The development is significant as junior partner Shiv Sena has expressed its reservations about the candidature of Narayan Rane who is considered as an arch rival of Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thakrey. Just a day before filing his nomination papers, the erstwhile firebrand Shiv Sainik had tendered his resignation as the Chief of Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha so as to fight Rajya Sabha poll on BJP ticket. After winning the seat, Rane thanked BJP Chief Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Besides Rane, leaders like Union Minister Prakash Javdekar, BJP leader V Muraleedharan, Senior Scribe Kumar Ketkar, Shiv Sena’s Anil Desai, and Vandana Chavan representing NCP were also elected unopposed from Maharashtra. Dr. Vijaya Rahatkar the fourth candidate of the BJP withdrew her candidature.