Photo: Ajit Pawar/X

Pune: The list of 12 candidates to be named by the Governor for the Legislative Council may be finalised in a State Cabinet meeting soon. It was learnt that the BJP will get six seats while the Shiv Sena (BT) and the NCP (AP) will get three seats each. 

The three probable names from Ajit Pawar’s camp made rounds recently. However, “the party has not finalised any names and the list being discussed is not genuine,” said NCP (AP) President and DyCM Ajit Pawar. He was speaking to the media in the city on Tuesday (September 10).

Pawar said, “We have still not finalised the names for the Governor-appointed Legislative Council members. But I came to know about them through you (media). It entertained us.”

Earlier, there was a controversy over NCP (AP) leader Rupali Chakankar’s name being recommended for the Legislative Council. Commenting on the row, Pawar said, “Wrong news was spread about names. Therefore, there is no question of any dispute over the issue and there is no reason to discuss it too.”

Which three names were making rounds?

The deadlock over the 12-nomiated names has been dragging on for a long time. After the Governor delayed sanctioning the list presented by the then MVA government, it went to court. Now, the Maha Yuti is trying to get the members appointed before the State Assembly polls. Rupali Chakankar, Anand Paranjape and Siddharth Kamble’s names were purportedly recommended from the NCP (AP). However, Ajit Pawar has dismissed any such possibility. 

What did Rupali Patil Thombre say?

Earlier, expressing her displeasure, NCP leader Ruapli Patil Thombre said, “I am confident that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will definitely do justice on the basis of ‘one person, one post’. How many posts will be given to one woman? I read about this yesterday. I tried to confirm the news but I was told that the party did not officially convey this to her about this. It is my earnest request to the party that there are other women in the party. They are equally strong and work hard. There are many such women in the party. Equal opportunity should be given to other women.”