BJP Announces Candidates for Maharashtra Council Graduate and Teacher Seats

The Bharatiya Janata Party released an official statement on October 4, 2026, confirming its slate of candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections that will be held in 2026. The press release, issued from the party’s central office in New Delhi and signed by MP and national headquarters in‑charge Tarun Chugh, lists three names for the graduate and teacher constituencies.

For the Pune graduate seat, the party has nominated Dr. Smita Yogesh Jadhav, a recognized figure among educated voters and women’s groups. In Nagpur, veteran organizer Sudhakar Vitthalrao Kohle has been given the ticket for the graduate constituency. The Pune teacher seat will be contested by Kaustubh Murli Dhar Gawde, chosen to appeal to the teaching community.

BJP’s strategy focuses on candidates with strong academic backgrounds and ties to teacher organisations, given that only graduate and teacher voters cast ballots in these seats. The announcement marks the first major council election campaign after the formation of the Mahayuti government in the state, and the party is expected to intensify its outreach shortly.