Maharashtra CM will not have unopposed by-election

[1]

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan set to enter the Legislative Council through a by-election will have to face a contest as the opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance have decided to field a candidate against him.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) was keen to have an unopposed election but the opposition Shiv Sena and BJP are not in the mood to oblige.

BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde on Thursday said the saffron alliance would field a candidate against Chavan.

Chavan, earlier a Union minister, was sent to Maharashtra to replace Ashok Chavan, in the wake of Adarsh Society scam. He is not a member of either House of state Legislature.

"Chavan's election is a foregone conclusion given the fact that the Congress and its allies enjoy majority in the 289-member Legislative Assembly which is the electoral college for the by-election," MPCC general secretary Sanjay Dutt said.

"But an unopposed election of the chief minister will send a positive message to the people," Dutt said.

He denied that Congress feared cross-voting, as the Council election is through secret ballot. "It is the opposition which is splintered," Dutt said.

He said Congress was ready for a contest if the opposition fielded a candidate. Congress had 82 MLAs and NCP 62, which alone made up the required numbers, he said.

There are 24 independent MLAs, of which 21 support the ruling alliance.

BJP has BJP 46 MLAs, Shiv Sena 45, PWP 4, Samajwadi Party 3, Jan Surajya Shakti Party 2, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi 2; Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, CPI(M), Lok Sangram, Rashtriya Samaj Party, Swabhimani Party have one MLA each. One member is nominated by the Governor. Raj Thackeray-led MNS has 13 MLAs.

Sanjay Dutt, an MLC, resigned from Council last month to pave way for Prithviraj Chavan, who has to get elected to the Legislative Council before May 11, when he will be completing six months in the office.

The notification for the by-election will be issued on April 18, last date for filing nomination is April 25, scrutiny of papers will take place on April 26, last day of withdrawal is April 28 and voting would take place on May 5.

Earlier, the Election Commission had to seek permission from the Bombay high court to hold the by-election for the seat, as former Shiv Sena MLC Anil Parab has filed a petition in the High Court, challenging the June 2010 Council elections in which four MNS MLAs were allowed to vote despite being under suspension.

Sanjay Dutt was one of the victorious candidates. But high court on Wednesday said the by-election can be held.