Sharad Pawar To Represent Opposition In Rajya Sabha From Maharashtra

The electoral college for Rajya Sabha polls consists of members of the state legislative assembly. In Maharashtra’s 288-member assembly, the current strength stands at 286 due to two vacancies.

The move resolves uncertainty within the MVA alliance, which had been deliberating over the nomination in recent days.

Source : ANI

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The Opposition bloc in Maharashtra has finalised Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections after the Congress formally declared its support on Wednesday. The announcement brings an end to days of speculation within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, where all three partners-Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT)-had initially laid claim to the lone Rajya Sabha seat the Opposition can realistically win based on its current strength in the state assembly.

Congress Backs Pawar

The decision was confirmed by AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala, who said the Congress leadership had decided to back Pawar, an 85-year-old sitting Rajya Sabha member, as the Opposition candidate from Maharashtra.

The move resolves uncertainty within the MVA alliance, which had been deliberating over the nomination in recent days. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray had earlier said that discussions were still ongoing among the alliance partners regarding the candidate.

The MVA currently consists of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar. Given their numbers in the state legislative assembly, the alliance can secure only one of the seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra that are set to fall vacant next month.

BJP-Led Alliance Fields Candidates

Meanwhile, the ruling BJP has announced four candidates for the biennial Rajya Sabha polls. These include party general secretary Vinod Tawde, Union minister Ramdas Athawale, Nagpur corporator and former mayor Maya Chintaman Ivnate, and former Member of the Legislative Council Ramrao Wadkute.

Nominations for the elections will close on March 5, with voting scheduled to take place on March 16 between 9 am and 4 pm. Counting will begin at 5 pm the same day.

Numbers Favour Ruling Alliance

The electoral college for Rajya Sabha polls consists of members of the state legislative assembly. In Maharashtra’s 288-member assembly, the current strength stands at 286 due to two vacancies.

The quota required for a candidate to win on first preference votes is 36.

At present, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance commands the support of more than 230 MLAs, placing it in a strong position to secure the majority of the seats. Political calculations suggest the ruling alliance could win six of the seven Rajya Sabha seats, while the Opposition MVA bloc is expected to secure one seat, now likely to go to Sharad Pawar.