Rajya Sabha Election 2024: Ajit Pawar-Led NCP Names Praful Patel As Candidate

Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will field senior leader Praful Patel as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election.

File photo of NCP leader Praful Patel with party chief Ajit Pawar ( Image Source :PTI )

The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has put forward senior leader Praful Patel as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election, according to an announcement made by the party's Maharashtra unit chief Sunil Tatkare, news agency PTI reported. Patel, a former Union minister, sided with Ajit Pawar when the latter split the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party last year.

The biennial Rajya Sabha elections for 56 seats, including six in Maharashtra, are scheduled for February 27. However, concerns arise due to the technical recognition of Shiv Sena and NCP as single entities in the House despite their internal splits.

Notably, the Maharashtra assembly secretariat has reached out to the Election Commission of India (ECI). This action comes as the rival factions of Shiv Sena and NCP are yet to be recognised as separate entities within the House. "The electoral college for the Rajya Sabha polls is the 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly," officials stated, as per PTI's report.

"While the Election Commission of India (ECI) has addressed petitions regarding the name and symbol of Shiv Sena and NCP, their factions are not acknowledged within the assembly," officials explained.

According to Anant Kalse, former principal secretary of Vidhan Bhavan, "A vote cast by undivided Shiv Sena MLA Suhas Kande was disqualified as he had shown it to some other representatives during the Rajya Sabha polls held in June 2022."

The state legislature has sought directives from the EC to navigate potential confusion, especially if more than six candidates contest in the elections.

"The rules stipulate that each party can appoint its representative, and an MLA must show the ballot paper and vote to that representative," Kalse added.

Shiv Sena, NCP Split

The split within Shiv Sena occurred in June 2022 following disagreements with party leadership, while NCP faced division in July last year after Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs joined the state government led by Eknath Shinde.

"If all the parties agree and field only six candidates, the election will proceed unopposed without confusion. However, if more candidates are in the fray, EC's clear directives will be necessary," officials stated.