Maharashtra government sends 12 names for MLC to Governor

The Maharashtra government on Friday submitted 12 names for nomination to the state legislative council (MLC) to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

Actor-turned-politician Urmila Matondkar topped the Shiv Sena’s list, while the former BJP leader Eknath Khadse led the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) list and Sachin Sawant, the spokesperson, has found a spot on the Congress’s list.

Ministers Anil Parab, Nawab Malik and Amit Deshmukh gave the names in a sealed envelope. According to sources, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress each submitted four names.

The tenure of 12 MLCs nominated by the governor had ended in June this year. The Maharashtra Legislative Council has 78 members.

The Shiv Sena sent the names of actor Urmila Matondkar (arts and culture), motivational speaker Nitin Bangude-Patil and party functionaries Vijay Karanjkar and Chandrakant Raghuvanshi.

The NCP’s list included Khadse and the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana founder and former MP Raju Shetti (both for co-operation and social service), Anand Shinde (arts and culture) and Yashpal Bhinge, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi contestant for the Nanded Lok Sabha seat and from the Dhangar community (literature).

The Congress has finally nominated Sachin Sawant, who has been patiently waiting in the wings. Sawant has been nominated for social service and cooperation. Other nominees include former MP Rajani Patil (social service and cooperation), who is a confidante of party interim president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. She is currently in charge of Himachal Pradesh. Further, former legislator Muzaffar Hussain (social service) and Anirudha Vankar (arts and culture) were also included in the Congress list.

Each of the three ruling parties — Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress — have taken four seats each. Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government leaders, however, are not sure whether Koshyari, who has been locked in a fight with the government on several instances, will clear the list and nominate the 12 candidates to the Council.

Political observers said that with three singers and artists making it to the list of 12, this would be the first time in many years that persons of eminence from arts and culture would find a place in the legislative council from the governor’s quota.