<p>Maharashtra is witnessing a never-seen-before kind of a political situation.</p>.<p>Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in the Maharashtra Chief Minister on November 28, 2018.</p>.<p>Uddhav, who is the unanimous leader of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi government, is not a legislator and needs to get elected by May 28, 2020.</p>.<p>From beginning, the 59-year-old Uddhav had two options - either be a member of the Assembly or Council. Uddhav had preferred the route to the Upper House.</p>.<p>But now, there is a peculiar situation.</p>.<p>Due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and need for social distancing, the Election Commission of India, last week, deferred elections to nine seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.</p>.<p>Nine members of the Council, for which the electoral college is Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, are retiring on April 24, 2020.</p>.<p>But MVA leaders are not worried. And they refuse to share any details.</p>.<p>There are some immediate solutions. Two Council seats from the Governor's quota are vacant as Ramrao Wadkute and Rahul Narvekar had resigned.</p>.<p>If Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari gives his assent, Thackeray could continue. Both were associated with NCP and it would not be a problem for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP to give the seat to Shiv Sena.</p>.<p>In another scenario, Thackeray resigns ahead of May 28 and is sworn in again as the CM. But, it’s a tricky process as in the event of resignation of the head of government, the council of ministers is dissolved automatically. This has to be a smooth 24-hour operation as the BJP will leave no stones unturned to topple the government.</p>.<p>As per Article 164 (4) of the Constitution, a minister, who is not a member of either Houses, will cease to be a minister on expiry of six months. However, there are various interpretation and judgements on the article.</p>
<p>Maharashtra is witnessing a never-seen-before kind of a political situation.</p>.<p>Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray was sworn in the Maharashtra Chief Minister on November 28, 2018.</p>.<p>Uddhav, who is the unanimous leader of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi government, is not a legislator and needs to get elected by May 28, 2020.</p>.<p>From beginning, the 59-year-old Uddhav had two options - either be a member of the Assembly or Council. Uddhav had preferred the route to the Upper House.</p>.<p>But now, there is a peculiar situation.</p>.<p>Due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and need for social distancing, the Election Commission of India, last week, deferred elections to nine seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.</p>.<p>Nine members of the Council, for which the electoral college is Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, are retiring on April 24, 2020.</p>.<p>But MVA leaders are not worried. And they refuse to share any details.</p>.<p>There are some immediate solutions. Two Council seats from the Governor's quota are vacant as Ramrao Wadkute and Rahul Narvekar had resigned.</p>.<p>If Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari gives his assent, Thackeray could continue. Both were associated with NCP and it would not be a problem for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP to give the seat to Shiv Sena.</p>.<p>In another scenario, Thackeray resigns ahead of May 28 and is sworn in again as the CM. But, it’s a tricky process as in the event of resignation of the head of government, the council of ministers is dissolved automatically. This has to be a smooth 24-hour operation as the BJP will leave no stones unturned to topple the government.</p>.<p>As per Article 164 (4) of the Constitution, a minister, who is not a member of either Houses, will cease to be a minister on expiry of six months. However, there are various interpretation and judgements on the article.</p>
