BJP decides to contest on four seats in MLC polls

The ball is in court of MVA if wants unopposed polls

Mumbai: Ending days of anxiety and bitter acrimony the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday announced the biennial election programme for the nine vacant posts in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) Elected by the members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLAs), EMLA constituency. The election to fill the nine vacancies will be held on May 21, filling of nomination will commence from Monday, May 4. To queering the pitch somewhat, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to contest four seats and left it on ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to decide on whether it wants to contest the election or make the elections unopposed.

According to ECI programme, the last date to file the nomination is May 11. Nomination forms will be scrutinised on May 12, candidates can withdraw their nomination till May 14 and if needed, the poll will be held on May 21 between 9 am to 4 pm.

The members of Lower House are the voters in this election and they will have to elect 9 members for the Upper House. The BJP is the largest party having 105 members in Lower House, following Shiv Sena which has 56 MLAs. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has 54 members whereas the Congress has 44 members in the Lower House. Apart from these, there are 13 independent MLAs and remaining are from small parties.

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Devendra Fadnavis, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lower House said that the BJP will field four candidates. “Based on numbers we have in Lower House and backing of some independent MLAs, we are very confident to succeed our four candidates,” said Fadnavis. When asked if there is any possibility of polls will be held unopposed, Fadnavis said that this decision has to be taken by the ruling parties. 

In a reply to another question, Fadnavis said that till this moment, no probable names of candidates have been finalised by the party. 

Jayant Patil, state president of NCP and Balasaheb Thorat, state president of Congress did not answer the calls.

At the TheNews21, in our earlier report we had foretold that BJP can gain four seats and Maha Vikas Aghadi comprises of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in combine can gain five seats if the election will be held unopposed. In MVA, the Sena and NCP will bag two seats each and Congress may bag one seat. 

However, if there were to be a contest, there are prospects of ‘horse-trading’ and the MVA would find it difficult in getting its sixth candidate elected. 

Meanwhile, due to this election programme, the way to elect as MLC by the MLAs for Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has opened. 

Probable Candidates

The NCP may repeat Kiran Pawaskar for the second consecutive term. Pawaskar hails from Mumbai, having trade union which has hold in major stake in five star hotels. NCP’s former Mumbai city president Sachin Ahir had joined Shiv Sena before the assembly polls. Ahir too is trade union leader. Hence, for NCP, Pawaskar would be a good substitute to Ahir in Mumbai who may help the party to extend its strength in the state capital. NCP may also repeat the party’s treasurer Hemant Takle. Takle is a close confidante of party supremo Sharad Pawar. Najib Mulla from Mumbra is another strong contender from NCP. Mulla is close confident of Housing minister Jitendra Ahwad.

Shiv Sena may repeat recently retired deputy chairperson Dr Nilam Gorhe. She would be the second candidate of the party whereas the first preferential votes will be asked to cast in favour of Uddhav Thackeray.  

For BJP, it would be tough call to decide about the candidates of the party. The party may consider Prof Ram Shinde, the descendent of Rani Ahilyabai Holkar family and hails from Dhangar community. He was defeated by Pawar’s grandnephew Rohit Pawar. Pankaja Munde and Harshavardhan Patil might be named in the probable candidates. Munde was upset over her setback in assembly polls. Harshavardhan might be an asset for BJP to counter deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in Pune district. Hence, Patil would be a strong contender from BJP. For Khadse family, it is highly unpredictable to comment upon. BJP might not consider any name from Khadse family for MLC post.