a prolonged counting process. The result underscores Congress's ability to hold ground in Nagpur — home to the RSS headquarters and a city closely associated with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
MVA's Broader Sweep
Across the Maharashtra Legislative Council by-elections held on 29 October, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won three out of five MLC seats, while the BJP-led MahaYuti alliance was limited to two. The results handed the ruling alliance a clear setback despite its incumbency advantage.
What Congress Leaders Said
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal said the 'Modi-Fadnavis illusionary bubble has burst', calling the MVA's performance a 'resounding victory.' In a post on X, Sapkal said, 'In the Nagpur Graduates constituency, Congress MVA candidate Abhijeet Wanjarri has inflicted a crushing defeat on the BJP candidate. In the city of RSS headquarters, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Congress party has defeated the BJP for the second consecutive time.'
Sapkal further noted: 'Out of the 5 seats in the Legislative Council, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has won three seats, delivering a crushing blow to the BJP Mahayuti. Despite having power, money, and all resources, the BJP has suffered a defeat.'
Maharashtra Congress in-charge Sirivella Prasad also welcomed the win, stating that the public's mandate cannot be defeated by 'power or money.' In his X post, Prasad said, 'Maha Vikas Aghadi wins 3 of 5 seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections! Congress candidate Abhijeet Wanjari's victory in Nagpur, the BJP's political stronghold, sends a strong message: People's mandate cannot be defeated by power or money.' He added: 'A victory for democracy, the Constitution, and the people's voice!'
Significance and Broader Context
Nagpur's symbolic weight in Indian politics is considerable — the city is the RSS's ideological nerve centre and a BJP bastion in Maharashtra. A repeat Congress win here carries political messaging that extends well beyond a single upper-house seat. Notably, this result also marks Congress opening its account in the by-elections held simultaneously across 28 Legislative Council seats in four states — Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The MVA's three-seat haul will reinvigorate the opposition alliance ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Nagpur Division Graduates' MLC seat in 2026?
Congress candidate Abhijit Govindrao Wanjarri won the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, defeating BJP's Sudhakar Kohle by a margin of 3,271 votes on 29 October 2026. It is his party's second consecutive victory in the seat.
Why is a Congress win in Nagpur considered significant?
Nagpur is the headquarters of the RSS and is closely associated with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, making it a symbolic BJP stronghold. A repeat Congress victory there carries strong political messaging about opposition resilience in the BJP's ideological heartland.
How did MVA perform overall in the Maharashtra MLC elections?
The Maha Vikas Aghadi won three of the five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats contested, while the BJP-led MahaYuti alliance took two. Opposition leaders called the outcome a 'crushing blow' to the ruling alliance despite its resource and incumbency advantages.
What did Congress leaders say about the victory?
Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal said the result showed the 'Modi-Fadnavis illusionary bubble has burst.' Maharashtra Congress in-charge Sirivella Prasad said the win proved that 'the public's mandate cannot be defeated by power or money,' calling it a victory for democracy and the Constitution.
Which other states held Legislative Council by-elections alongside Maharashtra?
By-elections for 28 Legislative Council seats were held across four states — Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The Nagpur win marked Congress opening its account in this round of multi-state MLC polls.
