Maha LC polls: Spotlight on Independents, small parties as BJP aims to repeat RS success

After being outwitted by the opposition BJP in the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra, the ruling Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is now facing another challenge of getting all its six candidates elected to the state Legislative Council in the June 20 polls, which has once again put the spotlight on Independents and smaller parties.

While the tenure of nine sitting members of the legislative council is coming to an end on July 7, the election for the 10th seat was necessitated following the death of a BJP legislator earlier this year.

A total of 11 candidates are in the fray for the 10 seats up for grabs, with the MVA allies – Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress – each fielding two candidates. The BJP has nominated five candidates.

In the June 10 RS polls for a total of six seats, the BJP led by Devendra Fadnavis clinched all three seats despite the numbers appearing in favour of the MVA on paper.

In a setback to the MVA, BJP’s third nominee Dhananjay Mahadik defeated Sena’s second nominee Sanjay Pawar. The role played by Independents and smaller parties in that election is discussed animatedly in the state political circles.

What makes the next week’s MLC elections more tricky is that MLAs have to cast votes by secret ballot.

Unlike the Rajya Sabha polls, where MLAs were required to show their ballot paper to their respective party’s authorised representative after casting vote, the legislative council elections will be held through a secret ballot, raising apprehensions of cross-voting and keeping the contestants guessing about the stand of Independents and smaller parties.

MLAs form the electoral college for the MLC elections. The strength of the 288-member Maharashtra House is reduced to 285 following the death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, while Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh - are currently in jail and are not allowed to vote.