Mumbai

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday asserted that his party has a legitimate claim to the seats the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) can potentially win in the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, citing the alliance’s strength in the state assembly.

Thackeray said no formal discussions have yet taken place among MVA partners—the Indian National Congress, Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar)—on seat-sharing for the Rajya Sabha and council polls. However, he maintained that numbers favour Sena (UBT).

“If you look at the figures, the Rajya Sabha seat belongs to Sena (UBT). Definitely, discussions will move in that direction within the MVA,” Thackeray told reporters.

With the ruling Mahayuti alliance enjoying a decisive majority in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, the opposition MVA is likely to win only one seat each in the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council. Sena (UBT) currently has 20 MLAs, followed by the Congress with 16 and NCP (SP) with 10.

According to the Election Commission, Rajya Sabha elections will be held for 39 seats across 10 states, including seven from Maharashtra. Notifications for the polls will be issued on February 26, while voting is scheduled for March 16 between 9 am and 4 pm, with counting to take place later the same day.

Among those whose Rajya Sabha terms end in April are NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, NCP (SP)’s Fauzia Khan, BJP’s Bhagwat Karad, Congress’ Rajani Patil and NCP’s Dhairysheel Patil. Ramdas Athawale of the RPI (Athawale) is also completing his term.

Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Pawar has expressed his desire to contest the Rajya Sabha elections again, adding that the MVA will hold discussions on both the Rajya Sabha and council polls.

In the Legislative Council, nine members are set to retire in May, including Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Asked specifically about Pawar’s prospects, Aaditya Thackeray reiterated that there has been no official discussion yet. “As per numbers and rotation, it is Sena (UBT)’s turn this time, whether it is the Vidhan Parishad or the Rajya Sabha,” he said.

Raut, speaking separately, said the alliance would resolve the issue through talks. “There is only one Rajya Sabha seat and three major parties in the MVA. Leaders from all three parties need to sit together and take a collective decision,” he said, adding that discussions would not be prolonged.

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The seat-sharing negotiations are expected to test coordination within the opposition alliance as the high-stakes parliamentary and council elections approach.