Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray filed his nomination papers for the State Legislative Council elections on Monday. “Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray files his nomination for the elections to State Legislative Council which is scheduled to be held on 21st May,” tweeted the Office of Uddhav Thackeray in Marathi.
Thackeray, who is set to become the Member of Legislative Council unopposed after the Congress withdrew one of its candidates, is the second person from the Thackeray family to contest elections — after his son and Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray who fought the assembly polls in 2019.
Thackeray was accompanied by wife Rashmi, sons Aaditya and Tejas, and other senior leaders from the Maha Vikas Agadi. Thackeray, who is not a member of any of the two houses of the state legislature, submitted his nomination papers as it’s mandatory requirement for CM to be part of the House.
The CM is all set to enter the Legislative Council unopposed after the Congress on Sunday withdrew one of its candidates from the race. At first the Maharashtra Congress was keen in filing two nominations but after request from the Shiv Sena, it withdrew one of his candidates, Raj Kishor Modi, making road clear for Thackeray. This Legislative Council election is important for Thackeray because for continuing as CM he has to become an MLC by 28 May.
Otherwise, he would have to resign. Elections to the nine Legislative Council seats, which fell vacant on 24 April, were earlier withheld due to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, the Election Commission granted permission to hold the elections on 21 May.