Former Congress leaders, Milind Deora, who switched to Shiv Sena early this year, Ashok Chavan, who left the party a few days ago and joined the BJP –and NCP leader Praful Patel filed their nomination for Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra.

Today is the last day for filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha polls to be held on February 27.

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The Rajya Sabha elections for six seats in Maharashtra could go uncontested as the BJP has nominated only three candidates for the polls — Chavan, Medha Kulkarni, and Dr Ajeet Gopchade.

Deora filed his nomination from Shiv Sena (Eknath faction) Rajya Sabha in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis among others. Congress turncoat Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, ended his decades-old association with the grand old party early this year, alleging that it has deviated from its ideological and organisational roots.

Deora conveyed his gratitude to Eknath Shinde, saying, ”I will work honestly to fulfil the expectations of the party.”

After filing his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections, newly-joined BJP leader Chavan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president J P Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Fadnavis among others who have been instrumental in giving him this opportunity.

Another BJP ally – Ajit Pawar-led NCP – chose sitting MP Praful Patel for the Rajya Sabha nomination. He was nominated RS member in 2022 and still has four more years in his current term. He will have to resign from the Upper House and contest it again to get re-elected.

Patel offered prayers at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai before filing his nomination for the Rajya Sabha. ”Filed my nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections, representing the Nationalist Congress Party from Maharashtra,” he posted on X.

”It’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve the people of Maharashtra and contribute to the legislative process at the national level. I look forward to working tirelessly for the betterment of Maharashtra and our great Country.”

The ruling party denied a nomination to Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane, whose tenure ends on April 4.

On Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) nominating Deora for Rajya Sabha, Maharashtra CM Shinde told reporters that all candidates of the Mahayuti will be victorious.

”We have an absolute majority. These elections can be unopposed too… Milind Deora is an honest and highly educated candidate who has also been a minister. He has good political and grassroots experience… We have full faith that he will work well at the National level and also prove to be a good decision for the party,” he said.