“Simply yesterday, Jayant Patil (senior MLA from Sharad Pawar-led NCP) and Shashikant Shinde (state president of the social gathering) requested for Uddhavji’s (Uddhav Thackeray’s) time on the difficulty,” Sule mentioned, including that she had additionally personally requested Anil Desai and Sanjay Raut, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP, respectively, from the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

“I personally requested them to assist us ship Pawarsaheb to the Rajya Sabha. Our MLAs yesterday additionally met all Congress leaders about it and if wanted, I can even meet the Congress management in Delhi,” Sule mentioned, including her 85-year-old father has six a long time of political expertise and social gathering leaders assume he ought to take the work ahead.

Polls to 37 Rajya Sabha seats throughout the nation might be held on 16 March. Of those, seven seats are from Maharashtra. Seven incumbent Rajya Sabha MPs from Maharashtra will end their phrases in April 2026. Aside from Pawar, these embrace Fauziya Khan from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Priyanka Chaturvedi from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, Rajani Patil from the Congress, Ramdas Athavale from the Republican Social gathering of India (RPI), and Bhagwat Karad and Dhairyasheel Patil and from the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP).

All eyes had been on Sharad Pawar, the chief architect of the MVA. Prior to now, he had on a couple of events expressed his intent to retire from lively politics, however by no means adopted via. Nonetheless, his doable candidature has pushed MVA events to demand the seat for themselves much more strongly.

The MVA tug of conflict

Not one of the three MVA events have the numbers to get a candidate elected on their very own power. The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has 20 seats, the Congress has 16 and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has 10. Pooling their power collectively, the MVA can comfortably get just one Rajya Sabha MP elected.

On the day Sule mentioned her social gathering will attempt to construct consensus throughout the MVA for Sharad Pawar’s candidature, Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray reiterated his social gathering’s declare to the lone Rajya Sabha seat that MVA can nominate for, calling it a “logical, political and technical declare” and one which’s primarily based on fact and precept.

In a veiled remark, he additionally hinted that the political stand of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP was totally different from that of the MVA.

“For those who take a look at the MVA now, the issues that we’re elevating our voice in opposition to embrace the Adanikaran of Mumbai, Maharashtra and Dharavi, the assaults on the Indian Structure. The struggle that we and the Congress are preventing is obvious,” Thackeray junior mentioned.

“Our two Rajya Sabha MPs as a part of the INDIA bloc in Parliament—I don’t find out about anybody else, some stroll out, some (assist) Adani—however our two MPs are firmly with the Congress. I don’t know who’s with the India bloc proper now within the nation, however Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) retains giving a struggle,” he added.

The Worli MLA mentioned the MVA has all the time adopted the precept of home power for energy sharing, and going by the present power in the home, the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has probably the most seats than the others within the MVA. So, all 20 of its MLAs need their candidate to go to the Rajya Sabha, he mentioned.

He additionally added that this wasn’t private, and on a subjective foundation he has numerous respect for Sharad Pawar.

“Now the one query is, who has the utmost seats, and who has the loudest voice within the Rajya Sabha? That’s us,” Thackeray mentioned.

“I’m not speaking about my private opinion. I’m giving the opinion of the social gathering. As a person, in fact I’ve respect (for Sharad Pawar),” he added.

On Monday, Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal had additionally strongly claimed that the Rajya Sabha seat was in its kitty, saying it is crucial for the Congress to extend its power within the higher home of Parliament.

He instructed that the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena might get Uddhav re-elected as MLC in Maharashtra’s higher home, whereas the Rajya Sabha seat needs to be left for the Congress.

Thackeray’s time period as MLC expires in Might 2026.

“The Congress has its Chief of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge within the Rajya Sabha. Total we must always take a look at this election from the viewpoint of how we will greatest counter the BJP,” Sapkal had mentioned.

Congress leaders additionally say they’re cautious of the Rajya Sabha seat going to the Sharad Pawar-led NCP with speak of a merger with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

The numbers recreation 

As per the ballot programme introduced by the Election Fee, the final date to file nominations is 5 March, whereas candidates can withdraw their nominations until 9 March. The votes might be counted from 5 pm on 16 March, after polling ends.

Roughly, each candidate will want not less than 37 votes to win. Within the 2024 meeting polls, the BJP gained 132 seats, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena gained 57, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP acquired 41 on the ruling Mahayuti’s facet. On the MVA’s facet, the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena acquired 20, the Congress acquired 16 and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP acquired 10.

Whereas not one of the three MVA events have the numbers to get a candidate elected on their very own power, so far as the Mahayuti is worried, the BJP with 132 seats within the meeting (at present 131 with the loss of life of MLA Shivaji Kardile) can get 3-4 Rajya Sabha MPs elected, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena can get one elected with its 57 seats and have about 20 surplus votes remaining, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP can get one elected with 41 seats (at present 40 with Ajit Pawar’s loss of life), and have three surplus votes.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

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Additionally learn: Inside preventing noticed Mahayuti & MVA type unlikely ties in some seats. How they fared in Maharashtra

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