Sanjay Raut backs Uddhav Thackeray’s return to Maharashtra Legislative Council

Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that senior leaders across opposition parties believe it is important that Uddhav Thackeray is reelected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council describing him as a strong voice for the opposition in the state legislature reported news agency PTIThe statement comes amid growing political discussions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA ahead of the upcoming elections to the Legislative Council expected to be held in AprilSena UBT stakes claim for MLC seatRautrsquos remarks suggest that the Shiv Sena UBT has effectively staked its claim to the one seat the opposition alliance is likely to win in the upcoming council pollsThe party had earlier backed Sharad Pawar for the Rajya Sabha seat allocated to the MVA due to coalition dynamics However Sena UBT leaders have now indicated that the alliance should support Uddhav Thackerayrsquos reelection to the Legislative Council reported PTIldquoUddhav Thackeray is a strong voice in the legislature and the council We all wish and all senior opposition leaders desire that it is important that he returns to the legislaturerdquo Raut told reporters in Mumbai reported PTIMVA likely to win only one council seatAccording to Raut the opposition alliance may realistically win one seat in the legislative council elections given its current strength in the state assemblyThe Shiv Sena UBT currently has 20 MLAs making it the largest constituent of the MVA It is followed by the Congress with 16 MLAs and Sharad Pawarled NCP SP with 10 MLAsRaut said that with proper planning the alliance might aim for two seats but one seat is almost certain based on the current vote quotaldquoIf the numbers are planned properly we can win two seats But one seat can surely be wonrdquo he said reported PTICall for unopposed electionRaut also called for the Legislative Council election to be held unopposed suggesting that the ruling alliance should allow the opposition to send at least one representative to the upper houseldquoThe government must first agree that there should be an opposition voice in the councilrdquo he said reported PTIHowever he criticised the ruling BJPled Mahayuti alliance accusing it of indulging in horsetrading during electionsldquoThe government is arrogant and addicted to horsetradingrdquo Raut alleged further claiming that the ruling alliance had access to large sums of money obtained through corruption and hawala reported PTICouncil polls scheduled as nine seats fall vacantElections to nine seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council are expected to take place in April as several members are set to retireThose completing their terms include Uddhav Thackeray four members of the BJP and one member each from Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena NCP Congress and NCP SPDue to the current numerical strength of parties in the assembly the opposition alliance is believed to be in a position to secure only one seat if the election is contestedSena UBT unhappy over Rajya Sabha allocationThe latest push by Sena UBT for a council seat comes amid dissatisfaction within the party over the allocation of the Rajya Sabha seat to Sharad Pawar in the upcoming electionsBased on the MVArsquos numbers in the 288member Maharashtra Assembly the alliance could win only one Rajya Sabha seat which was allotted to Pawarrsquos partyAll seven candidates contesting the Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra are expected to be elected unopposed with the last date for withdrawal of nominations set for March 13Aaditya Thackeray expresses disappointmentEarlier on Saturday Aaditya Thackeray MLA and senior Shiv Sena UBT leader indirectly expressed disappointment over the party not being allowed to field a candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls reported PTIldquoGoing by the number of MLAs we had the maximum strength in the House but the seat was given to the party with the lowest number of MLAsrdquo he said reported PTIThe remarks highlight emerging tensions within the opposition alliance as parties negotiate their positions ahead of the upcoming Legislative Council elections in MaharashtraWith inputs from PTI