Pande emerges as top contender in Bar Council polls

Nagpur: Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (BCMG) election count has now entered its decisive phase, with attention shifting to declaration of crucial first-preference ‘quota' that will determine initial batch of winning candidates in one of the country's largest polls for advocates.Parijat Pande from the city has not only maintained an early lead in the district but has also emerged as one of the top contenders statewide, according to preliminary trends. Sources said Pande was currently placed second across Maharashtra and Goa in the tally of first-preference votes as district-wise segregation of ballot papers neared completion. In Nagpur district alone, Pande secured 1,185 first-preference votes, ahead of Anil Gowardipe, who received 1,027 votes. Asif Qureshi polled 506 votes, while Uma Bhattad secured 359 votes. Sandeep Nandeshwar received 322 votes, and Kshitija Wadatkar-Wankhede polled 131 votes. Election officials said 4,309 valid ballot papers from Nagpur district were accepted for counting. The BCMG election follows a preferential voting system in which advocates cast ranked preferences for candidates. The decisive "quota" for direct election through first-preference votes is calculated by adding one to total number of valid votes and dividing it by 26, representing 25 seats plus one additional count factor under the electoral formula.Experts estimated winning quota could range between 3,240-3,250 votes. Any candidate crossing/reaching that figure via first-preference votes would secure direct election in initial round itself.