Amravati: The Amravati Local Authorities Constituency votes for election to the one seat to Maharashtra Legislative Council, with BJP‘s Pravin Pote-Patil seeking a third term.Pote is banking on Mahayuti’s numerical strength. BJP and its allies collectively have the required votes to ensure his win, making him the front-runner in this 453-voter contest that includes 227 women voters.Congress candidate Harshjeet Deshmukh has been hospitalised and missing in campaign since June 5. With 120 Congress voters now in a quandary over whom to back, the party’s influence in the local bodies seat looks blunted. “At Amravati Municipal Corporation (AMC), we are thinking of staying neutral, but this is not final decision,” said Congress group leader in AMC, Vilas Ingole. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s Dr Nilesh Vishwakarma has sought Congress support to consolidate anti-BJP votes. “I have received no response from Congress yet,” he said on Wednesday.With corporators and municipal council/nagar panchayat members among the electorate, so cross-voting and last-minute negotiations are likely to play a role, said poll analysts.Polling will be held from 8am to 4pm across seven booths: Dharni 43 voters, Achalpur 69, Morshi 81, Daryapur 61, Teosa-Bhatkuli 38, Amravati 95, and Chandur Railway 66. Counting is scheduled for June 22. While Mahayuti’s numbers favor Pote, the final tally will show how many Congress votes hold and whether VBA can make a dent.
