Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is all set to become Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) member unopposed as State Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat said that the party will withdraw one of its candidates, reported PTI.
State Congress president Balasaheb Thorat said, "We have decided to field only one out of two nominees for the MLC elections, which means the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) will have five nominees for as many seats (out of the total nine)".
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut thanked Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan and said that the elections for the nine seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council will be unopposed.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote, "Elections for the nine seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council will be unopposed. Considering the COVID-19 crisis in the state and the candidature of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Congress party has taken a stand to withdraw one candidate. I am thankful to the State President Mr. Balasaheb Thorat and Mr. Ashok Chavan."
Earlier, according to sources Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has warned his alliance partner Congress to withdraw its candidate or else he won't contest the MLC elections.
On Saturday, Congress nominated two candidates for the upcoming MLC elections. Balasaheb Thorat had tweeted that Rajkishore, alias Papa Modi, will be party's second candidate. Rajesh Rathod was the first candidate and his name was announced from Delhi. Thorat was confident that both will win.