Mumbai: BJP has fielded a third candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra. Shivsena has leveled allegations of horse-trading on this decision of BJP. In fact, three BJP candidates, including Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Congress candidate Imran Pratapgarhi and NCP's Praful Patel filed their nominations on Monday for the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on June 10. With this, the stage was set for a close contest for the sixth seat in Maharashtra.
In Maharashtra, 6 Rajya Sabha seats are vacant, in which Congress and NCP have enough numbers to win one seat each, while BJP has enough MLAs to win 2 seats. Shiv Sena has enough numbers to send a candidate to Rajya Sabha. However, it needs 30 more votes from its aides and other independents to ensure the election of its second candidate. Actually, BJP can win two seats on its own. Congress, Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) can win one seat each on their own. Also, the three parties involved in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will have additional votes to win another seat. Shiv Sena is dependent on these votes to win its second seat.
BJP has made the election interesting by fielding its third candidate Dhananjay Mahadik. There are now six Rajya Sabha seats in the state and with Mahadik's candidature, the candidates have increased to seven. Mahadik has been fielded by BJP to reduce the chances of Shiv Sena's second candidate Sanjay Pawar. The same Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, who along with Pawar is a candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat, said that the BJP is trying to indulge in horse-trading. "They are trying to do horse-trading. It was a ploy for them to field their third candidate. Our government is keeping a close watch on this election," Raut said. Congress's Maharashtra unit chief Nana Patole said the figures are in favor of MVA and all its candidates will win.
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