Party can contest and win third Rajya Sabha seat if management asks: Maharashtra BJP chief

By PTI

MUMBAI: Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil on Thursday mentioned his celebration can area a 3rd candidate for the June 10 Rajya Sabha elections and win that seat too if the central management instructed.

Earlier within the day, the Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut and Sanjay Pawar filed their nomination papers for the elections to 6 Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra for which members of the state Assembly would be the electors.

“If the central leadership instructs us, we will field a third candidate and win that seat as well. Going by the strength in the Assembly, two candidates of BJP can win easily,” Patil advised reporters right here.

A candidate will want a quota of 42 votes to win. The BJP has sufficient votes to win two seats by itself. Ruling alliance companions Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress have the votes to get one candidate every elected individually, however collectively they will get one other candidate elected to the Upper House of Parliament.

Banking on this arithmetic, the Sena has determined to area two candidates within the election. The BJP has 106 MLAs within the 288-member Assembly.

The power of different events is as follows: Shiv Sena 55, NCP 53, Congress 44, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi three, Samajwadi Party, AIMIM and Prahar Janshakti Party two every, MNS, CPM, Peasants and Workers Party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Swabhimani Party, Jansurajya Shakti and Krantikari Shetkari Party one every.

There are 13 Independents, whereas one seat is vacant.