Election for the post of Deputy Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council will be held on August 5.
Making the announcement, Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar said nominations will have to be submitted to the principal secretary of Legislature till 12 noon tomorrow.
NCP has extended support to Congress for the post as a part of earlier understanding. Congress group leader in the Council Sharad Ranpise is said to be the front-runne. Another name which is being discussed is Manikrao Thakre.
If Ranpise were to be made the Deputy Chairman, the post of group leader could go to former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane, a party source said.
NCP, with its majority in the upper house, earlier held the posts of both Chairman and Deputy Chairman (Ramraje Nimbalkar and Vasant Davkhare, respectively).
In the recently held elections for Council, Davkhare was defeated by Shiv Sena's Ravindra Phatak from Thane local bodies constituency, which necessitated election for the post of Deputy Chairman.
Congress had supported NCP candidates in Council elections, in return for latter's support for Deputy Chairman's post.
