Nagpur graduates' constituency poll: 29 aspirants take 53 nomination forms on day one

Voting for the Nagpur division graduates' constituency will be held on October 23. Aspiring candidates have begun collecting nomination forms. According to the department, 29 aspirants from across the division took a total of 53 forms on the first day of distribution.

As per the schedule, the department issued the election notification on Tuesday and began distributing nomination forms the same day. The last date for filing nominations is October 6. Nomination papers will be scrutinised on October 7. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 9, and candidates can withdraw until that day.

Votes in the Nagpur division graduates' constituency will be counted on October 27, after polling on October 23. The entire election process will be completed before October 31.

The 29 aspirants collecting forms on day one indicates that many candidates could be in the fray this time. The main contest, however, is expected to be between the BJP and the Congress.

There are two alliances in the state, the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the Mahayuti. What role the constituent parties, both factions of the NCP and of the Shiv Sena, will play will become clear soon. The Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP recently showed its readiness to contest by claiming to have registered 5,000 voters. Claims of voter registration are also being made on behalf of the Shiv Sena.

In Maharashtra, the election is being held for three graduates' and two teachers' constituencies.

The previous election for the Nagpur seat was won by Abhijit Wanjari of the Congress. His term ends on December 6. He could be the Congress candidate again this time. The BJP is preparing to win back the seat it lost. Its candidate has not yet been decided.