MLC Election 2026: Uddhav Thackeray Picks Ambadas Danve for Council Polls

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has announced its candidate for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. Former minister and MLA Aaditya Thackeray declared the name of Ambadas Danve as the party’s nominee for the Legislative Council. Danve is scheduled to file his nomination papers tomorrow. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray personally approved and announced Danve’s candidature.

Former Legislative Council member Ambadas Danve has once again been given an opportunity by Uddhav Thackeray to represent the party in the Upper House. Danve served as a member of the Legislative Council from August 2019 to August 2025. He had also held the post of Leader of Opposition in the Council since August 2022. Even after the split in Shiv Sena, Danve continued to remain loyal to Uddhav Thackeray. Names such as Sushma Andhare and Rajan Vichare were also being discussed for the seat, but the party ultimately chose Danve.

Elections will be held for nine seats in the Legislative Council. Considering the current strength of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the opposition, the alliance is expected to comfortably win only one seat. Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction were reportedly keen on Uddhav Thackeray himself contesting the election. However, Thackeray decided against returning to the Legislative Council and instead nominated Danve.

The Congress had maintained that either Uddhav Thackeray should contest the election himself or the seat should be allotted to the Congress party. With Thackeray stepping aside and giving the opportunity to Danve, political attention is now focused on the stand Congress will take in response, reported Maharashtra Times.

A candidate requires 29 votes to win one Legislative Council seat. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction currently has 20 MLAs in the Assembly, while Congress has 16 and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP has 10 MLAs. This takes the combined strength of the Maha Vikas Aghadi to around 46 votes, putting Danve in a strong position for victory. However, if the ruling Mahayuti alliance fields an additional candidate, the contest could become more competitive and may lead to a division of votes.