Graduates constituency polls: Counting today Principal Correspondent : Nagpur division registered 64.38% voter turnout The counting for Nagpur Graduates Constituency polls will be held on Thursday. The team under the leadership of Dr Sanjeev Kumar Divisional Commissioner and Election Officer is all set for the counting of votes. The counting will begin at 8 am at Mankapur Sports Complex. The voting percentage of Nagpur Graduates Constituency election was 64.38. This was the first big electoral process in Maharashtra conducted amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Dr Sanjeev Kumar said “As per the final voting percetage the Nagpur division registered 64.38% voter turnout. Out of 206454 voters registered for the polls 132923 exercised their right to franchise. For counting of votes all preparations are made at Mankapur Sports Complex. Total 28 tables are kept ready at the counting venue and 12 rounds are likely to be held to reach the final outcome.” Dr Sanjeev Kumar along with his team visited the Mankapur Sports Complex and inspected the preparedness. All those on counting duty were asked to remain present at the venue. A mock drill was performed. During the mock drill all the employees were given ballot-boxes all the dummy ballot papers were prepared and kept on the table. Every single part of the process to be held on Thursday was conducted which was closely watched by Dr Sanjeev Kumar himself. He gave some instructions and suggested some minor changes so that the actual counting process be conducted in a proper and transparent manner. The staff was instructed that they should not allow people without entry pass to enter the counting cell. The staff was also asked not to indulge in any political discussion and refrain from expressing any opinion. All the covid-19 norms are to be followed at the counting venue. Sanitizer will be kept at every table plus while entering the complex every single individual including the representative of candidate has to use it. Those present at the venue were asked to wear mask. The administration has made all preparations as per the Covid-19 norms. On December 1 polling was done at 322 poling centres in the division. The total voting registered in Nagpur division was 132923. This year 19 candidates were in the fray and their fate would be clear by Thursday evening. The candidates were Sandip Diwakar Joshi of BJP and Adv Abhijit Govindrao Wanjari of Congress Rajendrakumar Chaudhari (Republican Party of India (Khobragade) Engineer Rahul Wankhede (Wanchit Bahujan Aaghadi) Adv Sunita Patil (Indian National Manavadhikar Party) Atulkumar Khobragade (Independent) Amit Meshram (Independent) Prashant Dekate (BSP) Nitin Ronghe (Independent) Nitesh Karale (Independent) Dr Prakash Ramteke (Independent) Ajay alias Baban Taywade (Independent) Adv Mohd Shakir Abdul Gaffar (Independent) Rajendra Bhutada CA; Dr Vinod Raut (Independent) Adv Virendra Kumar Jaiswal Sharad Jivtode (Independent) Prof Sangita Badhe (Independent) Engineer Sanjay Nasre (Independent). Joshi Wanjari thank voters Though there were 19 candidates in the fray for Nagpur Graduates Constituency polls according to political pundits the close fight is between Sandip Diwakar Joshi of BJP and allies and Adv Abhijit Govindrao Wanjari of MVA. After a month-long rigorous campaign both candidates spent their day on Wednesday in a peaceful manner. At the same time they both made contact with their voters office-bearers of Party those who accompanied them in the campaign. Sandip Joshi said he woke up a bit late at around 8.30 am and went to his farm house with 4 close family friends. He spent the day there without any discussion about the election. Of course he did make contact with the partys Members of Parliament MLAs MLCs corporators office-bearers other workers and thanked them for their support throughout the campaign. Adv Abhijit Wanjari said he woke up at around 11 am and stayed home with his family members. During his stay at home he made phone calls to the voters his colleagues those who were with him during the campaign and thanked them all. According to Adv Wanjari after excluding invalid votes out of 1.30 lakh votes the quota would be fixed at 55000 and he would get it in the first preference. Sandip Joshi feels the quota would be around 65000 and he would secure over 70000 votes. Both expressed confidence about their victory.

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