BJP names candidates for Maharashtra Council graduates and teachers seats in Pune and Nagpur

The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced its candidates for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections in the graduates and teachers constituencies. The party gave the details in a press release issued on October 4 from the BJP central office at 6A, Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg, New Delhi.

According to the release, the party's Central Election Committee has approved three names for the 2026 Legislative Council elections in Maharashtra's graduates and teachers constituencies. The release was issued by Tarun Chugh, Rajya Sabha member and in-charge of the national headquarters.

As per the list, Dr Smita Yogesh Jadhav has been fielded from the Pune graduates seat. Sudhakar Vitthalrao Kohle has been given the ticket from the Nagpur graduates seat. Kaustubh Murlidhar Gawande will contest the Pune teachers seat.

The BJP has this time backed candidates with a hold among graduate and teacher voters. Dr Smita Jadhav is said to have a good hold among the educated class and women voters in the Pune graduates seat. Sudhakar Kohle in Nagpur is regarded as an experienced, long-standing leader associated with the organisation.

By fielding Kaustubh Gawande for the Pune teachers seat, the party has tried to win over the teaching community. Only graduate and teacher voters cast votes for these Legislative Council seats. A candidate's educational background and standing in teachers' organisations therefore count for a great deal in these elections.

The BJP has chosen the names under that strategy. This is the first major Legislative Council election since the Mahayuti government came to power in Maharashtra, and the BJP does not want to leave anything to chance. The party will also soon step up its campaign on these seats.