Bawankule Targets Congress Over 60 Missing Corporators, Claims Mahayuti Will Sweep All 17 MLC Seats Maharashtra revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule launched a pointed critique of the Congress party on Monday, accusing it of failing to account for over 60 missing corporators and councillors from eastern Vidarbha ahead of the local self-governance (MLC) elections scheduled for June 18. Bawankule, representing the Kamptee constituency, dismissed allegations of political disappearances as baseless, stating that the Congress should first locate its own missing officials rather than focus on rivals. "Where Congress corporators have gone has nothing to do with us," he told reporters, responding to reports about the alleged disappearance of a Congress municipal president in the constituency of Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar. The minister expressed confidence in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance’s dominance in Nagpur, asserting that the alliance holds a clear numerical advantage with nearly 600 of the approximately 800 votes available in the city. "The election will be one-sided, and Mahayuti will win all 17 seats," Bawankule claimed. He also hinted at efforts to ensure unopposed elections through discussions with political parties, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce election-related expenditures. "If numbers are already clear, then elections should be unopposed," he said, emphasizing the logistical and financial costs of campaigning, including travel, fuel, and campaign expenses. Bawankule further outlined plans for seat-sharing negotiations within the Mahayuti alliance, stating that consensus had been reached on 99% of the 17 seats, with only one remaining undecided.#nagpur #congress_party #mahayuti_alliance #chandrashekhar_bawankule #modi_narendra
Maharashtra Legislative Council Election Schedule and Political Implications The Election Commission of India has finalized the schedule for the Maharashtra Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) elections, with voting set for June 18 and results declared on June 22. The contest will involve 16 seats, which are currently vacant due to the completion of terms by sitting members. The elections are expected to shape the political landscape of the state, with major parties vying for dominance in key regions. Delays and Criteria for Elections The delay in holding the elections was attributed to the failure of local body elections to meet the 75% criteria for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The Election Commission mandated that local bodies (such as municipal corporations and panchayats) must achieve this threshold to qualify for the Vidhan Parishad elections. However, the 2022 local body elections in Maharashtra did not meet the requirement, leading to the postponement of the Vidhan Parishad polls. This delay has now been resolved, allowing the elections to proceed. Political Landscape and Key Regions The upcoming elections are seen as a critical test for the ruling Mahayuti alliance (consisting of BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ekta Maharashtra) and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), led by the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Key regions such as Pune, Thane, Nasik, Sangli-Satara, and Yavatmal, which have seen significant political shifts in recent local body elections, are expected to be battlegrounds. Mahayuti's Strategy and Ambitions The Mahayuti alliance, led by Devendra Fadnavis, aims to secure a majority in these 16 seats. The BJP, which has already gained control of several municipal corporations in Pune and Solapur, is optimistic about expanding its influence.#maha_vikas_aghadi #election_commission_of_india #mahayuti_alliance #maharashtra_legislative_council #shiv_sena_ubs
Maha Council Polls: Parties Brace For High-Stakes Number Game Elections for nine seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, set for May 12, have triggered intense political activity across the state. The contest is expected to hinge on legislative arithmetic and alliance coordination, with the Election Commission’s announcement accelerating backroom negotiations. Candidate selection has emerged as the first major challenge, as political observers note the surge in aspirants, many of whom missed out on recent Rajya Sabha nominations. The term of nine current members, set to expire on May 13, includes four BJP leaders—Sandip Joshi, Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, Dadarao Keche, and Sanjay Kenekar—whose renomination or replacement could reshape internal party dynamics. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar), holds a combined strength of 228 MLAs. This majority positions the alliance to secure eight of the nine seats, as each candidate requires 28 votes to win. In contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with 46 MLAs, is projected to claim only one seat with certainty. Securing a second would demand an additional 10 votes, a daunting task given the alliance’s current numbers. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, whose term is ending on May 13, is likely to contest, but his party’s influence depends on Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP. Other potential exits include Neelam Gorhe, Shashikant Shinde, Amol Mitkari, and Rajesh Rathod, signaling a broader realignment of the Council’s composition. The BJP’s position is bolstered by its Assembly strength, which could secure up to five seats. However, the party faces internal challenges, as leaders like Joshi and Keche, close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, may face pressure to step down or be replaced.#mahayuti_alliance #maharashtra_legislative_council #shiv_sena_eknath_shinde #ncp_ajit_pawar
Seven Candidates, Including Sharad Pawar, File Nominations for Rajya Sabha Seats in Maharashtra Seven candidates, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, submitted their nominations for Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra on Thursday. This move ensures that six candidates from the ruling Mahayuti alliance—comprising Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, BJP leader Vinod Tawde, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) nominee Pawar—will be elected unopposed. The political landscape in Maharashtra saw intense maneuvering as parties vied for influence ahead of the election. The Election Commission had announced the contest for 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, with seven from Maharashtra. The Mahayuti alliance, with its numerical strength, is expected to secure six seats, while the MVA can claim one. Speculation about additional candidates from the ruling party was tempered by the BJP’s decision to field only four names, a gesture of respect for Pawar if he was nominated as the MVA candidate. The NCP also emphasized that the election would remain unopposed only if Pawar was the MVA nominee, prompting the opposition to rally behind him despite internal tensions. The MVA alliance, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), faced internal strife over the candidature. The Shiv Sena, the largest opposition party in Maharashtra with 20 MLAs, and the NCP, the smallest with 10 legislators, both sought to claim the seat. The winning threshold in Maharashtra is 36 votes, a number the Congress and Shiv Sena could have combined to meet. However, both parties hesitated to endorse Pawar, fearing it would weaken their positions.#maharashtra #rajya_sabha #sharad_pawar #shiv_sena_ubit #mahayuti_alliance
