The Badnera constituency, located in Amravati district, is a key battleground in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. This General category seat, part of the Amravati Lok Sabha constituency, holds significant political importance in the region. Badnera’s demographic mix of urban and rural voters adds complexity to the election, making it one of the closely watched contests in the state.

Candidates in the fray

Ravi Rana, an independent candidate, is seeking re-election in Badnera after securing victories in previous Assembly elections. In 2019, Rana defeated Shiv Sena’s Band Priti Sanjay by 15,541 votes (8.38 percent), securing 48.46 percent of the vote share. This year, he faces stiff competition from Sunil Kharate of Shiv Sena (UBT). 

Local issues and voter concerns

Key local issues in Badnera include infrastructure development, agriculture, and employment opportunities. With a significant urban and rural population, voters are also concerned about access to basic amenities and improvements in healthcare and education. The candidates are expected to focus on these pressing issues during their campaigns to gain support from the electorate.

Electorate size and voter turnout

In the 2019 Assembly elections, Badnera had a total of 185,336 valid votes cast, with a voter turnout of 52.5 percent. The constituency is known for its relatively average voter engagement compared to other constituencies in the state, but the 2024 elections are expected to see heightened interest due to the high-profile nature of the contest.

Previous election results

In the 2019 elections, Ravi Rana emerged victorious with 48.46 percent of the vote share, defeating Shiv Sena's Band Priti Sanjay by a margin of 15,541 votes. Rana had previously won the seat in 2014 by defeating Band Sanjay Raosaheb with a margin of 7,419 votes, solidifying his position as a dominant force in Badnera.

Election dates

Badnera will go to the polls today. The results will be announced on November 23, 2024, as the political landscape of this key constituency takes shape. With both Ravi Rana and Sunil Kharate vying for the win, the contest promises to be a closely contested race.