Congress Backs Sharad Pawar As MVA Candidate For Rajya Sabha From Maharashtra

The Congress party has announced that it will support Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra.

The decision comes ahead of the biennial elections to the Upper House of Parliament scheduled later this month, with the last date for filing nominations set for March 5.

Congress Leadership Confirms Support

AICC general secretary Ramesh Chennithala confirmed that the Congress high command has decided to back Sharad Pawar for the Rajya Sabha polls.

According to reports, the party leadership informed state leaders about the decision to support Pawar, who is currently serving as a Rajya Sabha member. The elections for the Upper House seat from Maharashtra are scheduled for March 16.

The announcement comes just a day before the deadline for filing nomination papers.

Maha Vikas Aghadi Stands United

The support for Pawar reflects the unity within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance in Maharashtra that includes the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction).

Leaders from the alliance said the decision was taken after discussions among the partners to maintain cooperation and respect senior leadership within the coalition.

Supriya Sule Thanks Alliance Partners

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader and Member of Parliament Supriya Sule expressed gratitude to the Congress and Shiv Sena for supporting Pawar's candidature.

She said the alliance partners had shown generosity in backing the veteran leader. According to her, the decision also reflects the importance of giving representation to a national political force in the Rajya Sabha.

Congress Leaders Explain the Decision

Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar said the party initially wanted the Rajya Sabha seat as it is a national party and had strong support within the state unit.

However, after discussions with leaders from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress decided to support Sharad Pawar considering his seniority and long experience in politics.

He added that the decision was taken after instructions from the party's central leadership, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Meeting Held in Delhi to Finalise Candidates

Sources said the Congress high command had earlier held a meeting at Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's residence in New Delhi to discuss candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The meeting focused on finalising strategies and deciding which candidates the party would support in different states.

Rajya Sabha Elections Scheduled in March

The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for the biennial Rajya Sabha elections to fill 37 seats across 10 states.
These elections are being held because the terms of several members are set to end in April 2026.

Voting for the seats, including those from Maharashtra, will take place on March 16.

Sharad Pawar's Continued Role in National Politics

Sharad Pawar is one of India's most experienced political leaders and has played an important role in national and state politics for decades.
If elected again, his presence in the Rajya Sabha will allow him to continue contributing to parliamentary debates and political discussions at the national level.

The decision by Congress to support Pawar highlights the importance of alliance politics as parties prepare for the upcoming elections and future political challenges.