In a sign of relief to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Election Commission of India has on Friday given the permission to hold the elections to the nine vacant seats of the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC).
However, the ECI is yet to issue a formal notification and the dates for the same.
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It was only on Thursday that the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had requested the ECI to hold elections immediately to the vacant posts.
The elections—due on April 21– were postponed due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state.
The state was heading towards a constitutional crisis as the CM who is not yet a member of either of the houses of the State Legislature cannot continue to hold his office beyond six months, in accordance with the Constitution.
The Governor had also refused to take a call on the notification of the CM as a nominated member of the MLC.
This sparked panic in the Maharashtra CMO who then dialed 7, Lok Kalyan Marg to plead before the Prime Minister to resolve this quickly developing crisis.