BJP’s Girish Vyas elected unopposed as MLC, Congress bows out of race

Staff Reporter
Girish Vyas, State Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was elected unopposed to Maharashtra Legislative Council from Nagpur Local Authorities’ Constituency. His elected was declared by the administration, after both the Congress candidates bowed out of the race on Saturday, the last day for withdrawal of nominations.
Initially, there were six candidates in the fray for the seat. These included independent candidates Suresh Paunikar and Nitin Rai, Congress candidates Ashok Singh Chauhan and Sanjay Mahakalkar, and BJP candidates Girish Vyas and Pravin Datke, Mayor. There was supposedly a contest between Girish Vyas and Ashok Singh Chauhan as both were official candidates. However, on Saturday, as all the other candidates withdrew from the fray and only Girish Vyas of BJP remained, he was declared as elected unopposed. Sachin Kurve, District Collector and Election Officer, handed over the certificate of election to Vyas. 

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Surface Transport, greeting Girish Vyas on the latter’s getting elected unopposed to Legislative Council from Nagpur Local Authorities’ Constituency. Prabhakar Yeole, Vicky Kukreja and others.

It was widely believed in the political circles that BJP’s victory from Nagpur was made sure on Friday night after a closed-door meeting of Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister; Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways; Sunil Kedar, Congress MLA from Saoner, and a select group of leaders. Political observers said that Congress decided to bow out of the race from Nagpur, in return for BJP candidate Manoj Kotak withdrawing from the fray from Mumbai seat where Bhai Jagtap of Congress is contesting. It is said that both the parties agreed to this because Congress had inadequate strength in Nagpur, and BJP did not have enough votes to complete quota required for victory from the Mumbai seat.
Soon after Girish Vyas was declared winner, BJP office-bearers and workers launched celebrations. Vyas went to the residence of Gadkari, where the latter greeted him. Banwarilal Purohit, former MP and senior leader of BJP, extended greetings to Vyas and offered him a bouquet. Gadkari offered sweets to Vyas. BJP leaders, office-bearers Prabhakar Yeole, Vicky Kukreja, and a host of workers hailed the clean victory for Vyas as strengthening of the party’s base in the region. Vyas also visited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Headquarters in Mahal, and Smriti Mandir in Reshimbag.
BJP has organised a programme at party office near Tilak Putala in Mahal at 11 am on Sunday to celebrate Vyas’ election as MLC. Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Guardian Minister of Nagpur district, and other senior BJP leaders will be present prominently on the occasion.

Win consolidates BJP’s strength further
With the election of Vyas, the number of BJP legislators from Nagpur city and district has increased to 14.
From Nagpur city, BJP won all six seats of Legislative Assembly in the elections held last year. The legislators representing various constituencies in the city are as follows: Devendra Fadnavis (South-West), who is now Chief Minister; Krishna Khopde (East), Sudhakar Deshmukh (West), Vikas Kumbhare (Central), Sudhakar Kohale (South), and Dr Milind Mane (North). Similarly, BJP won five out of total six seats of Assembly. BJP legislators from these seats include Chandrashekhar Bawankule (Kamptee), who is now Energy Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur; Sudhir Parwe (Umred), D Mallikarjun Reddy (Ramtek), Sameer Meghe (Hingna), and Ashish Deshmukh (Katol).
As far as Legislative Council is concerned, BJP has now got all the three constituencies. Prof Anil Sole got elected from Graduates’ Constituency, Nago Ganar from Teachers’ Constituency, and now Girish Vyas has got elected from Local Authorities’ Constituency. 

(12-12-15)