Mumbai: MVA will have to unite not only to elect NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to Rajya Sabha (RS) but to also get Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray re-elected to the legislative council. Thackeray’s term ends in May, along with those of eight others. With 20 MLAs, his party alone doesn’t have the strength to get him re-elected.Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said party functionaries have urged Thackeray to seek another term. He said MVA parties will have to help each other out in MLC and RS polls. Political observers, however, expect Mahayuti to sweep the MLC polls, leaving MVA with only one seat. Officials said nine—five from MVA and four from BJP—were elected unopposed to the council in 2020. “This time, Mahayuti has 235 MLAs and MVA 48, including those of CPM. Three MLAs are from other parties and two seats are vacant. If bypolls for the two seats are held before the council election, then all 288 MLAs can get to vote in it,” an official said. RS polls for seven seats are likely to be held before the council election. Numbers suggest MVA will get only one RS seat. “If that seat is given to one party, then another will get a council seat, leaving the third with nothing. So, some formula will have to be worked out,” an observer said.
