Nagpur: Nagpur East constituency saw a robust start to voting day. By 8am, voter turnout was 8.01%, climbing sharply to 32.35% by 1pm and approximately 55.98% by 6pm. In 2019, the voting percentage was 53.30%. The constituency with 4.18 lakh voters reflects a diverse mix of business professionals and workers, contributing to the spirited political engagement. Polling stations across the constituency witnessed high enthusiasm among voters.
A BJP stronghold since 2009, Nagpur East has consistently recorded high voter participation. Sitting BJP MLA Krishna Khopde, who first claimed the seat in 2009 by defeating Congress veteran Satish Chaturvedi is contesting again this year. He faces competition from independent candidate Abha Pande and NCP(SP) candidate Duneshwar Pethe. All three candidates were active throughout the day, visiting polling booths to observe voter turnout and trends.
In Wathoda, a senior citizen arrived at 6.10am to be among the first to cast his vote. The usually bustling Kalamna market — Central India's largest hub for vegetables and fruits — remained closed as workers, predominantly from Hindi-speaking regions — turned out in significant numbers to vote, forming a vital segment of the 1.10 lakh-strong electorate in the area.
Special arrangements were evident at key polling stations. At KDK College's pink polling booth, an all-woman team facilitated voting, while Uday Vidyalaya in Ambenagar set up a mobile phone storage room to address restrictions on carrying phones inside polling area.
Party workers played a pivotal role in ensuring a smooth process, helping voters locate names on electoral rolls and guiding them to polling stations. At Nagpur Vidyalaya, Road Safety Patrol cadets and ninth-grade students like Vaibhav Wagade and Prashant Dahare contributed by assisting voters.
Nagpur East's vibrant voter participation and efficient management set the tone for a closely watched electoral battle in this key constituency.
Voting Percentage
2024: 55.98%
2019: 53.30%