The Maharashtra Legislative Council will witness elections for the five seats that fell vacant following assembly elections. And lobbying for nominations has started in earnest from within the BJP as well as by smaller allies, Muslims and independents, who have extended support to the party. Sources, however, claimed BJP would mostly opt to nominate party members.
How many seats have fallen vacant?
Three seats that have fallen vacant are that of Prithviraj Chavan, Vinod Tawde and Ashish Shelar, who were elected to the assembly. The other two seats are that of MLC Vinayak Mete of Shiv Sangram Party, who had left NCP and fought assembly polls with BJP support (he, however, lost from Beed) and Shiv Sena MLC Vinayak Raut, who was elected to the Lok Sabha.
Is BJP ready to give seats to others?
“Considering their silence, BJP seems reluctant to part with MLC seats. The party may nominate its own men who hadn't been given seats during assembly polls,” said a source.
Indicating that the party had a very tricky time ahead, a senior BJP leader said the central leadership might have a plan in place, or else it would be difficult for the party to navigate, especially before passing muster on the floor of the house.
Who all are eyeing MLC seats?
“As MLC elections are nearing, independents too have begun lobbying hard. Though the effort to consolidate the support of all independents has not yielded much success, a few of them hope to bag MLC seats for themselves. Same is the case with smaller allies, who had extended support when Sena went its way. Almost all the smaller parties – Mete of Shiv Sangram Party, Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, Mahadeo Jankar-led Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Ramdas Athavale of RPI – have an eye on MLC seats. All the smaller allies are eying ministerial berths too,” said a source.
What about Muslim leaders?
There is also another issue. BJP had projected itself as a secular party during the elections, which had prompted many Muslims to embrace the party. But now with the party having no Muslim representation in the assembly, Muslim leaders in the party too have been evincing interest in getting MLC seats.
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