Congress, NCP-SP back Uddhav Thackeray for Maharashtra Council poll

Mumbai, April 23 The Congress and NCP-SP on Thursday announced that they will extend their support to Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray in the biennial election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council slated for May 12.

The announcement came as the Election Commission on Thursday issued the notification for the state Council poll for nine seats. Considering the present strength of the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is set to win five seats, two by the Shiv Sena, and one each by the NCP and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal met Uddhav Thackeray at his residence, ‘Matoshree’. Sapkal said the primary objective was to ensure better communication and coordination among the three constituent parties of the MVA. He said: “Congress should contest the Rajya Sabha election, while Uddhav Thackeray — as the face of the MVA — should contest the Legislative Council poll.”

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also said that the party will support Uddhav Thackeray. “If Uddhav Thackeray accepts the candidacy in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election, it would be most welcome. Otherwise, the three parties should jointly decide who the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate will be. Likewise, clarity is needed right now regarding the upcoming Rajya Sabha seats as well,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule, in a post on X, said: “The Legislative Council election in Maharashtra is about to take place. It is the earnest request of the Nationalist Congress Party Sharadchandra Pawar faction that this election should be contested by none other than former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Uddhavji is a senior and experienced leader in the state. We all firmly believe that the state as well as the House will always benefit from his experience. It is a humble request that Uddhavji give positive consideration to this demand.”

Incidentally, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has not yet opened up its cards. Both Congress and NCP (SP) are expected to make fresh appeals urging Uddhav Thackeray to contest the Council poll not just as the Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee but as the candidate of the MVA.

Historically, members of the Thackeray family refrained from contesting direct elections.

This changed in 2019 when Aaditya Thackeray won the Worli Assembly seat, becoming the first from the family to serve as a public representative. Following the 2019 Assembly elections, the MVA coalition was formed, and Uddhav Thackeray became Chief Minister despite not holding a seat in either House of the legislature.

Under constitutional provisions, Thackeray was required to become a member of the state legislature within six months. Consequently, in May 2020, he was elected unopposed to the Legislative Council. His current term is set to expire on May 13, leading to intense speculation regarding his next move.

Following Eknath Shinde’s rebellion, which led to his resignation as Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray had initially announced his intention to resign from his Legislative Council seat. However, citing the four years remaining in his term at the time, he opted to continue.

Observers note that Thackeray has not been particularly active in the Upper House since the change in government. His attendance has typically been limited to a few appearances per session. Recently, however, he participated in the discussion on the condolence motion for Ajit Pawar during the ongoing Budget Session.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut had previously suggested a formula whereby Sharad Pawar would represent the alliance in the Rajya Sabha and Uddhav Thackeray in the Legislative Council. This arrangement saw Sharad Pawar elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha with Congress support. It is widely believed that Congress support for the MVA’s Council seat remains contingent on Thackeray himself being the candidate.

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