Ajit Pawar’s strategy behind nominating Praful Patel for Rajya Sabha polls
Praful Patel is the fifth candidate from the ruling alliance for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections for six seats from Maharashtra. The lone sixth seat will go to opposition Congress in what looks like an unopposed election.
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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit PawarThe NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, which on Wednesday announced it would field senior leader Praful Patel for the Rajya Sabha elections, has achieved three objectives with the move, primary being annulling the disqualification petition against Patel filed by the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
“We have taken the decision after consulting senior leaders and studying all the technical aspects,” NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said while announcing the name of Patel.
Patel is the fifth candidate from the ruling alliance for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections for six seats from Maharashtra. The lone sixth seat will go to opposition Congress in what looks like an unopposed election.
Patel was elected to the Rajya Sabha in June 2022 and has completed only two years of his present six-year term. Following the split in the NCP, the Sharad Pawar group filed a disqualification petition with the Rajya Sabha chairman against Patel, which is applicable to his present term. “To get re-elected, Patel will resign from his current seat. Which effectively annuls the disqualification petition. After getting elected in February 2024, he will get the six-year term till February 2030, which is two years more,” said a party leader.
The third crucial point for the NCP would be that the vacant seat after the resignation of Patel will be available with the NCP. “We have spoken with our alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena. They have agreed that the seat will be with us when the re-election for it takes place,” said Tatkare.
Sources within the NCP said that the vacant seat will be filled post Lok Sabha elections. “If not Cabinet berth, the party can offer Rajya Sabha seats for those who wish to join us,” the leader said.
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