Mumbai: The Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi and the BJP will be pitted against each other in the election to the 10 seats of Maharashtra Legislative Council announced by the Election Commission on Wednesday.
The polling is slated for June 20, which is 10 days after the voting for six seats of Rajya Sabha scheduled on June 10.
The date of filing nomination is June 9, scrutiny of papers is on June 10 and the last date for withdrawal of candidates is June 13.
The election is necessary as the term of 10 sitting members of the Maharashtra Legislative Council expires on July 7.
The MVA and BJP will have a tough time keeping their flocks together to avoid horse trading, as there will be a secret ballot. The quota for the election of one seat will be 27 votes. Considering the party-wise strength, the MVA and BJP face an acid test for the 10th seat.
In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has support of 168 legislators comprising Shiv Sena (55), NCP (53), Congress (44), other parties (8) and independents (8).
In the case of the BJP, which has 106 legislators, it has the support of one legislator each of Jan Surajya and Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and five independents. Together, the BJP has a strength of 113 legislators.
