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Members of Maharashtra’s ruling coalition, the ‘Mahayuti,’ convened on Tuesday to deliberate on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in the state. Led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, the meeting aimed to finalize candidates for the Upper House as the nomination deadline approaches.
With February 15 set as the last date for filing nominations, the coalition leaders are under pressure to select suitable candidates to represent Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha. Among the contenders are Milind Deora, who recently switched allegiance from the Congress to Shiv Sena under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, and Sameer Bhujbal, the nephew of NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, as per media reports.
The potential candidacy of Sameer Bhujbal holds significance against the backdrop of political turmoil in Maharashtra following the Maratha reservation agitation. As tensions simmer over the Maratha quota issue, the selection of Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew for the Rajya Sabha is perceived as an effort to appease the senior leader, who has expressed discontent over the handling of the Maratha reservation issue.
Chhagan Bhujbal, an influential OBC leader, had previously claimed to have resigned from the State Cabinet in November over the Maratha quota dispute. However, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis clarified that Bhujbal’s resignation had not been accepted, indicating underlying tensions within the coalition.
The Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for February 27 will see Maharashtra, along with several other states, elect representatives to the Upper House. With the tenure of incumbent members, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP President JP Nadda, set to end in April, the elections carry significant implications for the state’s political landscape.
Uttar Pradesh will send the highest number of members, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar, reflecting the diversity of representation in the Upper House. The vacancies also include seats held by nine Union ministers, underscoring the importance of the upcoming elections in shaping the composition of the Rajya Sabha and influencing policy decisions at the national level.
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