Pune: Cooperative Minister Dilip Walse Patil emerged victorious in a nail-biting contest in the Ambegaon Assembly Constituency, defeating Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate Devdatta Jayvantrao Nikam by just 1,523 votes.
This election was marked by dramatic lead changes and tension-filled rounds of vote counting, culminating in a final tally that was decided in the 20th round.
Out of the 222,515 votes cast in the constituency, Walse Patil secured 106,888 votes, while MVA's Nikam received 105,365 votes.
Independent candidate Devdatta Shivajirao Nikam (contesting under the same name) gathered 2,985 votes, and MNS candidate Sunil Indore managed 1,483 votes. The NOTA option accounted for 1,157 votes.
The vote counting, held at the designated center, unfolded with a dramatic shift in leads. Nikam initially led through postal ballots and the first round.
However, Walse Patil took the lead in the second and third rounds. Nikam regained the lead in the fourth round, only for Walse Patil to take control again in the fifth and sixth rounds.
The seventh round saw Nikam temporarily gaining the upper hand, but from the eighth to the 11th rounds, Walse Patil established a steady lead.
In the 10th round, Walse Patil held a comfortable margin of 3,700 votes, which grew to 5,247 by the 11th round. However, Nikam staged a strong comeback from the 12th round onwards, steadily reducing the gap.
By the 17th round, the lead had dwindled to less than 500 votes, creating a tense atmosphere at the counting center. It was only in the final rounds that decisive votes from Babulsar village secured Walse Patil’s victory.
After the announcement of the result, NCP workers celebrated their leader’s victory, while tension was evident among the MVA supporters. Devdatt Nikam approached Election Officer Govind Shinde, alleging irregularities and demanding a recount.
At the counting center, leaders and workers from both sides could be seen tallying numbers and anxiously awaiting updates. The closely fought battle showcased the intense political rivalry in the Ambegaon constituency, making it one of the most gripping contests of the election season.
