Poised to emerge as the single largest party in the Maharashtra legislative Council, the ruling BJP —together with its alliance partner Shiv Sena —will stake claim for the posts of the Chairman and deputy chairman in the upper House — two crucial posts that the Opposition NCP and Congress have been holding till now.

With all the 11 candidates in fray for equal number of Maharashtra legislative Council posts set get elected unopposed, the strength of the ruling BJP will go up to 21 in the State Council, while the tally of its alliance partner Shiv Sena will increase to 12.

After the withdrawal of nomination by BJP’s Prithviraj Deshmukh from the poll fray on the last day of withdrawal of papers on Monday, the unopposed election of Bhai Girkar, Ramesh Patil, Nilaya Naik and Ram Patil Ratholkar, all from the BJP, Anil Parab and Manisha Kayande, both from the Shiv Sena, Sharad Ranpise and Dr Wazhat Mirza, both from the Congress, Babajani Durrani from the NCP, Jayant Patil from PWP and Mahadev Jankar Rashtriya Samaj Paksha became a foregone conclusion. 

With the support of seven legislators — comprising Independents and those from smaller parties, the strength of the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the Upper House of the State legislature will mount to 40 in the 78-member House,

Following the recent council poll outcome, the strength of the Congress and NCP be 17 each in the Upper House.

Being the single largest of party with 21 members, the BJP will stake a claim for the post of the chairman in the Upper House, while its alliance partner Shiv Sena — riding on the combined strength of 40 seats in the Upper House — will eye for the deputy chairman’s posts.