GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 20th June. Voting for ten seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council began in the state Legislature complex in Mumbai on Monday morning.
The polling process, which began at 9 a.m., will conclude at 4 p.m., with the results announced later in the evening.
For the 10 seats, 11 candidates are contesting, with the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners – Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress – each fielding two candidates.
The state’s opposition BJP has nominated five candidates.
While the terms of nine incumbent members of the Legislative Council expire on July 7, a special election for the 10th seat was called following the death of a BJP legislator earlier this year.
The Legislative Council’s nine retiring members are current Chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar and Sanjay Daund (both NCP), Leader of the Opposition Pravin Darekar, Sujitsinh Thakur, Prasad Lad (all BJP), Maratha leader Vinayak Mete and former minister Sadabhau Khot (both BJP allies), state Industries Minister Subhash Desai and Diwakar Raote (both NCP (both Shiv Sena).
Following the death of BJP MLC R N Singh, the tenth seat became vacant.
Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar and former minister Eknath Khadse, who left the BJP to join the Sharad Pawar-led party, are running for the NCP.
Sachin Ahir and Amshya Padvi, a Shiv Sena functionary from the tribal-dominated Nandurbar district, have been nominated by the Shiv Sena.
The Congress has fielded Mumbai Congress chief Bhai Jagtap and former minister Chandrakant Handore.
Outgoing MLCs Darekar and Lad have been renominated, and Ram Shinde, Uma Khapre, and Shrikant Bharatiya have been given tickets by the BJP.
The electoral college for MLC elections is made up of state legislators.
Following the death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, the effective strength of the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly has been cut to 285 members, while two NCP MLAs, Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh, are currently in jail and are not allowed to vote by the high court.
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