Rajya Sabha polls: Independent MLAs, second preference votes to play key role in Maharashtra
India Today
Independent MLAs, second preference votes will play a vital role in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections to six seats from Maharashtra.
As Maharashtra gears up for polls for six Rajya Sabha seats, votes of independent MLAs and second preference votes will play a vital role to determine the winners.
Four candidates from the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition (MVA) and three from BJP filed nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls. For the sixth seat, two leaders from Maharashtra's Kolhapur, one from Shiv Sena and other from BJP, are in the fray.
The deadline for withdrawal of applications is June 3. As additional candidates are in the fray, if no one withdraws, elections will be held. It is clear that the state will witness a tough battle between Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar and BJP's Dhananjay Mahadik for the sixth seat.
Each candidate needs at least 42 first preference votes to win the Rajya Sabha election. If we look at the number of MLAs in the Assembly, then two candidates from the BJP, one from Shiv Sena, one from NCP and one from Congress can be easily elected. The BJP will have to work hard to get its third candidate elected, while the MHA will have to make every effort to get its fourth candidate elected.
Piyush Goyal, Dr Anil Bonde from BJP, Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena, Praful Patel from NCP and Imran Pratapgadhi from Congress do not seem to be short of first choice votes. Therefore, it seems that Dhananjay Mahadik of BJP and Sanjay Pawar of Sena will be fighting it out for the sixth seat.
In Rajya Sabha elections, party MLAs have to show their vote to the polling agent. A whip can be issued by parties as to whom to vote for, but the whip doesn't apply to independent MLAs. Hence, it will be important who gets votes from independent lawmakers.
In the current situation, it seems that Dhananjay Mahadik and Sanjay Pawar will get around 25 to 30 votes as first preference votes. That is not enough to secure a win. Victory can only be decided by second choice votes.
