Pune graduates' poll: Harshada Deshmukh Jadhav expresses confidence of win as counting goes on

A close contest is under way in the Pune Graduates' constituency between Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate Harshada Deshmukh Jadhav and her rival Smita Jadhav. As counting went on at the Balewadi stadium today, Harshada Deshmukh Jadhav expressed confidence of winning.

She said the response from voters and the rise in the turnout pointed to a change. She added that she had understood the graduates' concerns and would focus on important issues such as unemployment and pensions.

She said she was confident of victory because the effort had been honest, but the contest was not easy. The opposing candidate was equally strong, she said. In her view no fight is easy, but one has to give 100 per cent from one's side, and she had done that. Everyone who worked with her, whether office-bearers or leaders, had given their all. She called it a big experience.

Asked why she was confident, she said turnout had risen in this election. Whenever the percentage goes up, there is a transformation, and she was sure there would be one this time as well. Recalling old battles, she said Maharaj had won all his battles through guerrilla tactics, and that his forces were also small against the Mughals. She said she had made a similar effort.

According to her, all the graduates were at the centre of this election. She honestly felt that graduates had many questions, especially on unemployment and the education system, and she had entered the contest making these the main issues.

On the seals of the ballot boxes, she said many boxes had not been sealed properly. It was therefore the job of the candidates' representatives today to object wherever there was ground for it, and representatives of all candidates had raised objections at many places.

In the first round, many slips were found in the ballot boxes. She said one slip said graduates were not getting married because of unemployment, and that the future legislator should raise this question too. Some slips said that if the graduates' work was not done, it would be a sin. Many such slips were seen. Some said all elections should be held on ballot papers, not EVMs, and some raised the question of unemployment. She called these serious slips.

She said that, as far as she could tell, everyone was reading all the slips. Officials were reading them, and all the agents seated opposite were reading them too. She said the future legislator should take up these issues.