Six candidates from the Mahayuti alliance, including Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, along with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, filed their nominations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The BJP has put forward four candidates, the NCP has fielded Parth Pawar, and the Shiv Sena has nominated Jyoti Waghmare. The polling for the seven vacant seats is scheduled for March 16, with today being the deadline for nominations.
The ruling BJP’s candidates for the Rajya Sabha seats include Vinod Tawde, Ramdas Athawale, Maya Chintaman Ivnate, and Ramrao Wadkute. Vinod Tawde, a former education minister, won the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections and currently serves as the party’s general secretary. Ramrao Wadkute, previously associated with Sharad Pawar, and Maya Chintaman Ivnate, the first Mayor of Nagpur from a tribal background, are also in the fray.
The Shiv Sena’s nominee, Jyoti Waghmare, was selected for the Rajya Sabha elections. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar is set to secure another term in the Rajya Sabha with the support of the Congress. Sharad Pawar, who is recovering from illness, had the necessary formalities completed for his nomination, with his son Parth Pawar also contesting for a seat. Parth Pawar, who faced controversy over a land deal, is vying for a Rajya Sabha position.
