Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam and Congress leader Bhai Jagtap today filed nomination papers for two seats from Mumbai in the biennial State Legislative Council elections scheduled on December 27.
Both Kadam and Jagtap are among the eight sitting MLCs from the local self-government bodies seats in the Upper House of the State Legislature retiring on January 1, 2016.
They have been renominated again by their respective parties.
With Jagtap being fielded again, the speculation about former chief minister Narayan Rane being the candidate from Congress has been put to rest.
The last date of filing of nomination papers is December 9.
Polling for elections to eight seats of the Legislative Council from the self-government bodies in Maharashtra would be held on December 27.
The term of following Legislative Council members ends on January 1, 2016 - Amrish Patel (Dhule-Nandurbar), Mahadev Mahadik (Kolhapur), Rajendra Mulak (Nagpur) and Bhai Jagtap (Mumbai) - all from Congress.
Two Shiv Sena members - state Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam (Mumbai) and Gopikishan Bajoria (Akola Washim Buldhana) - will also retire on the same day.
NCP's Deepak Salunke (Solapur) and NCP backed Independent Arun Jagtap (Ahmednagar) will also retire on January 1.
The winning quota for two seats from Mumbai is 75.
There are a total of 227 corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) who will elect two MLCs. Shiv Sena has the required numbers to get Kadam re-elected. While Congress will need help from NCP, Samajwadi party. All eyes will be on MNS on whether it supports congress or BJP.
BJP will vie for the second seat and field a candidate against Congress's Jagtap.
