Sanjay Raut backs Aaditya Thackeray, says Sena (UBT) has first claim to MVA’s lone Rajya Sabha seat

Sanjay Raut on Sunday endorsed party legislator Aaditya Thackerayrsquos stand on the upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections 2026 saying that as the largest party in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA the Sena UBT has the first claim to the alliancersquos lone winnable seat from Maharashtra news agency PTI reportedIn April the Rajya Sabha terms of NCP SP chief Sharad Pawar Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi NCP SP MP Fauzia Khan RPI Athawale chief Ramdas Athawale BJPrsquos Bhagwat Karad Congressrsquos Rajani Patil and NCPrsquos Dhairysheel Patil will endMVA can potentially send only one candidate to the Upper House of the Parliament due to its reduced strength in the assemblyAs largest party in MVA Shiv Sena UBT stakes first claim on Rajya Sabha seat Aaditya ThackerayEarlier this week Aaditya Thackeray appeared to stake his partyrsquos claim to the MVArsquos lone winnable seat stating that based on the current numbers in the Assembly the Rajya Sabha seat ldquobelongsrdquo to his party and that ldquotalks will definitely happen in that direction in the MVArdquoSpeaking to PTI Raut said there was ldquono inconsistencyrdquo in the partyrsquos stand and pointed out that the Sena UBT is the single largest party in the Opposition with 20 MLAsldquoThere is absolutely nothing wrong with what Aaditya Thackeray said We are the single largest party with 20 MLAs The Congress has 16 and the NCP SP has 10 Therefore whoever gets elected to the Rajya Sabha will go as a candidate of the MVA As the largest party the Shiv Sena UBT has the first rightrdquo he saidClarifying his earlier remarks about Sharad Pawar the Rajya Sabha MP said he had only stated that the senior leader had expressed a desire regarding the Rajya Sabha berthldquoI said that as a senior leader Sharad Pawar has expressed his wish He is a senior leader of the MVA We will sit together and take a collective decision But it must first be accepted that as the largest party Shiv Sena UBT has the primary claimrdquo he said noting that the NCP SP chief has not officially declared his candidature so far reported PTIThe MVA leadership is competent to take an appropriate decision he added urging people not to feel undue ldquotension or pressurerdquo over the evolving political situation in MaharashtraReferring to Aaditya Thackerayrsquos assertion that one candidate each from Shiv Sena UBT and NCP SP could be elected Raut said the former minister is wellversed in legislative affairsldquoAaditya Thackeray understands politics and legislative functioning Last time Sharad Pawar and Priyanka Chaturvedi were elected At that time the situation was different and we were together with higher numbers Aaditya Thackeray will not make an incorrect statementrdquo he said reported PTIHowever he indicated that the arithmetic remains crucialSupport of 37 MLAs needed to win RS seatldquoOne MP will certainly be elected Support of 37 MLAs is needed This time we appear to have 10 to 12 surplus votes We will need to mobilise another 2021 votes If that happens two candidates can be elected But at this moment since Shiv Sena UBT is the largest party we are bound to assert our claimrdquo Raut addedThe Election Commission is set to notify the polls for seven Rajya Sabha seats on February 26 Voting is scheduled for March 16The ruling Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP the Shindeled Shiv Sena and the NCP has 232 MLAs and can potentially win six seatsWith PTI inputs