After protracted negotiations within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) party, the coalition has decided to re-nominate Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar for the only Rajya Sabha seat he is expected to win.
The ruling Mahayoti alliance will contest the remaining six Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra. The BJP has nominated candidates for four seats, while the NCP has nominated Jai Pawar, the son of party president Sunetra Pawar, for one seat. The Shiv Sena did not announce its candidate until late Wednesday night.
Seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra will go to the polls on March 16, with March 5 being the deadline for filing nominations.
The ruling and opposition coalitions decided to compete for seats commensurate with their strength in the state legislature, where the seats of the Revolutionary Socialists would be elected. Since the government and the opposition decided to field seven candidates for an equal number of seats, it is expected that all of them will be elected by acclamation.
MVA deliberations
While the Mahayoti electors decided to choose their seats amicably, each of the three MVA electors contested their lone seat. While the Congress Party (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) reiterated their demands, the Congress asked the SP to clarify its stand on the proposed merger with the NCP, before it decides to support its ally.
The Sena (UBT) and the Congress finally agreed to support Sharad Pawar as the candidate, but only after much discussion.
Although the Sena (UBT) initially supported Pawar’s candidacy, he later said he wanted to contest the seat. Party leader Aaditya Thackeray said this depends on the rotation system set by the MVA and its strength in the Assembly.
However, after the top leadership meeting of the two parties on Tuesday night, the Sena (UBT) offered conditional support to Pawar’s candidature.
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) working president Supriya Sule and party leader Jayant Patel told Uddhav Thackeray that the party has no intention of merging with the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.
The Sena (UBT) also sought assurances that the MVA would support its claim to a Rajya Sabha seat during the upcoming elections and a seat in the Legislative Council.
The announcement was made by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, who along with other party leaders met Sule and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad on Wednesday evening. “We have decided to support Pawar Sahib and will vote for him in the polls,” Sapkal announced during a joint media interaction with Sule.
If elected, this will be Pawar’s third term in the Senate. As Pawar is recovering from a stint in hospital, he may not be able to file his nomination in person. “We are checking options online even though he has been discharged from the hospital and will soon return to his normal routine,” Sule said.
Mahayoti candidates
On the other hand, the BJP succeeded in achieving communal and regional balance in the four candidates it selected for the Rajya Sabha elections. The party nominated its national general secretary Vinod Tawde, Union Minister Ramdas Athavale, former Nagpur mayor Maya Evennati and former legislator Ramrao Wadkot.
Tawadi is from the Maratha community, Wadkot is an OBC leader, Athavale is a Dalit and prominent leader of the Scheduled Caste, and Evenit represents the Scheduled Tribes. “The four names were selected from a list of more than 20 names submitted by the state BJP. Evenit and Wadkot were unexpected choices but were chosen by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis,” a BJP leader said.
The Shiv Sena is expected to nominate former MP Rahul Shewal for the seat it is contesting, while the NCP has announced Jai Pawar, son of party chief Sunetra Pawar, as its candidate for the seat it is contesting.
“Under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are always committed to serving the interests of the nation. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state President Ravindra Chavan for the nomination,” Vinod Tawde said in a post on X.
Ramdas Athavale said, “I have been implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda across the country. RPI(A) has a presence across the country and our next target is to get national party status.”
Wadkute said, “I did not seek the seat, but I firmly believe in CM Fadnavis’s leadership. The party has proven that it stands firmly with the OBC community.”
