The upcoming Rajya Sabha polls for six seats in Maharashtra, scheduled for April, coincide with the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, promising an engaging political spectacle. The state’s political landscape is divided into two alliances – the BJP-led Maha Yuti (NDA) and the Congress-driven Maha Vikas Aghadi (I.N.D.I.A).
The electoral battleground is set within the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, where the MY-NDA commands a formidable coalition of over 200 MLAs.
The retiring members, Narayan Rane, Prakash Javadekar, and V Muraleedharan (all three from BJP), Kumar Ketkar (Congress), Anil Desai (Shiv Sena), and Vandana Chavan (NCP), were elected to the Rajya Sabha in March-April 2018, under different political circumstances.
At that time, the NDA primarily comprised the BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena, while the opposing side was the Democratic Front (UPA), consisting of the Congress and NCP. While Desai aligns with the Uddhav Thackeray-led group, Chavan associates with the Sharad Pawar-led faction.
Both alliances are playing their cards close to the chest, and the outcome hinges on negotiations within the alliances, influenced by the arithmetic in the Assembly.
In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the BJP leads with 105 members, followed by Shiv Sena (56), NCP (53), Congress (45), Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) (3), Samajwadi Party (2), AIMIM (2), Prahar Janshakti Party (2), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (1), CPI(M) (1), Peasants and Workers Party (1), Swabhimani Paksha (1), Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (1), Jan Surajya Paksha (1), Krantikari Shetkari Paksha (1), and Independents (13).
The BJP is determined not to let the elections pass unopposed. With Milind Deora, a former two-term Mumbai South Lok Sabha MP, resigning from the Congress and joining Shiv Sena, speculation arises about his potential nomination to the Upper House by Eknath Shinde.
Due to the weakened strength of the groups led by Pawar and Thackeray, securing party members’ election solely on their strength proves challenging. The role of the Congress is anticipated to be pivotal. The BJP’s strategy will unfold to determine whether Rane and Javadekar are fielded again, given other aspirants in the party.
