Mahayuti likely to win six MLC seats unopposed

Maharashtra witnessed high-voltage drama on the last day of nomination withdrawals for the legislative council polls scheduled for June 18. Candidates from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) withdrew their nominations from several seats, paving the way for six Mahayuti candidates to win unopposed.

With Mahayuti securing six seats out of 17, this is a major setback for the Opposition. The six unopposed seats are Pune, Thane, Wardha, Yavatmal, Solapur, and Ratnagiri.

On Thursday (June 4, 2026), Shiv Sena (UBT) Ratnagiri candidate Bal Mane arrived at the district collector’s office with Mahayuti Minister Nitesh Rane to withdraw his nomination. “He has served as an MLA and made the decision of his own volition. He knows the work Mahayuti is doing in the region.” With Bal Mane’s withdrawal, NCP candidate Aniket Tatkare is likely to win uncontested.

Former MP Vinayak Raut alleged that horse trading is involved and that 100% Bal Mane was managed. At least a 10 crore deal has happened. Bala Mane has been expelled from the Shiv Sena (UBT) for “anti-party activities”, informed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on X. 

On the Solapur MLC seat, the Opposition Congress candidate’s nomination was cancelled over technical issues, making way for the BJP alliance candidate Rajendra Raut. In the Yavatmal seat, Congress candidate Sahebrao Kamble withdrew his candidature, citing a lack of the votes required to win. 

NCP Sharad Pawar’s candidate from Pune, Shrikant Patil, has also withdrawn his candidature. He said, “Sharad Pawar informed me that DCM Sunetra Pawar has requested him to withdraw. He left it to me whether to contest. No horse trading is involved in this.” This clears the way for NCP candidate Vikram Kakade to be elected unopposed. 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is to hold elections for 16 legislative council seats from the local self-government bodies and a bypoll from the Nagpur self-government body on June 18, followed by the results on June 22.

Rebel in Mahayuti

The rebellion in Mahayuti continues, as in Nashik and Jalgaon seats, the unofficial candidate refused to withdraw their nomination and to contest independently. In Nashik, the fight is between the Mahayuti candidate Narendra Darade and rebel candidate Gokul Gete. “I would have taken the nomination back, but instead of discussion, they decided to threaten,” said Gokul Gete, Shiv Sena party functionary. 

However, Mahayuti was able to contain the rebels in Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Mahayuti leader Viblab Bajoria, who rebelled and filed a nomination against the official candidate Pravin Pote on the Amravati seat, withdrew.

In the Mahayuti camp, the BJP is contesting 11 seats, followed by Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena contesting four, and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s NCP contesting two seats. Congress decided to contest eight seats, while Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) contested six seats, and the NCP (SP) contested three seats.