Mumbai: Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls scheduled later this year, the ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is locking horns in another contest. Voting is underway for biennial elections to four seats of the 78-seat state legislative council.
A total of 4.29 lakh people will determine the fate of 55 candidates who are contesting from the Mumbai Graduates, Mumbai Teachers, Nashik Teachers and Konkan Graduates constituencies.
The elections are being held because the terms of the sitting members will end in July. The results will be announced on 1 July.
The MVA alliance, which won 29 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, hopes to capitalise on its victory, while the Mahayuti will aim to come back to form ahead of the assembly elections.
Eight candidates are in the fray in the Mumbai Graduates constituency, 13 in the Konkan Graduates constituency, 13 in the Mumbai Teachers constituency, and 21 in the Nashik Teachers constituency.
In the Mumbai Graduates constituency, the major contest will be between Anil Parab of the Shiv Sena (UBT), former minister of transport and parliamentary affairs, and Kiran Shelar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
In the Konkan Graduates constituency, the major contest will be between MLC Niranjan Davkhare of the BJP and Ramesh Keer of the Congress.
J. M. Abhayankar of the Shiv Sena, and Shivaji Nalawade of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are contesting from the Mumbai Teachers constituency.
Sandeep Gulve of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Vivek Kolhe, an independent nominee, and Kishore Darade of the Shiv Sena will contest from the Nashik Teachers constituency.
In the legislative council, Shiv Sena (undivided) has 11 members, NCP (undivided) 9, Congress 8, and BJP 22. The JD (U), Peasants and Workers Party, and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha have one member each, and four are independents. As many as 21 seats are vacant.
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Rumblings within both MVA, Mahayuti
While legislative assembly members are elected directly by the people, legislative council members are elected by the legislative assembly members and a few other stakeholders, and can also be nominated by the governor.
A third of the members of the legislative council are elected by local bodies, which can be a municipality or other local authorities, one-twelfth are elected by graduates, one-twelfth are elected by teachers, one-third are elected by members of the legislative assembly, and one-sixth of the members are nominated by the governor.
However, there were rumblings within both the MVA and Mahayuti over the seats.
Earlier this month, Nana Patole, president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, was displeased with the Shiv Sena (UBT) for announcing the names of candidates on all four seats without consulting the NCP-SP or Congress. Reportedly, he even called Uddhav Thackeray to discuss this matter.
The problem was subsequently resolved. Thackeray announced that members from his side were pulling out of the Konkan seat, and a Congress member would be the candidate from the MVA.
Meanwhile, the Congress pulled out of Nashik, and a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate was fielded as a candidate from the MVA.
ThePrint reached Thackeray for comment. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
The Mahayuti too faced an internal power tussle. Earlier this month, the BJP announced candidates from three seats — sitting MLCs Niranjan Davkhare from the Konkan Graduates constituency, Kiran Shelar from the Mumbai Graduates constituency and Shivnath Darade from the Mumbai Teachers constituency.
On 24 June, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena fielded party secretary Sanjay More from the Konkan Graduates constituency after the BJP published its list. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), another ally of the Mahayuti, also announced its own candidate: Abhijeet Panse. But, after speaking to the BJP, Shinde and Raj Shrikant Thackeray, president of the MNS, withdrew their respective candidates from the Konkan Graduates constituency.
Despite the fact that the Shiv Sena fielded sitting MLC Kishor Darade as the official Mahayuti candidate from the Nashik Teachers constituency, the NCP (Ajit Pawar), which is also a part of alliance, fielded Mahendra Bhavsar from the seat. The BJP’s Vivek Kolhe is contesting as an independent from this constituency.
In the Mumbai Teachers constituency, Ajit Pawar has announced Shivajirao Nalavade as the NCP candidate. Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded independent candidate Shivnath Darade, and the Shiv Sena is supporting independent nominee Shivaji Shendge.
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Allegations and counter allegations
The problems and promises associated with the legislative council elections are quite similar to those that occurred during the Lok Sabha elections. There is greater emphasis on the problems faced by teachers and graduates, as well as on employment. As major examinations are being cancelled in the country, candidates, especially those from the MVA, are making promises to focus on this issue if they win the elections.
On 22 June, newly elected Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad interacted with graduates in Chembur. There, Gaiwkad said, “After the Lok Sabha elections, the MVA is united for the graduates’ election. All Congress workers at grassroot levels are working very hard. I am sure of Parab’s victory by a record margin.”
Speaking to voters, Parab said he was hopeful to win this time. “You all are graduates and have loved me all these years. So, I want to appeal to you that each of the last five times, Shiv Sena won this seat and even this time, I hope this seat will remain with Shiv Sena only.”
On 22 June, the MVA released a manifesto where Parab called for a vigilance and leak detection unit to prevent question paper leaks ahead of entrance and recruitment exams in the state.
He also introduced a private member’s bill proposing a 50 percent reservation for Marathi-speaking residents in fresh Mumbai housing projects. The bill proposes penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh and/or six months’ jail for developers who do not comply with this.
However, the BJP criticised this bill.
BJP MLA Ashish Shelar questioned the Shiv Sena (UBT) on X, asking what the party did for Marathi people during 25 years in power in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
◆ आघाडीचे सरकार असताना तब्बल 50% प्रिमियम बिल्डरांना माफ केलात, तेव्हा का नाही सांगितले की, मराठी माणसाला 50% घरे राखीव ठेवा?
◆ पत्रा चाळीतील मराठी माणसाच्या घरांमध्ये कट कमिशन खाल्ले, तेव्हा मराठी माणसांची तुम्हाला आठवण झाली नाही का?
◆ 25 वर्षे मुंबई महापालिकेत सत्तेत…
— Adv. Ashish Shelar – ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) June 25, 2024
Meanwhile, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is attacking the Shiv Sena (UBT). On 23 June, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Raju Waghmare told reporters that Abhyankar, the MVA candidate from the Mumbai Teachers constituency, is corrupt, and linked him to the Adarsh Housing Society scandal.
Waghmare alleged that Abhyankar had bought flats in the society meant for the widows of Kargil soldiers at subsidised rates. “When he was education director, Abhyankar reduced the wages of teachers and even stopped private tuitions of teachers,” the party spokesperson said.
On 22 June, Shinde held a meeting of teachers in Jalgaon. The Shiv Sena (UBT) accused Shinde of distributing money there.
Sushma Andhare, deputy leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), wrote on X, “After this meeting, money was distributed to the teachers, staff, principals, directors of every school in the district. Where is the Election Commission”
Denying the allegations, Shamburaje Desai, Shiv Sena leader from Satara, told reporters, “I request Andhare to send that video to the election commission and let an inquiry take place. We have no objection to it. But this is just an excuse which they are preparing for losing the polls.”
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)