Four MLCs file nominations for Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman's post

In the council, the NCP has 28 members followed by the Congress (21), BJP (12) and Shiv Sena (7)

With four legislators filing their candidature for the post of chairman of Maharashtra legislative council, election has become inevitable. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)’s Ramraje Nimbalkar, Congress’ Sharad Ranpise and Shiv Sena’s Neelam Gorhe and Shrikant Deshpande have filed their nomination on Thursday.

The election is to be held on Friday after a no-confidence motion moved by the NCP, which was supported by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the then chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh, was passed by 45 votes against 22 on Monday.

Interestingly, the BJP has neither fielded its candidate nor revealed its plans.

Nimbalkar, a close confidant of NCP president Sharad Pawar, had been a minister in the Congress-NCP government, while Ranpise, who comes from Pune, had been a two-term legislator.

Gorhe, who missed the ministerial berth when Shiv Sena joined the BJP-led government in December last year, enjoys blessings of Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray. Official at the Maharashtra Legislature told Business Standard: “Withdrawal of candidature will be possible only on the floor of the House on Friday. As on today (Thrusday) four members have filed their nominations.”

In the 78-member council, the NCP has 28 members followed by the Congress at 21, BJP (12), Shiv Sena (7), five members elected from the teachers’ constituency of which two are supporting Congress and three BJP, Peasants & Workers Party one, Peoples Republican Party one and three independents including one member of Lok Bharati Party.

Though the BJP and Sena are ruling partners in the state, the rift is widening between the two on various issues. Shiv Sena had abstained from voting on Tuesday and today decided to field its nominee for the state council chairman's post.