Maharashtra Legislative Council Election Underway; Shiv Sena Demands Voting Time Extension Amid Heavy Rains

GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 12th July. The voting process for the Maharashtra Legislative Council Election commenced at 9 am today, with 12 candidates contesting for 11 seats in the Council. The biennial elections, crucially timed just months before the state Assembly polls later this year, will continue until 4 pm. Counting of votes is scheduled to begin promptly at 5 pm.

Amid heavy rains lashing Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) has raised concerns and demanded an extension of the voting hours by an hour to accommodate logistical challenges posed by the inclement weather.

Candidates and Electoral Dynamics:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded five candidates, supported by its allies Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with two candidates each. In contrast, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, comprising the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), has one candidate each, alongside a nominee from the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP). The NCP (Sharad Pawar) has not fielded any candidate but is backing PWP’s Jayant Patil.

Voting Process:
Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), constituting the electoral college of 274 members, have gathered at the Vidhan Bhavan complex in south Mumbai for the polls. Each winning candidate must secure a minimum of 23 first-preference votes from the MLAs.

Political Dynamics:
The Congress has issued a whip to its 37 MLAs, mandating their support for MVA candidates, underscoring the coalition’s unity in the electoral process.

Pre-Election Strategy Meetings:
On the eve of the election, senior leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), including Uddhav Thackeray and Jayant Patil, attended a strategic dinner meeting hosted by Congress Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar. The meeting aimed to solidify opposition strategies amidst the electoral contest.