Pune Padvidhar Election Result: NCP (SP)’s Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav Wins Pune Graduates’ Seat, Defeats BJP’s Smita Jadhav
NCP (SP)’s Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav has won the Pune Graduates’ (Padvidhar) MLC seat, defeating BJP’s Smita Jadhav by nearly 10,000 votes.
Photo: Himanshu Rane / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 29th October 2026: Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) has won the Pune Graduates’ (Padvidhar) constituency of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, retaining the seat for the Maha Vikas Aghadi. She defeated the BJP’s Smita Jadhav by nearly 10,000 votes.
Pune Graduates’ result at a glance
- Winner: Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav, NCP (SP), about 1.13 lakh votes
- Runner-up: Smita Jadhav, BJP, about 1.04 lakh votes
- Margin: Nearly 10,000 votes
- Polling date: October 23, 2026
- Area covered: Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur districts
According to ANI, Deshmukh-Jadhav received 1,13,840 votes against Smita Jadhav’s 1,03,912. Other reports put the figures slightly differently, as final numbers depend on the preference-counting rounds.
Why the Pune Padvidhar result was closely watched
“Pune padvidhar election result” was among the fastest-rising searches in Maharashtra this week. The Pune Graduates’ constituency is one of the largest graduate electorates in the state, spread across five districts of the Pune division. It was seen as a direct contest between the MVA and the ruling Mahayuti.
During the campaign, Deshmukh-Jadhav said she had been working in the constituency for about a year and a half, and criticised the BJP for fielding its candidate late. After the result, she said, “We have achieved the quota of 1.13 lakh votes.”
How graduates’ elections are counted
Graduates’ constituency elections use ballot papers and preferential voting. A candidate must reach a set “quota” of votes to win. If no one reaches it on first preferences, the lowest-placed candidates are eliminated and their votes are transferred according to the voters’ next preferences. This is why counting can take a full day or more. Read more in our MLC election explainer.
The bigger picture
The MVA won all three graduates’ seats in this round, while the Mahayuti won both teachers’ seats, including Pune Teachers’. See the full Maharashtra MLC results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Pune padvidhar election 2026?
Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav of NCP (SP) won the Pune Graduates’ constituency.
How many votes did Harshada Deshmukh-Jadhav get?
About 1.13 lakh votes. ANI reported 1,13,840 votes against Smita Jadhav’s 1,03,912.
Which districts are in the Pune Graduates’ constituency?
Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur districts of the Pune division.
