Nagpur graduates' poll: 38 in the fray as Anil Sole stays on as rebel and Girish Vyas quits the BJP

Nagpur: The deadline to withdraw nominations for the Nagpur division graduates' constituency of the Legislative Council ended at 3 pm on Friday, October 9. Sixteen of the 54 nominees withdrew, leaving 38 candidates in the fray. The BJP has fielded former MLA Sudhakar Kohale, but senior party leader Anil Sole has kept the nomination he filed as an independent.

In support of Sole, former BJP MLA Girish Vyas announced to the media at his office in Mahal that he was resigning from the party's primary membership and other posts. Saying there was a lack of communication in the party, he said he was ready to face any action against Sole or himself. Sole's campaign office has opened in Vyas's own office, Loksatta reported.

State BJP president Ravindra Chavan had gone to meet Sole, and Union minister Nitin Gadkari also phoned him, sources said, but Sole stood firm. He told ETV Bharat he was contesting to raise graduates' issues, giving priority to jobs for educated young people, education and skill development.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi faces a rebellion too, with Nitesh Karale staying in the race. Congress's Abhijit Wanjari won the seat in 2020, and although the main contest this time is expected between the sitting MLA Wanjari and the BJP's Kohale, rebels on both sides could split votes, ETV Bharat reported. Those who withdrew include Someshwar Gahane, Alhad Bhandarkar, Shivaji Sonsare and Raman Senad.

Sources: Loksatta; ETV Bharat