MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) supremo Sharad Pawar has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, marking his return to the Upper House for a third term. The 85-year-old veteran leader's nomination drew widespread support from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, leading to no contest in the seat allocated to the opposition.

The Rajya Sabha elections for seven seats from Maharashtra were scheduled for March 16, with March 5 as the last date for filing nominations. With exactly seven candidates filing for the seven available seats, six from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and one from the MVA, all were declared elected unopposed, eliminating the need for polling.

Pawar, who filed his nomination on March 5 (with his daughter Supriya Sule handling the process amid his health considerations), was backed by the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) after intense negotiations within the MVA. Initial resistance from sections of the Shiv Sena (UBT), particularly newer leaders aligned with Aaditya Thackeray, gave way to consensus, with assurances that Pawar would remain committed to the INDIA bloc and not align with the BJP-led NDA.

In an open letter released after the unopposed election, Pawar expressed profound gratitude to the people of Maharashtra. "The love, trust, and support given by Maharashtra are the true sources of energy in my life," he wrote, acknowledging the continued faith in his leadership despite his long political career spanning multiple terms as Chief Minister, Union Minister, and parliamentarian.

The outcome also highlights the Pawar family's enduring influence in Maharashtra politics. Pawar's grandnephew Parth Pawar, son of the late Ajit Pawar and representing the rival NCP faction in the ruling alliance, is also set to enter the Rajya Sabha, placing two family members from opposing camps in the Upper House simultaneously a rare political development.

Pawar's re-election comes amid his recent health challenges and earlier indications of retiring from the Rajya Sabha after completing two terms. However, party leaders and allies emphasized his indispensable role in guiding the opposition and maintaining alliance unity.

The Mahayuti alliance secured the remaining six seats with nominees including Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, BJP's Vinod Tawde, and others, reflecting their legislative strength in the state assembly.

Pawar's unopposed entry strengthens the opposition's voice in Parliament at a time of heightened political polarization in Maharashtra. Analysts view it as a strategic win for the MVA, reinforcing Pawar's stature as a key architect of opposition unity despite internal alliance dynamics.