The nominees list is said to include the names of Eknath Khadse, Raju Shetti, Yashpal Bhinge and Anand Shinde from NCP’s quota; Rajni Patil, Sachin Sawant, Muzaffar Hussain and Aniruddha Wankar from Congress quota, and Urmila Matondkar, Nitin Bangude-Patil, Vijay Karanjkar and Chandrakant Raghuvanshi from Shiv Sena’s quota. The list was submitted to the governor at Raj Bhavan on November 6, 2020. The MVA ministers who met Governor Koshyari that day did not disclose the names, but confirmed the submission of the government’s recommendations and the cabinet’s resolution in a sealed envelope. They said the government had fulfilled all the legal aspects of finding the nominees eligible under Article 171 (2) (2) and 171 (5) of the Constitution, under which the governor can appoint persons having special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, co-operative movement and social service to the upper house.

It is not for the first time that seasoned politicians, who were either defeated in the elections or could not be given poll tickets, have been nominated to avail of the governor’s quota. There have been a few exceptions in the past though. Barring a couple of candidates, the MVA’s list is no different in political terms. After being a member of the lower house for many terms and being ignored by the BJP after his resignation from the BJP government, Khadse’s nomination has come as a reward for switching over to the NCP. Shetti, ex-Lok Sabha MP of Shetkari Sanghatna, lost the 2019 polls, and later allied with MVA. 

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Academician Bhinge got over 1.5 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha polls from Nanded as Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) candidate. Congress’s ex-CM and sitting MP, Ashok Chavan, was defeated from Nanded because of division of votes. So, Bhinge is a prized catch for NCP’s future politics. Shinde is a folk singer from an underprivileged background. Congress’s veteran Patil is being rehabilitated while young leader Sawant, after losing assembly polls, gets a pat on the back for being a consistent spokesperson. Hussain has been in the upper house for many terms, but didn’t prove lucky in successive Assembly polls. Music composer and singer Wankar (BSP and VBA) contested against Congress in Vidhan Sabha polls and got away with a good share of votes despite losing. Sena has ex-Congress leader Urmila Matondkar in its rank. Motivational speaker Bangude-Patil, and Vijay Karanjkar are die-hard Shiv sainiks. They have been recognized by the party leadership. A career politician Raghuvanshi is an import from the Congress. If the Raj Bhavan wishes so, there are chances that Article 171 (2) (2) and 171 (5) of the Constitution could be dissected and debated for political appointment and eligibility for it. It would be interesting to see in the light of the Centre-State tussle how the Raj Bhavan engages the MVA and legal luminaries arguing against its stand.

Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore
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