After thorough discussions, the Congress party declared its backing for NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on March 16. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal, along with NCP-SP working president Supriya Sule, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and party legislator Satej Patil, announced this decision at a press conference. The move is crucial as the deadline for nominations is March 5.
Sapkal emphasized that the Congress prioritizes supporting Sharad Pawar, a seasoned leader, in the Rajya Sabha polls over individual party interests. This decision aims to strengthen the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and enhance unity to counter the BJP. Additionally, the Congress expects a reciprocal arrangement for the upcoming Legislative Council elections in April.
Wadettiwar revealed that the Congress High Command has approved Sharad Pawar’s candidacy as the MVA nominee for the Rajya Sabha. The central leadership has directed state Congress leaders to extend full support to Pawar. Initially, the state unit had pushed for contesting the Rajya Sabha seat itself, but the dynamics changed following interactions between NCP leaders and the central leadership in Delhi.
The Congress had earlier expressed its interest in contesting the Rajya Sabha election. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut hinted at supporting Sharad Pawar as the MVA’s Rajya Sabha candidate. However, there has been no official statement from Shiv Sena (UBT) regarding its support. The BJP has nominated candidates for the elections, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance likely to secure six seats with the support of smaller parties and independents.
