Mumbai, March 17 (PTI) — As the date for the bypolls to five seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council draws near, the political landscape in the state is buzzing with announcements. On Monday, both the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, announced their candidates for the upcoming elections, set for March 27.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has also been preparing for the elections, had announced its candidates the previous day, securing three of the available five seats. The Shiv Sena and NCP’s nominations bring a significant political dynamic into the race, although the bypolls are expected to be largely uncontested.

Shiv Sena and NCP's Candidate Nominations

In a strategic move, the Shiv Sena has nominated Chandrakant Raghuvanshi, a prominent party worker from the Nandurbar district, to contest in the upcoming bypolls. Raghuvanshi’s nomination signals the Shiv Sena's intent to strengthen its political footprint in the state.

Meanwhile, the NCP has fielded Sanjay Khodke, whose wife won the 2024 state assembly election. Khodke’s candidacy highlights the NCP’s efforts to maintain political momentum, especially following the successes of his family in the recent elections.

These nominations come after the BJP announced its candidates on Sunday, solidifying their participation in the legislative council bypolls. The BJP’s list includes Sandeep Joshi, a former Nagpur mayor and a close ally of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sanjay Kenekar, a state BJP general secretary, and Dadarao Keche, a former MLA.

Background on the Vacant Seats

The five seats for which bypolls are scheduled became vacant following the victory of sitting members in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The outgoing members include Shiv Sena's Amasha Padavi, Rajesh Witekar of the NCP, and BJP's Pravin Datke, Gopichand Padalkar, and Ramesh Karad, all of whom won assembly elections, leading to the vacancies.

Monday marks the last day to file nominations for the March 27 bypolls, with Tuesday reserved for the scrutiny of candidates' documents. If no additional candidates file nominations, the election will be uncontested. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is March 20.

Unlikely Contested Election

It seems likely that the election will be uncontested, given the current political situation. With only five candidates expected to contest for five available seats, there may be no need for an actual vote. The state legislative council has a total of 78 members, and if no more than five candidates file their nominations, there will be no competition in the race.

The council is made up of members elected by the legislative assembly, local governing bodies, teachers, and graduates. Additionally, the governor nominates members from various fields, including literature, arts, and social service. After the 2024 assembly elections, the legislative council was reduced to 52 members.

The Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, holds 32 seats in the council, while the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), controls 17 seats. The BJP has 19 members, with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP contributing six and seven members, respectively. The MVA's Congress party holds seven seats, while Shiv Sena (UBT) has seven members.

Opposition's Absence in the Bypolls

Notably, opposition parties have refrained from contesting the bypolls, mainly due to the MVA's insufficient numbers in the state assembly. Given their lack of strength in the assembly, opposition leaders have decided against fielding candidates. This further tilts the bypolls toward being uncontested, solidifying the position of the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the legislative council.

A Smooth Path for the Ruling Alliance?

As the deadline for nominations closes, the political tension surrounding the March 27 bypolls seems to be relatively low. With the ruling Mahayuti alliance likely to maintain control over the seats, the focus will now shift to the larger political dynamics in Maharashtra, especially as the next state elections approach. The absence of opposition candidates in these bypolls points to the challenges facing the opposition and reflects the dominance of the ruling alliance in the state’s political scene.