Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that NCP has 84 votes to get both of its party candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said that NCP has 84 votes to get both of its party candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha.
Elections to six seats of the Rajya Sabha from the state will be held on March 30. The 288-member legislative assembly is the electoral college for the elections.
Talking to reporters, Pawar said, his party had 62 MLAs, along with nine independents, two of Jan Surajya Party, two from Bahujan Vikas Agadhi, one each of Rashtriya Samaj Party and Swabhimani Party and seven independents affiliated to the Congress.
Party's senior leadership will take a decision on about whether support from the MNS should be taken on not, he added.
The NCP has fielded party general secretary DP Tripathi, Pune NCP chief Vandana Chavan and MLC Prakash Binsale for the biennial Rajya Sabha election from the state.
Pawar said two independents, who signed the nomination form of independent candidate Sanjay Kakade, contacted him and declared their support to the NCP.
When asked about the proposed statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian sea, Pawar said chief minister Prithviraj Chavan's statement on the issue was final and he did not wish to comment further.
Former BJP MLA Amarsinh Pandit entered the NCP in the presence of Pawar. Pandit, who represented Gevrai assembly constituency in Beed district, said that he was joining the NCP for the development of Gevrai.
Without naming senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde, he said, he was upset with certain leaders in BJP.
There are six vacancies from the state in the Rajya Sabha as the sitting members term expires on April 2. The elections are scheduled to be held on March 30.
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