Akshay Kardile of the BJP won the Rahuri Assembly bypoll in Maharashtra Monday by a margin of 27,386 votes against his nearest rival, Govind Mokate of the NCP (SP). Kardile maintained his lead from the first round, including ballot votes. By the end of the 27th and last round, Kardile secured 1,39,0212 votes, while Mokate got 1,11,826 votes.

The contest featured seven candidates, including a nominee from the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), who managed approximately 5,000 votes by the 19th round.

The bypoll was necessitated by the passing of veteran BJP MLA Shivaji Kardile last year. The BJP fielded his son Akshay Kardile to retain the seat. The Rahuri constituency, located in Ahilyanagar district, has long been a stronghold for the Kardile family.

Akshay Kardile, who is set to be sworn in as an MLA for the first time, said, “This election was fought by the common people. It was an expression of the public’s affection for the late Shivaji Kardile. For 30 years, he made a home in every family’s heart. While he is no longer with us, the voters have placed that same trust in me.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had initially appealed to the Opposition to follow Maharashtra’s political tradition of allowing an unopposed election following the death of a sitting legislator. When the Opposition declined, the BJP deployed its full organisational machinery.

The path was further cleared for Kardile when former minister Prajakt Tanpure, a potential heavyweight contender, was persuaded by the BJP leadership to stay out of the fray.

District Guardian Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap campaigned extensively for him. Jagtap is Akshay Kardile’s brother-in-law and holds substantial influence across the city and rural pockets of Ahilyanagar. Party insiders said that Kardile maintained a positive campaign tone, refraining from criticising opponents and focusing instead on preserving his father’s legacy.

The Rahuri constituency is spread across the Rahuri, Nagar, and Pathardi talukas. A party leader said that the 39 villages in Pathardi included in this segment have a traditionally pro-BJP, Hindutva-leaning electorate that appears to have consolidated behind Kardile.