BJP, Sena to clash again in Maharashtra Legislative Council polls
BJP and Shiv Sena are set to clash again in the biennial elections to the Legislative Council in Maharashtra, after a bitter face-off in Palghar Lok Sabha by-poll. Elections will be held on June 25 for the Mumbai Graduates', Mumbai Teachers', Konkan Graduates' and Nashik Teachers' constituencies for Legislature's Upper House. 71 candidates are in the fray for the four seats. Here's more.
Terms of sitting members will expire on July 7
The terms of sitting members, Deepak Sawant (of Shiv Sena - Mumbai Graduates), Kapil Patil (Lok Bharati party - Mumbai Teachers), Niranjan Davkhare (switched over from NCP to BJP - Konkan Graduates), and Apoorva Hire (independent - Nashik Teachers), are expiring on July 7. Shiv Sena has denied ticket to Deepak Sawant from Mumbai Graduates' constituency which he represented for two consecutive terms.
BJP, Shiv Sena will clash in Konkan, Mumbai Graduates' constituencies
The ruling allies will clash in Konkan and Mumbai Graduates' constituency. BJP's Davkhare will fight against Sena's Sanjay More in Konkan seat. NCP fielded Najeeb Mulla, who has Congress's support. In Mumbai Graduates' constituency, Vilas Potnis of Shiv Sena is pitted against BJP's Amit Mehta. The Congress, NCP lent support to independent Rajendra Korde. Lok Bharati's Jalinder Sarode will also fight from the seat.
Who supports whom in Mumbai and Nashik Teachers' seats?
In Mumbai Teachers' seat, Shiv Sena's Shivaji Shendge will clash with sitting MLC Kapil Patil (Lok Bharati), who has Congress and NCP's support, while BJP is backing independent nominee Anil Deshmukh. In Nashik Teachers' seat, BJP's Aniket Patil is pitted against 23 independents.
BJP is in favor of BJP-Sena alliance, says Keshav Upadhye
When asked about the ruling allies pitted against each other in two of the four Council seats going to polls, BJP spokesman Keshav Upadhye said his party is in favor of an alliance. "If the alliance materializes in future, we will contest together," he added. Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan said Congress had never contested the teachers' and graduates' constituencies but supported independents.
How are the members elected in Maharashtra Legislative Council?
In the 78-member Maharashtra Legislative Council, 31 Members of Legislative Council are elected by the state Assembly members, 21 by local authorities, 12 are nominated by the governor, and seven each (total 14) are elected by graduates and teachers. The constituencies (division wise), seven each for teachers and graduates, are - Mumbai, Pune, Konkan, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nashik, and Amravati.
