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If Uddhav wants Sena’s help for MLC seat, he should call Eknath Shinde: MP Mhaske

In May, 9 seats will fall vacant in the State Legislative Council. Of the 9, Mahayuti can win 8 while the MVA can get only one seat based on its strength of MLAs.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Mar 9, 2026 11:02 PM IST

Naresh Mhaske refused to clarify whether he was taunting Uddhav Thackeray or making a serious offer. (Source: FB)

Even as the Shiv Sena (UBT) raised its demand to renominate party chief Uddhav Thackeray as MLC, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena caused a flutter in political circles, suggesting that “it was ready to stand by Thackeray”.

“Instead of pleading before Delhi, Uddhav Thackeray should call up Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde once. Eknath Shinde is a large-hearted leader and if a call is made, he will leave everything aside to stand by Thackeray,” Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske told reporters in New Delhi on Monday.

“When NCP (SP) wanted to field and get Sharad Pawar elected unopposed for a Rajya Sabha seat, its leaders Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil had met Eknath Shinde. Similarly, if Uddhav Thackeray wants our extra votes or wants our help to again become an MLC, then he should contact our leader Eknath Shinde on phone,” Mhaske told The Indian Express.

In the past, especially after the split of the party in 2022, the Shinde-led Sena had never made such a statement.

Mhaske refused to clarify whether he was taunting Uddhav Thackeray or making a serious offer. “You can decide what it is,” he said.
When contacted, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut was not available for comment. However, earlier in the morning, Raut made it clear that the Maha Vikas Aghadi will benefit from Uddhav’s qualities if he is renominated.

“His renomination will strengthen the opposition in the Legislative Council and it will benefit the MVA.”

Congress MLC Satej Patil on the other hand said a decision in this regard will be taken by leaders of the MVA at a meeting. “We will sit and discuss the issue,” he said.

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NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde said, “Though our party did not have the numbers, our allies backed our leader.”

Uddhav Thackeray had become MLC for the first time in May 2020. His term ends in May.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 20 MLAs, Congress has 16 and NCP (SP) has 10 MLAs. “As per the numbers, MVA can only have one MLC seat.

Therefore we will sit and decide who will become the MLC. We are in favour of Uddhav Thackeray. He was the chief minister during COVID and had led from the front.”

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Congress leaders said since they had extended support to Sharad Pawar for the Rajya Sabha seat, they should now get the MLC seat. “We wanted to get the Rajya Sabha given the numbers game for opposition leader in the Upper House. However, since NCP (SP) was keen to get Sharad Pawar to Rajya Sabha, we agreed given his seniority and his experience as a Parliamentarian. Now we hope the MVA will support us for MLC,” said a Congress leader.

In May, 9 seats will fall vacant in the State Legislative Council. Of the 9, Mahayuti can win 8 while the MVA can get only one seat based on its strength of MLAs.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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