With suspense over sixth seat, polling for Rajya Sabha begins in Maharashtra

The polling process for six Rajya Sabha seats in the state of Maharashtra has commenced today.

Owing to seven candidates in the fray for six seats, this is the first time in almost two decades when the state will witness a polling contest for Rajya Sabha elections.

The BJP is in a comfortable position to win two seats in the upper house elections. Meanwhile, the NCP, Shiv Sena and Congress are expected to elect one candidate from each of their parties. But there is one seat still opening up for the elections.

Union minister Piyush Goyal, Anil Bonde, Dhananjay Mahadik (BJP), Praful Patel (NCP), Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena), Sanjay Pawar (Shiv Sena) and Imran Pratapgarhi (Congress) are in fray for the six seats. The main contest for the sixth seat is between BJP's Mahadik and Sena's Pawar.

Each political party contesting the polls have made strategies to get the control over the suspenseful sixth seat.

The 288-membered Maharashtra Assembly is all set to decide the fate of the state by casting their votes today. However, with the death of Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke and rejection of bail pleas by NCP's Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh, 285 members will be participating in the polls today.