The Congress will support Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray only if he is keen to enter the Legislative Council, Maharashtra Congress State Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal told media persons here on Thursday.
“If Uddhav Thackeray decides to go to the Legislative Council, the Congress is ready to support him only if he decides to go to the Legislative Council. If there is any other proposal, a discussion will be necessary,” Sapkal said.
Sapkal also clarified his position about the seat of Congress MLA Rajiv Satav, stating that the seat must go to the Congress. “I would like to remind you about the statement made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier about political culture. Now, this seat should be given to the Congress respecting the same culture,” Sapkal said.
Given the overall situation in the Legislative Council elections, the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is currently strong, and there is a possibility of a dispute within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Going by the strength of parties in the Legislative Assembly, the BJP has 132 MLAs, Shinde’s Shiv Sena has 57 MLAs, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP has 40 MLAs. Therefore, the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti is likely to have 8 seats, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is likely to get only one seat, which is what Uddhav Thackeray has been eyeing.
However, rivalry is expected among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) opposition parties to grab this single seat.
Voting for 9 seats of the Legislative Council will be held on May 12, 2026, from 9 am to 4 pm, and counting of votes will begin at 5 pm on the same day. The election is being held as the term of 9 members, such as Uddhav Thackeray, Neelam Gorhe, and Sanjay Kenekar, who were elected by members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), ends on May 13, 2026.
The last date for filing nomination papers is April 30, 2026. Scrutiny of applications will be done on May 2, 2026. The last date for candidates who wish to withdraw their applications is May 4, 2026.
The members whose Legislative Council terms are coming to an end on May 13 are Sanjay Kishanrao Kenekar, Neelam Diwakar Gorhe, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Sandeep Diwakar Joshi, Dadarao Yadavrao Keche, Amol Ramakrishna Mitkari, Ranjitsinh Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, Rajesh Dhoniram Rathod and Shashikant Jayawantrao Shinde. New Legislative Council members will be elected before these members retire.
Meanwhile, speculation has mounted about whether Ajit Pawar-led NCP’s Amol Mitkari, who is known to raise issues regarding Ajit Pawar’s air crash, will get another chance to enter the Legislative Council.
Mitkari is considered to be a very aggressive spokesperson for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Whether he gets another chance in the forthcoming elections, or not, will depend on the formula decided by the Ajit Pawar-led NCP under Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar’s leadership.
“Many people from the NCP will be interested in the Legislative Council. But the final decision will be taken by NCP President Sunetra Pawar and senior leaders. We will accept that decision. If the party gives me another chance, I will take it seriously and try to take Ajit Pawar’s ideas to every corner of Maharashtra. But if I don’t get the chance, there will be no resentment. I will fulfil the responsibility given by the party and seniors,” Mitkari told media persons.