Dr Nitin Raut retains his bastion, beats BJP’s Dr Mane

 

 

 

 

Former Energy Minister of State and senior leader of Indian National Congress (INC) Dr Nitin Raut clinched a comfortable win in Nagpur North constituency on Saturday. It was his second consecutive win as he defeated former MLA Dr Milind Mane of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Dr Raut defeated Dr Mane by a significant margin of 27,922 votes, securing his second consecutive term in the constituency, as per the latest results from the final round of counting. Dr Raut garnered 1,26,859 votes, accounting for 51.02% of the total vote share. His rival, Dr Mane, secured 98,937 votes (39.66%). Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) Manoj Sangole stood a distant third with 12,487 votes (4.98%), while Kirti Deepak Dongare of AIMIM received 3,819 votes (1.52%). Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s (VBA) Murlidhar Kashinath Meshram secured 1,229 votes (0.49%). Meanwhile, 988 voters opted for the None of The Above (NOTA) option, constituting 0.39% of the total votes polled. From the initial rounds of counting held at St Ursula Girls’ High School and Junior College, Civil Lines, Dr Raut maintained a steady lead, leaving no room for doubt about his victory.

 

 

The counting was held under a heavy guard by Nagpur City Police, and commute through the road was halted until the counting was completed. Crowds of party workers, journalists and nearby residents had already gathered around the gates of the counting centre by morning. Congress workers, confident of retaining the seat, were enthusiastic about their leader’s victory even before the rounds progressed. Dr Raut’s victory can be attributed to party’s robust campaign and his strong connect with the electorate. The Former Energy Minister not only retained his stronghold but also regained Congress’s influence in BJP-dominated areas, including parts of Jaripatka and other traditionally BJP-aligned zones. The 2024 results indicate a clear consolidation of support for Congress in the region, with Dr Raut increasing his margin significantly compared to the 2019 elections, where he defeated Dr Mane by 20,694 votes. This year, North Nagpur recorded a notable turnout of 51.58%, showcasing a steady engagement from the constituency’s 2,48,948 registered voters.