Counting of votes for 11 seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections is currently underway, with results expected later today. The elections, held on June 20, 2026, saw a voter turnout of approximately 65%, according to the Election Commission of India. The seats are being contested by major political parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Indian National Congress, and several independent candidates.
Key Contests and Candidates
Among the prominent candidates are former minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is contesting from the Chandrapur-Gadchiroli-Wardha local bodies constituency. In the Konkan region, Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Anand Parab, while the BJP has nominated Gopichand Padalkar. The NCP is contesting in the Pune region with candidate Sanjay Jagtap, and the Congress has fielded Rajesh Rathod from the Nagpur area.
According to political analyst Dr. Abhay Deshmukh, "These elections are crucial for the ruling coalition as they will determine the balance of power in the upper house. A strong showing could bolster the government's legislative agenda."
Voter Turnout and Process
The elections were conducted through a system of proportional representation by single transferable vote. The voter turnout was reported at 65.2%, slightly lower than the 68% recorded in the 2020 elections. Counting began at 8:00 AM across 11 counting centers, one for each constituency. The Election Commission has deployed strict security measures and is live-streaming the counting process to ensure transparency.
"We have implemented a robust system to avoid any discrepancies. The counting is being monitored by observers from the Election Commission," said Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, Shrikant Deshpande.
Political Implications
The results are expected to have significant implications for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). Currently, the alliance holds a majority in the Legislative Assembly but lacks a majority in the Legislative Council. Winning these seats could help them pass key bills, including the proposed Maharashtra Land Revenue Code amendment.
On the other hand, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, aims to gain leverage in the upper house to check the government's actions. "We are confident of winning at least 5 seats, which will strengthen our voice in the council," said MVA spokesperson Sachin Sawant.
Expected Timeline
Counting is expected to conclude by late afternoon, with final results likely to be announced by 5:00 PM. The Election Commission will release the results in phases as each constituency's counting is completed.
