Nagpur: In a closely fought election that underscored shifting equations within the legal fraternity, Prakash Jaiswal secured a second term as president of the District Bar Association (DBA), defeating former secretary Nitin Deshmukh by a narrow margin of 74 votes. Anil Gulhane was elected secretary with a commanding lead, consolidating his position in a multi-cornered contest.Jaiswal polled 1,218 votes against Deshmukh’s 1,144, while Manoj Sable received 324 votes. Other candidates, including Nayak, Tarun Parmar and Sunil Lacharwar, trailed significantly. In the secretary race, Gulhane secured 1,091 votes, ahead of Amit Band (684), Ashish Shende (549), Ashish Kataria (295) and Nitin Rude (193).The result marks a milestone in DBA’s history, with Jaiswal becoming the first to be elected president twice — an outcome widely seen as a reflection of sustained support among members. Observers anticipated that crossing the 1,200-vote mark in the presidential race and 1,000 in the secretary contest would prove decisive, a projection borne out by the final tally.Jaiswal’s return follows an earlier tenure in 2015 and a defeat in the 2023 election. Overcoming that setback, he staged a comeback in what many described as a high-intensity contest. Moments after the result was announced, he broke down, visibly overwhelmed.Jaiswal said, “Lawyers have elected me to raise their voice. I will remain committed to their concerns, ensure seating facilities for young practitioners, and work towards better amenities for women while fulfilling all promises.”Gulhane, who won the secretary post by a margin of 407 votes, said, “I will justify the trust reposed in me and work continuously over the next three years to deliver on every commitment.”The victory celebrations, however, were marred by a medical emergency. A lawyer, Vilas Raut, collapsed after suffering a heart attack while dancing in the procession of the winning candidates. He was admitted to a private hospital and remains in critical condition. Jaiswal later visited the hospital upon learning of the incident.
