Maharashtra Council Polls: MVA’s Fate Hinges on Uddhav Thackeray and Congress Unity
Mahayuti likely to win 8 Maharashtra Council seats; MVA’s one seat depends on Thackeray, Congress.
The Mahayuti alliance is set to secure a commanding victory in the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, with the Election Commission expected to announce polls for nine seats shortly. Based on current numbers, the alliance, with a surplus of 235 votes, is likely to win eight seats, comprising five for the BJP, two for Shiv Sena, and one for the NCP.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, with 46 MLAs across Shiv Sena (UBT) 20, Congress 16, and NCP (SP) 10, could potentially elect one candidate if there is no cross-voting or defection. A candidate requires 29 first-preference votes to secure victory in the Council elections. Political observers are closely watching whether Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will seek another term in the Upper House.
The elections have become necessary as nine members of the state council are set to retire on May 13. The Congress has staked a claim over one seat, with Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar asserting that MVA partners should leave the seat for Congress in recognition of the party’s support for Sharad Pawar during the Rajya Sabha elections.
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Historically, members of the Thackeray family have largely refrained from contesting direct elections. Uddhav Thackeray’s entry into the Legislative Council in May 2020 came after he was appointed Chief Minister in 2019 without holding a legislative seat, in line with constitutional requirements to join the legislature within six months. His current term is due to expire alongside other council members’ terms in May, fueling speculation about his next political move.
Following Eknath Shinde’s rebellion and his resignation as Chief Minister, Thackeray had initially indicated his intention to resign from the Council. However, he opted to remain in the Upper House despite limited attendance, citing the remaining four years of his term. Recently, he participated in discussions on the condolence motion for Ajit Pawar during the ongoing Budget Session.
Observers note that Thackeray’s re-election depends on the unity of the MVA, particularly the 16 Congress MLAs and 10 NCP (SP) MLAs. While the Shiv Sena (UBT) advocates for Thackeray’s candidacy, the Shinde-led faction may field additional candidates to complicate his path. Given the secret ballot system and 19 surplus MVA votes, political strategizing will play a critical role. Thackeray’s final decision is expected to shape the MVA’s approach ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
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