After Uddhav dials PM, Guv tells EC to hold polls

MUMBAI: Adayafterchiefminister Uddhav Thackeray rang up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his intervention to end the impasse in the state over the former’selection to state legislature,anewoptionhasopened up.

Governor Bhagat Singh KoshyarionThursdayrequested theElectionCommissionofIndia to hold elections for nine seats to thestatelegislativeCouncilatthe earliest, with a view to end the politicaluncertaintyinthestate.

Sena leader Sanjay Raut on late Thursday evening said the EC would hold a meeting on the polls on Friday.

A little before these developments,threerulingpartiesinthe state, the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the CongresswrotetotheECseeking electionstotheninecouncilseats thataretobeelectedbymembers of the state Assembly. The impending constitutional crisis inMaharashtramaygetresolved if the EC accepts Koshyari’s and MVA’s request. It also means Koshyari is not keen on Thackeray’s election to the Council as Governor’s nominee.

Thackeraywasnotamember of the state legislature when he tookoathasthechiefministeron November 28. As per the provisions under the Constitution, he wassupposedtogetelectedtothe state legislative Assembly or Councilwithinsixmonths,which is by May 27. If it doesn’thappen, hewillhavetoresign asthechief minister.

ThackerayhadplannedtocontesttheelectiontotheCouncil,as

nine members were retiring on April 24. However the election was postponed by the EC due to theCovid-19outbreak.OnApril9, the state cabinet recommended Governor to nominate Thackeray on the legislativecouncilas two out of 12 seats to the council thatarenominatedbyGovernor were lying vacant. However, Koshyari is avoiding the same since the seats are nominated fromamongtheachieversinart, social service, literature and otherfieldsandhedoesn’twantto