Congress's Abhijit Wanjari wins Nagpur graduates' constituency again, defeating BJP's Sudhakar Kohle

Congress has finally opened its account in the Legislative Council elections. Congress candidate Abhijit Wanjari won the Nagpur graduates' constituency in impressive fashion, defeating BJP candidate Sudhakar Kohle by a large margin.

The win is being seen as an important political success for Congress. For the BJP, the result may be read as a signal to take stock of its political position in Nagpur and Vidarbha. This is Wanjari's second consecutive victory. He had won from the same constituency in December 2020, and his second win has come in October 2026.

Wanjari is a lawyer by profession and began his career in student politics. He was born on May 10, 1973, in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Politics runs in his family. He belongs to a political family of Nagpur. His late father, Govindrao Maroti Wanjari, was a Congress leader and a two-time MLA from the South Nagpur assembly constituency. Following in his father's footsteps, Abhijit Wanjari also took up politics.

On education, he has completed BA and LLB degrees at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. He has also been a member of the university's Senate and Management Council.

In his political career, he was general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh NSUI from 1998 to 2002. He then took charge as secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress. He also served as general secretary and spokesperson of the Nagpur District Congress Committee. He has also worked as a Congress election observer in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In Maharashtra politics he is seen as a long-standing Congress candidate.

The Nagpur graduates' constituency election is considered particularly important in Maharashtra politics. The region is regarded as an RSS stronghold, and a win there for any other party is a major signal. Graduate voters choose their representative in this constituency, so the election is not limited to the popularity of political parties. It is also seen as a test of their acceptability among the educated class, local issues and the personal image of the candidates.

The contest between the BJP and Congress has been a constant subject of discussion in Maharashtra politics. In such circumstances, winning a Legislative Council seat by defeating a BJP candidate gives Congress an opportunity to strengthen its political base.