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Mahayuti Rebels Withdraw, Anil Sole Remains in Nagpur MLC Race
Some candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance have stopped running in Maharashtra’s council elections.
Mangesh Chivte withdrew from the Pune Teachers race after party leaders told him to.
Pratap Mane also left the Pune Graduates race after alliance leaders asked him to avoid confusion.
Mane said he was not promised anything specific for withdrawing.
BJP leader Anil Sole is still running as an independent in the Nagpur Graduates race.
He was not selected as the BJP’s candidate.
The Nagpur contest also includes Congress’s Abhijeet Wanjari and BJP’s Sudhakar Kohale.
Voting for five constituencies is planned for October 23.
The votes will be counted on October 27.
Mahayuti rebel candidates Mangesh Chivte and Pratap alias Bhaiyya Mane withdrew their nominations after party leaders’ requests.
Chivte withdrew from the Pune Teachers constituency, where the BJP has nominated Kaustubh Gawde; former MLA Dattatray Sawant is also contesting.
Mane withdrew from the Pune Graduates constituency after discussions with alliance leaders, saying he received no specific assurances in return.
BJP leader Anil Sole, denied the party ticket, remains an independent candidate in the Nagpur Graduates constituency.
Voting in five Maharashtra Legislative Council constituencies is scheduled for October 23, with counting on October 27.
- Who
- Mahayuti rebel candidates Mangesh Chivte and Pratap alias Bhaiyya Mane withdrew; BJP leader Anil Sole remains an independent candidate.
- What
- Candidates withdrew nominations in two constituencies, while Sole stayed in the Nagpur Graduates race.
- Where
- Five Maharashtra Legislative Council constituencies: Pune Graduates, Nagpur Graduates, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates, Pune Teachers and Amravati Teachers.
- When
- The final day to withdraw nominations was Friday; polling is scheduled for October 23 and counting for October 27, 2026.
- Why
- Chivte followed party directives, while Mane said alliance leaders asked him to withdraw to avoid confusion within the alliance.
Alliance leaders’ position
Candidates’ positions
Withdrawing nominations
Alliance leaders’ position
Mahayuti leaders sought withdrawals to avoid confusion within the alliance; Chivte was also directed by senior party leaders to withdraw.
Candidates’ positions
Chivte said he was following party directives, while Mane said he accepted the alliance leaders’ request and received no specific assurances.
Anil Sole’s candidacy
Alliance leaders’ position
The BJP nominated Sudhakar Kohale in the Nagpur Graduates constituency.
Candidates’ positions
Sole, who was denied the BJP ticket, chose to contest as an independent and did not withdraw.
Key facts
- Election
- Maharashtra Legislative Council elections
- Constituencies
- Pune Graduates, Nagpur Graduates, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Graduates, Pune Teachers and Amravati Teachers
- Polling date
- October 23, 2026
- Counting date
- October 27, 2026
- Pune Teachers withdrawal
- Shiv Sena leader Mangesh Chivte withdrew after directions from senior party leaders
- Pune Graduates withdrawal
- NCP leader Pratap alias Bhaiyya Mane withdrew after discussions with Mahayuti leaders
- Nagpur Graduates independent
- BJP leader Anil Sole remained in the race as an independent candidate
Quotes
Mangesh Chivte
Shiv Sena leader who withdrew his nomination in the Pune Teachers constituency.
“I spoke to everyone. I spoke to the state president, the state general secretary and the organisation minister. I spoke to everyone, who did I not speak to? I had informed everyone, and everyone knew my position that I was going to contest the election…”
freepressjournal.in
“This is not a retreat, but simply a withdrawal of my nomination in accordance with the party's directives. I am not a senior leader who can comment on the decisions taken by my seniors.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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