MUMBAI: A week after he joined NCP, Eknath Khadse appears to be on the comeback trail in active politics, as he will be among dozen prominent persons whose names will be recommended to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for nomination to the legislative council.
A senior cabinet member told TOI revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat submitted the list of Congress nominees to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, while NCP's list was submitted by food & civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal. As per the agreement between the three parties, each will nominate four persons.
Farmers' leader Raju Shetty, singer Anand Shinde and Haribhau Bhade are the likely NCP nominees, Congress is considering Sachin Sawant, Rajani Patil, and Muzzaffar Hussain, while Sachin Ahir and Adesh Bandekar are likely to be Shiv Sena nominees. The remaining names of Congress and Sena will be decided by Thorat and Thackeray in a day or two.
The list was submitted to the advocate-general to ensure they fit constitutional norms. As per rules, nominees must have special knowledge and experience in literature, science, art, cooperation and social service.
Since the governor and CM are at loggerheads, Thackeray will have to ensure that all recommended follow the norms. "The CM will submit the list to law and judiciary department for verification and it will be submitted to Raj Bhavan within a week,'' he said.