Raut Hints Sharad Pawar May Contest Rajya Sabha Again

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday stated that veteran politician Sharad Pawar is ready to contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. The terms of seven Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra, including Mr. Pawar, will end in April.

Mr. Raut said that he had discussed the issue with the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) chief recently. “I had a meeting with Mr. Pawar regarding the Rajya Sabha elections and he told me that he will contest again,” he said.

The statement marks a departure from Mr Pawar’s earlier stance. Addressing a meeting in Baramati in November 2024, the NCP founder had said that he would not contest any elections after the end of the current Rajya Sabha term.

Mr. Raut also claimed that Mr. Pawar had conveyed his decision to the Indian National Congress leadership. Given Mr. Pawar’s stature and over six decades of legislative experience, parties within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have initiated discussions to coordinate their strategies.

“Mr. Pawar is a senior leader with over 60 years of parliamentary experience. Since he has conveyed his stand and informed the Congress, discussions will now take place within the MVA,” Mr. Raut said.

The elections are important for the opposition alliance, which is trying to maintain its presence in the Upper House. Apart from Mr. Pawar, the terms of six other Maharashtra Rajya Sabha members will end on April 2, 2026. Those retiring include Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale, former Union minister Bhagwat Karad and MP Dhairyasheel Mohan Patil. Others whose terms ended on the same day include Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena UBT), Rajni Patil (Congress) and Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP).

The current legislative arithmetic favors the ruling Mahayuti. The coalition commands 228 MLAs following its performance in the 2024 Assembly elections in which the BJP won 131 seats, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 57 seats and Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 40 seats. It is expected to comfortably win six out of seven seats with the support of smaller parties and Independents. The BJP is expected to get four seats; Shinde and Ajit Pawar factions won one seat each.

The electoral quota for a Rajya Sabha seat is 37 votes. The opposition strength – Congress (16), Shiv Sena (UBT) (20) and Sharad Pawar faction (10) – adds up to 46 MLAs. MVA could retain one seat if it puts out a single consensus candidate.

“Given the combined strength of the three MVA parties, it is possible for us to field a candidate. Leaders of the three parties will sit together and take a decision,” Mr. Raut said.