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The Central Election Committee (CEC) of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced the names of its candidates for the biennial elections and by-election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council, setting the stage for a key political contest in the state ahead of the upcoming Upper House polls.

According to the party’s official announcement, the BJP has fielded Sunil Vinayak Karjatkar, Madhavi Naik, Sanjay Natthuji Bhende, Vivek Bipindada Kolhe and Pramod Shantaram Jathar for the biennial Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. The party has also nominated Dr Pradnya Rajeev Satav for the Legislative Council by-election.

The names were approved by the BJP’s Central Election Committee after consultations between the party’s national leadership and the Maharashtra unit. The candidate list reflects the party’s effort to strengthen its organisational presence in the Legislative Council while rewarding leaders who have played important roles in the party structure and election management.

The Maharashtra Legislative Council elections are politically significant as they will determine representation in the state’s Upper House at a time when the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), continues to consolidate its position in Maharashtra politics.

The Election Commission has scheduled biennial elections for multiple Legislative Council seats across Maharashtra. According to the poll schedule, voting for several Local Authorities Constituencies is set to take place on June 18, while counting will be held on June 22. The nomination process is currently underway, with June 1 being the last date for filing nominations in several constituencies.

Political attention is particularly focused on constituencies across Vidarbha, western Maharashtra and other regions where the BJP is seeking to maintain its dominance. Party leaders have been holding internal consultations for weeks amid discussions over alliance equations and candidate selection.

The by-election nomination of Dr Pradnya Rajeev Satav has also attracted attention following her political shift to the BJP, which created the vacancy that necessitated the bypoll.

The Legislative Council elections are expected to serve as an important political test for the BJP and its allies as parties prepare for future electoral battles in Maharashtra. Opposition parties are also finalising their candidates, setting up what could become a closely watched contest in several constituencies.

With nominations entering the final stage and campaigning expected to intensify over the coming days, the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections are likely to emerge as one of the state’s key political developments this month.