Maharashtra Legislative Council Elections: A Heated Contest Amidst Political Tensions

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde casts vote in legislative elections. Congress challenges BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad's eligibility due to judiciary custody. Voting is underway for 11 Council seats with 12 candidates contesting. BJP leads with 103 MLAs, followed by other major parties.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde participated in the Legislative Council elections at the Vidhan Sabha on Friday. Earlier, Congress urged election officials to bar BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad from voting due to his judicial custody after a shooting incident.

Congress argued that Gaikwad is in judicial custody and thus ineligible to vote as per Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Gaikwad has been in custody following accusations of shooting at Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde faction leader, Mahesh Gaikwad.

Simultaneously, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Aditya Thackeray arrived at the Assembly. Voting for 11 seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council is ongoing and is expected to conclude by 4 pm on Friday.

Twelve candidates are vying for these seats in elections seen as a precursor to the impending Assembly elections later this year. BJP's candidate Pankaja Munde sought blessings at Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple before the voting commenced.

The BJP has fielded five candidates, with Shiv Sena and NCP supporting two each. BJP’s candidates include Pankaja Munde, Yogesh Tilekar, Parinay Phuke, Amit Gorkhe, and Sadabhau Khot. Shiv Sena nominated Krupal Tumane and Bhawana Gawli, while NCP put forth Rajesh Vitekar and Shivajirao Garje.

The elections are being held for 11 seats as the current MLCs' six-year term concludes on July 27. A quota of 23 MLA votes is needed to elect each MLC.

Currently, the BJP leads with 103 MLAs, followed by Shiv Sena with 38, NCP with 42, Congress with 37, Shiv Sena (UBT) with 15, and NCP (Sharad Pawar) with 10. (ANI)