Amidst disagreements within Maharashtra's opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over contesting the sole winnable Rajya Sabha seat, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut clarified his earlier statement regarding Sharad Pawar having another stint in the Upper House.
Shiv Sena (UBT) maintains that they should be allowed to contest the winnable seat, as they are the largest constituent of the MVA in terms of MLAs. Clarifying his earlier remarks about Sharad Pawar, the Rajya Sabha MP said he had merely stated that the senior NCP leader had expressed a desire regarding the Rajya Sabha berth.
FULL REPORT | Sanjay Raut asserts MVA’s winnable Rajya Sabha seat should be given to Shiv Sena-UBT
"I said that as a senior leader, Sharad Pawar has expressed his wish. He is a senior leader of the MVA. We will sit together and make a collective decision. But it must first be accepted that as the largest party, Shiv Sena (UBT) has the primary claim," he said, pointing out that the NCP (SP) chief has not officially declared his candidature from his party so far.
The MVA leadership was competent to take an appropriate decision, he said, adding that people should not feel undue "tension or pressure" over the evolving political situation in Maharashtra.
Referring to Aaditya Thackeray's assertion that one candidate each from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP) could be elected, Raut said the former minister was well-versed in legislative affairs.
"Aaditya Thackeray understands politics and legislative functioning. Last time, Sharad Pawar and Priyanka Chaturvedi were elected. At that time, the situation was different, and we were all together with higher numbers. Aaditya Thackeray will not make an incorrect statement," he said.
The members who are retiring include Sharad Pawar, Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP), Ramdas Athawale, Dhairyasheel Patil, and Bhagwat Karad (BJP), Rajani Patil (Congress), and Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena-UBT).
The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the NCP, has 232 MLAs and can potentially win six seats.
The new members of the Rajya Sabha will be elected by the MLAs of Maharashtra. The ruling Mahayuti has 235 MLAs while the Opposition has the remaining 52, with the MVA having 46. These numbers make it clear that the Mahayuti will win six seats, as the minimum required votes for winning in the RS elections is 37 first-preference votes.
Of the six seats for the Mahayuti, four will belong to the BJP, while one seat each will go to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Sunetra Ajit Pawar-led NCP. It remains to be seen whether the NCP will nominate the late Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, as its candidate or whether he will occupy the RS seat which will be vacated by his mother and Deputy CM, Sunetra Pawar.