Sun Nov 24 11:02:51 UTC 2024: **Congress Wins Nanded By-Election in Close Contest**
MUMBAI, INDIA – The Congress party secured a narrow victory in the Nanded Lok Sabha by-election in Maharashtra, defeating the BJP by a mere 1,457 votes. Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan, son of the late Congress MP Vasantrao Chavan, won the seat, which fell vacant following his father’s death in June.
While BJP candidate Santukrao Hambardhe initially held a significant lead of approximately 35,000 votes, the Congress staged a remarkable comeback in the final rounds of counting. The final tally saw Chavan garner 586,788 votes compared to Hambardhe’s 585,331.
The by-election result came amidst the announcement of results for Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, along with several other state assembly and two Lok Sabha by-elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing BJP workers in Delhi, prematurely claimed victory for the BJP in Nanded, stating that it would increase the party’s Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra to 10. This claim was made before the final results were announced, reflecting the BJP’s substantial initial lead.
Vasantrao Chavan, who had won the Nanded seat in the 2024 general election by over 59,000 votes, had a long and distinguished career in local and state politics before his parliamentary win. His death from a kidney ailment just two months after his election victory prompted the by-election. The close contest underscores the fluctuating political landscape in the region. The Nanded Lok Sabha constituency has a rich history, with the Congress holding the seat for significant periods since its inception in 1952.
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