Notwithstanding ally NCP's proposal, Congress in Maharashtra is likely to back an additional candidate for the Legislative Council elections, party sources said today.
Election for 10 seats in the upper house of state legislature would be held next month.
NCP has proposed that Congress should contest only one seat, leaving two for NCP. Congress could contest two seats in the next round of council polls, NCP has said.
NCP is keen on ensuring the election of its outgoing MLCs Ramraje Nimbalkar and Dhananjay Munde who are at present the Chairman and Leader of Opposition, respectively, in Council.
Congress sources said besides the likely renomination of outgoing MLC Muzaffar Hussain, the party may back Independent MLC Vijay Sawant. "Decision was left to the party high command at the party legislators' meeting today," a source said.
BJP is likely to nominate its chief state spokesperson Madhav Bhandari and its state general secretary Sujitsingh Thakur for the Legislative Council.
BJP is certain to accommodate RPI-A leader Avinash Mahatekar and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna leader Sadabhau Khot from its quota of five seats which it can contest on the basis of its strength in the legislative Assembly.
Shiv Sena has announced renomination of its sitting MLCs and ministers Subhash Desai and Diwakar Raote.
As for Rajya Sabha polls, Shiv Sena has already announced renomination of its sitting MP Sanjay Raut. Congress and NCP are yet to announce their respective candidates.
Given its numerical strength, BJP is certain to field two more candidates as both Congress and NCP which earlier had two Rajya Sabha MPs each from Maharashtra do not have enough votes to put up two candidates due to the reduced numbers in the Legislative Assembly.
BJP leader and Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal filed nomination yesterday.
Between the outgoing MP Ishwarlal Jain and Praful Patel, NCP is likely to renominate Patel, sources said.
