Intense preparations are underway for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections scheduled for May 12, where 10 seats are up for grabs. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is urging Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), to contest the lone seat they are likely to win. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal met Thackeray, suggesting that the Congress would only step aside for him if he agrees to run. The NCP has also backed Thackeray's candidacy, emphasizing his experience and leadership. Despite previous hesitations, Thackeray is reportedly reconsidering his decision. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is expected to secure eight of the nine biennial seats, with a strong majority of over 237 MLAs. They are focusing on candidate selection, aiming for gender representation, with plans to nominate at least three women candidates. The elections will also include a bypoll for a seat vacated by Congress MLC Pradnya Satav, who joined the BJP last December.