MUMBAI: With the BJP determined to contest the sixth seat of RS in the state, a Shiv Sena MLA told TOI that the party had asked all its MLAs to reach the hotel on June 8. “Invitation has been extended not only to the MLAs of Shiv Sena but also to all the MLAs. MVA. We will follow the instructions of the party,” the MLA said.
The MVA ministers wanted the BJP to withdraw its candidate so that the election would be held without any competition.
This is the first time in two decades that Rajya Sabha elections are being contested. Maharashtra, Earlier, elections to the Rajya Sabha were usually unopposed. Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs, Congress 44 and NCP 54, out of which two MLAs Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik are in jail.
During the formation of the MVA government in the state in 2019, MLAs from Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena were kept in separate five-star hotels.
A Shiv Sena functionary said, “Since the elections are going to be held on June 10, we have advised all the MLAs of Shiv Sena and its alliance partners to stay together in a hotel in South Mumbai so that there is a common strategy and better coordination.” The BJP may try to play a bad game.”
State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said the MVA representative wanted the BJP to withdraw its third candidate and in return said it would be given a fifth seat in the Legislative Council elections. Patil said this was unacceptable to his party.
Patil said that he has conveyed that BJP is a national party and for this a Rajya Sabha seat is important. “Over the years, it has been the norm to ensure candidates are elected unopposed to avoid cross-voting. The decision on who gets the seat is made on a logical basis. We have 30 surplus votes, whereas All the three parties are put together. Not even beyond 30, so our claim is logical. Also, last time we had three Rajya Sabha candidates from Maharashtra.”
For the sixth seat, it is BJP vs Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena has nominated Sanjay Pawar as its candidate for the sixth seat, while BJP has fielded Dhananjay Mahadik. While BJP can easily ensure victory of two candidates – Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Dr Anil Bonde – Shiv Sena can ensure victory of Sanjay Raut. Patil said he was not in touch with candidates of other parties. “That’s not how we operate,” he said.
The MVA ministers wanted the BJP to withdraw its candidate so that the election would be held without any competition.
This is the first time in two decades that Rajya Sabha elections are being contested. Maharashtra, Earlier, elections to the Rajya Sabha were usually unopposed. Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs, Congress 44 and NCP 54, out of which two MLAs Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik are in jail.
During the formation of the MVA government in the state in 2019, MLAs from Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena were kept in separate five-star hotels.
A Shiv Sena functionary said, “Since the elections are going to be held on June 10, we have advised all the MLAs of Shiv Sena and its alliance partners to stay together in a hotel in South Mumbai so that there is a common strategy and better coordination.” The BJP may try to play a bad game.”
State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said the MVA representative wanted the BJP to withdraw its third candidate and in return said it would be given a fifth seat in the Legislative Council elections. Patil said this was unacceptable to his party.
Patil said that he has conveyed that BJP is a national party and for this a Rajya Sabha seat is important. “Over the years, it has been the norm to ensure candidates are elected unopposed to avoid cross-voting. The decision on who gets the seat is made on a logical basis. We have 30 surplus votes, whereas All the three parties are put together. Not even beyond 30, so our claim is logical. Also, last time we had three Rajya Sabha candidates from Maharashtra.”
For the sixth seat, it is BJP vs Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena has nominated Sanjay Pawar as its candidate for the sixth seat, while BJP has fielded Dhananjay Mahadik. While BJP can easily ensure victory of two candidates – Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Dr Anil Bonde – Shiv Sena can ensure victory of Sanjay Raut. Patil said he was not in touch with candidates of other parties. “That’s not how we operate,” he said.