By Rahil Nora Chopra
With the ruling Mahayuti alliance comfortably placed to sweep six of seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra that go to polls on March 16, the opposition MVA finds itself in a more precarious situation. With a combined strength of 46 MLAs, the bloc has enough votes to secure just one seat. But internal rivalry threatens to complicate what should be a straightforward win. Both Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena have staked claim to the Rajya Sabha seat. While the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has also thrown its hat in the ring for the lone Rajya Sabha seat that the alliance has the numbers for. However, Supriya Sule, Lok Sabha MP from the Pawar family turf of Baramati, said, it was the wish of the party and workers to see Pawar Saheb in Rajya Sabha. Now all eyes were on Sharad Pawar, the chief architect of the MVA. In the past, he had on a few occasions expressed his intent to retire from active politics, but never followed through. Speculation is mounting that Shinde’s Shiv Sena could field an additional candidate to strategically target the Shiv Sena (UBT). If the MVA fails to present a united front behind a single nominee, the ruling coalition may attempt to engineer cross-voting, potentially snatching the opposition only winnable seat. For the MVA, the challenge is no longer just about numbers, it is about unity. For the Mahayuti, it is about converting dominance into a clean sweep.
MAYAWATI CRITICISES AKHILESH’S ATTEMPT TO MARK KANSHIRAM’S BIRTHDAY
With the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for 2027, the SP, BSP, and the ruling BJP have magnified its preparations well in advance. However, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav coined the acronym PDA to stand for ‘Pichhde’ (backward classes), Dalits, and ‘Alpsankhyak’ (minorities) in a bid to consolidate OBCs, Dalits and minorities. He had guided his party leaders to celebrate Kanshi Ram’s birth anniversary on March 15 as ‘Bahujan Samaj Diwas or PDA Diwas’ at all district headquarters across Uttar Pradesh. Now Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati criticised the Samajwadi Party (SP) for announcing that it will celebrate Kanshiram Jayanti as ‘PDA Day’. She said that this move is an absolute political drama and accused the party of trying to mislead Dalits, backward classes and minorities for votes. She warned BSP supporters to remain cautious and said SP’s actions have historically harmed the interests of Bahujan society. She also alleged that Dalits and extremely backward communities faced the most atrocities during SP governments.
TEJASHWI EYES JOINT MAHAGATHBANDHAN NOMINEE FOR BIHAR RS SEAT
Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav is constantly working on a strategy to field a common candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls and is aligning with alliance partners to ensure unity in the contest. He is also evaluating the numerical strength of the Grand Alliance to build a strong case for consensus and ensure adequate support for the joint nominee in the election. Meanwhile, out of five seats from Bihar falling vacant in April, there is no suspense over four being all set to be wrested by the NDA, given the strength of the JD (U)-led alliance in the Assembly. To win a Rajya Sabha berth, one needs to gain the support of at least 41 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly. With 202 seats under its kitty, the NDA can easily romp home on four seats, with the JD (U) and the BJP staking claim on two seats each. The NDA, after wresting these four seats, will still be left with 38 surplus votes, which is three short of 41. The Mahagathbandhan, which got a severe drubbing in the November 2025 Bihar Assembly election, has just 35 members, including the 25 RJD MLAs. This is six short of the requisite strength of 41. Notably, AIMIM won five seats in Bihar in November last, mostly in the Muslim-dominated constituencies in Seemanchal area of Bihar in the eastern part of the State that shares its border with Bengal and Nepal. Besides the five MLAs of the AIMIM, Tejashwi is also focusing the lone BSP MLA and has reportedly dispatched an aide to Mayawati seeking her support for the Mahagathbandhan nominee.
DKS LOYALISTS LED BY BALAKRISHNA CONGREGATE TO WORK OUT STRATEGY
Power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka refuses to calm down, with supporters of deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar gathering at a hotel to discuss strategies with the aim of their leader’s elevation to the top post in the State. HC Balakrishna, Magadi MLA and Shivakumar loyalist, organised the gathering where discussions were held to end the perplexion regarding power sharing. Nearly 40 MLAs congregated at a private hotel to discuss the leadership issue, with Balakrishna focusing on the need for the party’s high command to make a decision. Meanwhile, the Congress high command has signalled a wait and watch approach until the completion of the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry. The face-off between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar reached a crescendo in November and December last year, forcing the Congress’ central leadership to step in and order the two to stand down and cease hostilities while a deal is worked out.
SUNETRA PAWAR CHOSEN TO BE NCP-AJIT PAWAR’S NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Sunetra Pawar, has been unanimously elected the National President of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, whereas her elder son Parth Pawar may soon be named the party’s national general secretary. The announcement was made by senior NCP leader Praful Patel, who had been appointed the party’s Working National President and had recommended proposal for Sunetra Pawar to take over. The grapevine is rife that the appointments of Sunetra Pawar and her son, Parth Pawar, have been designed to ensure that no merger of the two NCPs will ever be possible. Sunetra will be contesting the by-election from Baramati, a seat that was represented by Ajit Pawar eight times. (IPA Service)
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