Fadnavis Rides Royal Enfield in Nagpur's Final Election Rally
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis kicked off the final day of campaigning for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections with a vibrant roadshow on Tuesday. He rode a Royal Enfield motorcycle through the city streets, drawing massive crowds of enthusiastic supporters.
Roadshow Creates Frenzied Atmosphere
The bike rally began around 12:15 PM and generated tremendous excitement across Nagpur. Supporters cheered loudly, waved party flags, and shouted slogans as the procession moved through key city landmarks. The roadshow covered important locations including Bharat Mata Chowk, Teen Nal Chowk, Shaheed Chowk, and Gandhi Statue.
It also passed through Tanga Stand Chowk, Pandit Bachharaj Chowk, Mahal Chowk, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue at Mahal. Various state leaders joined the event as the BJP intensified its voter outreach efforts ahead of Thursday's polling.
Campaign Initiatives and Final Push
Fadnavis has focused his campaign firmly on Nagpur in recent days, connecting with voters through programmes like Tarri Poha with Devabhau. Earlier, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari interacted with citizens under the Chana Poha with Nitinji initiative.
Tuesday marked the last opportunity for candidates and parties to reach voters directly. The 48-hour campaign silence period began after 5:30 PM, prohibiting any further electioneering activities.
Election Machinery Fully Prepared
Municipal Commissioner and Chief Election Officer Abhijeet Chaudhari confirmed the city's election machinery stands fully prepared for polling. Voting will occur from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Thursday, with counting scheduled to begin at 10 AM on January 16.
Results are expected from around 12:30 PM that same day. A total of 993 candidates are contesting for 151 corporator seats across 38 NMC wards.
Intense Campaigning Across Parties
Since January 3, Nagpur witnessed intense electioneering with public meetings, rallies, and padyatras dominating the political landscape. Political heavyweights from multiple parties actively campaigned across different wards.
The BJP led the campaign calendar with senior leaders addressing numerous public gatherings. Congress countered with rallies featuring prominent figures including Vijay Wadettiwar, Nana Patole, Vikas Thakre, and MLC Abhijeet Wanjari.
NCP leader Praful Patel addressed meetings in select wards, while AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, and independent candidates also conducted vigorous campaigns. All parties held mohalla meetings over the past ten days, with both BJP and Congress claiming significant public support.
Strict Enforcement and Security Measures
Authorities maintained strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct throughout the campaign period. Election officials seized nearly Rs 42 lakh worth of cash, liquor, and narcotics in attempts to influence voters.
Surveillance teams also confiscated weapons from suspected violations. Polling will be conducted at 3,004 stations across the city, with webcasting arranged at 255 booths to ensure transparency.
Voting Arrangements and Information
Unlike recent Assembly elections, doorstep voting will not be available for senior citizens above 85 years or bedridden voters this time. Citizens can locate their polling stations through the NMC website using the Voter Path section.
Voters need to enter their name, EPIC number, or ward details to find their designated polling booth. The election department has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure smooth voting on Thursday.
