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All candidates contesting the nine seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council are set to be elected unopposed after the 3 pm deadline for filing nominations ended on Thursday without any additional candidates entering the fray.

With no additional nominations submitted, the election process has effectively concluded without the need for voting. This means that all nominated candidates will secure their positions in the council without contest.

The elections were scheduled to fill nine vacant seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. These arose as several sitting members, including senior political leaders, are set to complete their terms.

As a result of the unopposed elections, the polling scheduled for May 12 will no longer be necessary for these seats. The candidates will be formally declared elected as per procedure.

Elections for nine Legislative Council seats, along with a bypoll for one seat, are scheduled for May 12. Several members, including former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, are set to retire on May 13.

Candidates

The Shiv Sena on Thursday named sitting MLC Neelam Gorhe and former MLA Bacchu Kadu as its candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council Elections 2026.

Gorhe is currently the deputy chairperson of the council, and her term is due to end on May 13. Shortly after joining the party, Kadu was also announced as a candidate.

Kadu, who leads the Prahar Janshakti Paksh, joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Eknath Shinde said both Gorhe and Kadu were chosen because of their long record in public service. He noted that they have consistently raised issues affecting ordinary people and have significant experience in social work.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the Shiv Sena, has fielded five candidates — Pramod Jathar, Sunil Vinayak Karjatkar, Madhavi Naik, Sanjay Natthuji Bhende and Vivek Bipindada Kolhe. 

MVA backs Danve

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has backed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve as its candidate.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray had earlier confirmed Danve’s nomination, while Rohit Pawar said the alliance would support him, praising his work as Leader of the Opposition in the council.

Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the MVA had earlier considered supporting Uddhav Thackeray but is now discussing other candidates.

Sanjay Raut, in a post on X on Wednesday wrote that Ambadas Danve would be the alliance’s candidate.

Meanwhile the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded former Bandra East MLA Zeeshan Siddique.