21,349 graduate voters to cast ballots at 35 centres in Bhandara on Thursday

The administration in Bhandara district has completed all preparations for the Nagpur Division Graduates' constituency election. Voting will be held on Thursday, October 23. Polling will begin at 8 am and continue until 4 pm.

The district has a total of 21,349 graduate voters for the election, including 13,247 men and 8,102 women. A total of 35 polling stations have been set up for them in the district, where they will exercise their franchise.

The administration said special arrangements have been made for voters with disabilities and for senior citizens above 80 years of age. Voters have been urged to bring their identity cards to the polling station and to be sure to vote.

According to Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Vijayalakshmi Bidari, government employees will get special casual leave in addition to the regular holiday. Employees of private establishments, companies and institutions have been given four hours of special leave to vote. The aim is to let working voters take part in the polling as well.

Political activity around the election has picked up. The Congress has fielded Abhijit Wanjari, while the BJP has put up Sudhakar Kohle. Both parties have put full effort into campaigning.

In the previous election, the Congress won the seat from the BJP, and the BJP is now trying to win it back. The seat has historically seen strong BJP influence. Several senior leaders, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, have represented it in the Legislative Council. For this reason, the election has become a matter of prestige for both parties.

To maintain law and order during polling, a dry day has been declared in the district under Section 135(C) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. As per an order of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, country liquor and foreign liquor shops will remain closed on October 23.

As per the schedule, votes will be counted on Tuesday, October 27.