The counting of votes for the Rahuri Assembly by-election 2026 began on Monday morning, May 4 at 8 am. According to trends available till 8.30 am, BJP candidate Akshay Kardile is leading in the postal ballot count.
The Rahuri Assembly by-poll had generated significant political discussion across Maharashtra. A major twist emerged on the final day of nomination filing when Prajakt Tanpure decided not to submit his nomination at the last moment. This led to speculation over whether the by-election would be held unopposed.
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However, the election eventually turned into a contest, with a total of seven candidates remaining in the fray. The key contenders include BJP candidate Akshay Kardile, Govind Mokate of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) candidate Santosh Cholke. Four independent candidates are also contesting the election.
The by-election has been viewed as a prestige battle for both the BJP and the NCP-SP. The final result, which will determine whom the voters of Rahuri have chosen, is expected later in the day.