Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Deshpande files nominations through the party and as an independent, saying he will contest the Amravati Teachers’ seat even if denied the official ticket; Mahayuti seat-sharing remains under discussion ahead of the October 23 polls.
Mumbai, Oct 2026 : Differences over seat-sharing appear to be emerging within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance ahead of the Legislative Council elections, with Shiv Sena leader and former MLC Shrikant Deshpande filing two nomination forms for the Amravati Division Teachers’ constituency and saying he will remain in the race even if he is denied the party’s official ticket.
The Election Commission has scheduled biennial elections for five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats from the Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies. The seats include the Amravati and Pune Teachers’ constituencies and the Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur Graduates’ constituencies. Polling is scheduled for October 23, with counting on October 27. The last date for filing nominations is October 6, followed by scrutiny on October 7 and withdrawal of nominations on October 9.
Deshpande’s move has added another layer to the Mahayuti’s discussions over candidate selection. According to reports, he has filed one nomination through the Shiv Sena and another as an independent candidate. He has made it clear that he does not intend to withdraw from the contest if the party does not nominate him.
“I have been working with Shiv Sena since the first day of my political career. Therefore, I have the first right to the party ticket. That is why I have filed the first application through the party and the second as an independent,” Deshpande said.
He added that if the party did not give him the nomination, he would contest under the banner of the Teachers’ Front.
“Getting the nomination is my right. If I do not get it, I will contest under the banner of the Teachers’ Front. But I will not withdraw,” he said.
The Amravati seat has become a point of discussion within the alliance, with reports indicating that the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is seeking to retain the constituency and that sitting MLC Kiran Sarnaik is being considered for the party’s candidature.
The constituency also has a history involving Deshpande and Sarnaik. Deshpande, who has been associated with the Teachers’ Front, previously represented the seat and won the 2014 election. He later contested the 2020 election, when Kiran Sarnaik defeated him. Sarnaik is currently the sitting MLC from the constituency.
The situation in Amravati comes amid broader negotiations within the Mahayuti over the five Council seats. Pune has emerged as another area of discussion, with different alliance constituents seeking the Graduate and Teachers’ constituencies. Recent reports indicate that the alliance’s seat-sharing formula is still being worked out, while claims have been made by BJP, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP over different seats.
The formal election process began after the notification was issued on September 29. The Election Commission has set October 6 as the deadline for nominations and October 9 as the final date for withdrawals.
Deshpande’s decision to file both party-backed and independent nominations means the final candidate list in Amravati could depend on developments over the coming days. His stated decision not to withdraw if denied the party ticket could also affect how the Mahayuti approaches the constituency.
For now, the focus remains on the alliance’s final candidate announcements, the scrutiny of nominations and the October 9 withdrawal deadline, after which the field for the October 23 contest will become clearer.
