Nagpur: Animal husbandry and dairy development minister Mahadev Jankar’s prospects of getting re-elected as MLC and remaining a minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government now hangs in balance. Jankar belongs to Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), a small ally of the BJP.
For the July 16 biennial elections for 11 seats of Maharashtra legislative council, Thursday was the last day for filing nomination papers. Though offered the BJP nomination as last time, Jankar this time insisted on contesting as an official nominee of his party RSP.
Before filing his poll papers, Jankar resigned from the membership of the house though his term was till this month end. “ My nomination would have been rejected if I remained a BJP member and filed new nomination from RSP. On technical grounds, I resigned from House and my resignation was formally accepted by the council chairman,” Jankar told TOI.
However, not happy with Jankar turning down their entreaties to contest as their nominee, the BJP has now kept their support to Jankar on hold. “The ball is in chief minister’s court. If he gets the Central leadership’s approval, we will vote for Jankar,” said a senior BJP minister.
Jankar cannot get elected without the BJP support in this election in which MLAs are the voters. In the 288-member state assembly, to get elected one needs 25 votes. Jankar’s party barely has one MLA of own and thus totally depends on votes of BJP MLAs. “RSP is a constituent of NDA and I am my party’s group leader. I am hopeful that Fadnavis will take a favourable decision,” Jankar told TOI on Friday.
Earlier, there was talk of the elections happening unanimously without need for voting. But after Jankar decided to contest on RSP ticket, the BJP at the last minute fielded Prithviraj Deshmukh as its fifth nominee with ally Jankar becoming the sixth candidate.
The BJP has strength to win five seats.The picture will be clear on only on Monday which is the last date for withdrawal from the poll fray. If Deshmukh remains in the contest, Jankar’s chances of getting elected become slim.
Besides Deshmukh, the other four BJP nominees are Vijay Girkar, Ram Patil Ratolikar, Ramesh Patil and Nilay Naik. Even if he loses the election, Jankar can remain a minister for six months. There is chance of getting him elected on the seat now fallen vacant after demise of sitting MLC and agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar.
