Kartik Lokhande's blog

* Congress candidate Prafull Gudadhe-Patil finishes second, but polls less than half the votes polled by Fadnavis * Barring Fadnavis and Gudadhe, deposit of all other candidates forfeited By Kartik Lokhande  The victory of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief Devendra Fadnavis from South-West Nagpur constituency was a foregone conclusion. The only matter was the lead he secured. On Sunday, Fadnavis proved that he was the most bankable star of BJP, by securing a lead of 58,942 votes over his rival Congress candidate Prafulla Gudadhe-Patil. This was the highest margin of victory in all 12 constituencies of Nagpur district. Fadnavis, who secured lead over Gudadhe right from the first round, polled a total 1,13,918 votes while Gudadhe polled only 54,976 votes, which was less than half of the votes polled by BJP leader. Of total 17 rounds of counting of votes at Kurvey’s New Model School in Shraddhanand Peth area, Gudadhe scored a lead over Fadnavis in ninth round only....

By Kartik Lokhande  Devendra Fadnavis is a mass leader. He got elected as MLA for fourth time. He is Maharashtra chief of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is top contender for the post of Chief Minister. Everyone knows Devendra Fadnavis and these things about him, but not many know about his better half -- Amruta. On Sunday, when Devendra Fadnavis got elected from South-West Nagpur constituency of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly with a thumping margin, Amruta accompanied him right from the airport to the counting centre where he received certificate of his victory. Soon after receiving certificate, Devendra was gheraoed by mediapersons to get his comment on stupendous performance of BJP in State under his leadership. As cameras flashed and mediamen surrounded him, standing in a corner nearby Amruta was watching her husband with pride. BJP stalwart and South-West Nagpur MLA Devendra Fadnavis with his wife Amruta, and BJP leaders during victory rally after his elect...

* Booth-level Officers to distribute voter slips from today * Eight constituencies to have two EVMs at each polling station as number of candidates is above 16 Staff Reporter To increase polling percentage to the expected level of 65 to 70 per cent during Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for October 15, the district administration is taking several measures including voter awareness drive and distribution of voter slips. A special drive for distribution of voter slips is being taken up between October 3 and 10, informed Abhishek Krishna, District Collector and District Election Officer. “Already, we have distributed voter slips to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in all 12 Assembly constituencies in the district. They have been asked to distribute the slips to voters in respective areas till October 10,” said Abhishek Krishna while addressing a press conference here on Thursday evening. All political parties and candidates have been informed in this regard and they a...

Staff Reporter As per the affidavit filed by Devendra Fadnavis, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief and candidate from South-West Nagpur constituency, he and his wife together own assets worth Rs 6,00,85,336. The affidavit stated that assets in his name are worth Rs 3,92,35,336 while those in the name of his wife Amruta, who is Manager with Axis Bank, are valued at Rs 2,08,50,000. Fadnavis has shown Rs 1,00,000 per annum premium as against insurance policy of his daughter Divija. According to office of Fadnavis, there is no increase in assets owned by Fadnavis compared to 2004 and 2009. There is only the rise in the value of assets over the years. Fadnavis’ affidavit shows that his ancestral house in Dharampeth is worrth Rs 1.81 crore and his movable assets including gold, vehicle etc are worth Rs 31,66,000. He has in his name agricultural lands at Kosambi in Mul tehsil of Chandrapur district. Besides, he has share in two ancestral houses, gold, and a vehicle worth...