The BJP today announced Prithviraj Deshmukh as its sixth candidate for the state Legislative Council elections on the last day of filing...

The BJP today announced Prithviraj Deshmukh as its sixth candidate for the state Legislative Council elections on the last day of filing of nominations. According to sources, the BJP brought in Deshmukh after Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Minister Mahadeo Jankar filed his nomination papers as a candidate of his Rashtriya Samaj Paksh (RSP), a constituent of the BJP-led state government. Deshmukh is a BJP leader from Sangli in western Maharashtra.

Rashtriya Samaj Paksh

Apart from Jankar, the BJP had announced candidature of Vijay Girkar, Ram Patil Ratolikar, Ramesh Patil and Nilay Naik. The elections to 11 seats became necessary as the sitting MLCs are retiring on July 27. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is July 9. Elections, if needed, will be held on July 16. A BJP leader today said the party had earlier nominated Jankar under its quota of five seats. The monsoon session of the state legislature is currently underway in Nagpur, the second capital of Maharashtra.

Of eleven seats, the BJP can win five seats and Shiv Sena two given their respective numerical strength in the 288-member Legislative Assembly. The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) together have fielded three candidates. The BJP has maximum 122 MLAs in the House, followed by the Shiv Sena (63), Congress (42), NCP (41), PWP (3), Bahujan Vikas Agadhi (3), Independents (7), CPM (1), RSP (1), AIMIM (2), Samajwadi Party (1), MNS (1), BBM (1), and a nominated member from Anglo-Indian community. The Legislative Council has 78 seats.

Shiv Sena

The Shiv Sena has fielded Anil Parab and Manisha Kayande. The Congress nominees are Sharad Ranpise and Wajahat Mirza. The NCP's lone candidate is Baba Jani Durani. The Peasant and Workers Party (PWP) candidate is sitting member in council Jayant Patil. The members of the state assembly exercise the voting to decide the fate of the council members.