The Congress central leadership has conceded to the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s (MPCC) demand not to field candidates outside the state for the sole Rajya Sabha seat.
A serious contender for the Rajya Sabha seat is Shivraj Patil.
“Patil’s appointment to the Rajya Sabha will pave the way for his induction in the Union cabinet,” said an MPCC member.
A staunch Congress loyalist, Patil is under consideration in the backdrop of the power tussle in the Centre among senior cabinet ministers and All India Congress Committee functionaries.
However, the party will have to explain his induction as he was asked to resign as Union home minister after the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai.
Sources in state Congress revealed that former chief minister Ashok Chavan was also looking forward for rehabilitation at the Centre, but the ongoing trial in controversial Adarsh scam has affected his prospects. Party coordinator Sanjay Dutt, who had relinquished his council seat for CM Prithviraj Chavan’s election, and party spokesperson Anant Gadgil are also contenders.
The elections for the RS seat will be on July 22.
