Rajya Sabha imbroglio: Negotiations continue in MVA, BJP releases list of four candidates

With one day to go for the last day of filing nominations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has not yet agreed on their candidate for the elections. Meanwhile, the BJP on Wednesday (March 4, 2026) announced its list of four candidates for Maharashtra.

NCP’s Parth Pawar will file his nomination on Thursday (March 5, 2026), party sources said.

The Rajya Sabha elections will be held on March 16. Of the 37 seats from ten states that will go to polls, seven seats are from Maharashtra. According to the formula and strength of each alliance, the Mahayuti can get six candidates while the MVA can get one candidate chosen if the opposition reaches a consensus on the candidate.

If more than seven candidates are submitted, elections will take place on March 16.

Sharad Pawar’s decision

While NCP(SP) president and sitting Rajya Sabha member Sharad Pawar, whose term ends next month, has not yet officially spoken on the issue, his party has insisted that he be made the MVA candidate. NCP(SP) State President Jayant Patil and MP Supriya Sule met Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday evening (March 3, 2026) to have a discussion on the issue.

“The Congress and Shiv Sena will sit with us. We will take a decision after that. No decision has been taken yet. We all insist that Pawar saaheb should be in Delhi for MVA and for NCP(SP),” Jayant Patil said on Wednesday (March 4, 2026).

He refused to comment on questions on whether the BJP will field only four candidates if Sharad Pawar files his nomination. But he added that MVA will unanimously nominate a candidate by Thursday (March 5, 2026).

Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray rejected reports of a final decision on the issue and said no decision had been taken on the candidate so far. Sena has staked its claim on the Rajya Sabha seat.

Sharad Pawar is expected to be discharged from a city hospital on Wednesday (March 4, 2026).

The State Congress leadership wants the Rajya Sabha seat to be allotted to itself but to multiple leaders The Hindu spoke, said that they may have to support Sharad Pawar if he decides to participate. Mr Pawar’s party has so far insisted that only his candidature will guarantee an unopposed Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra.

Commentary: How one seat will test the unity of the MVA

BJP Release List

Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti has taken his first step. BJP announced its list of candidates for Maharashtra.

The leaders who will file their nominations are: Union Minister and BJP ally Ramdas Athawale, senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde, Maya Invate and Ramrao Wadkute.

Though NCP has announced Parth Pawar’s name for Rajya Sabha, he has not yet filed his nomination. Parth Pawar is the son of late NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Sunetra Pawar. “His nomination will be filed on Thursday (March 5),” an NCP leader said.

Sources in Shiv Sena said they would like to have two Rajya Sabha members from their party.

The last day for submitting nominations is March 5.