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RS polls: BJP mulls airlifting Laxman Jagtap, Mukta Tilak to Mumbai to cast vote
Polls for the six Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled on June 10. The constituents of the ruling MVA, Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress, as well as the opposition BJP have already started reaching out to independents and MLAs from smaller parties while making arrangements for their own MLAs to reach Mumbai by Tuesday
With each vote counting for the upcoming Rajya Sabha (RS) polls for the six seats belonging to Maharashtra, both the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are trying to ensure that all their MLAs are present to cast their votes.
In Pune, the BJP is exploring options such as chopper or air ambulance to ferry party MLA from Pimpri-Chinchwad, Laxman Jagtap, to Mumbai so that he can exercise his voting rights. Jagtap was admitted to a private hospital in Baner in April amid speculation over his health. His family remained tight-lipped about his condition even as the Pimpri-Chinchwad unit of the BJP had to eventually quash all such speculation.
Turns out after battling a serious ailment for nearly 50 days, Jagtap was finally discharged on June 3 from Jupiter hospital in Pune to return to his home in the Pimple-Gurav area where many of his admirers had lined up on both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of him.
Similarly, the BJP is also considering a chopper for another legislator from Kasba peth in Pune, Mukta Tilak, who has been unwell since the past few months. Tilak, 57, recently battled Covid-19 while also fighting cancer. Since the last few days, Tilak has been wheelchair-bound and has restricted her public appearances.
“We will take a final call on the both of our MLAs at a meeting in Mumbai on June 8. Various options including airlift are being considered for Jagtap and Tilak,” said Madhuri Misal, BJP legislator from Parvati. Misal is also in charge of the party affairs in Pimpri-Chinchwad and the BJP whip.
According to Misal, it will be difficult for both Jagtap and Tilak to come to Mumbai and then return to Pune within a few hours by road. “For the same reason, we are exploring various options,” Misal said. Another BJP MLA from Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mahesh Landge, said that the party will take every possible step to ensure that all their legislators including Jagtap reach Mumbai for the Rajya Sabha polls.
Polls for the six Rajya Sabha seats are scheduled on June 10. The constituents of the ruling MVA, Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress, as well as the opposition BJP have already started reaching out to independents and MLAs from smaller parties while making arrangements for their own MLAs to reach Mumbai by Tuesday.
Congress MLA from Jalna, Kailas Gorantyal, said that his party has asked all the MLAs to reach Mumbai by Tuesday with arrangements to stay in the state capital for three days till elections are over. “The Congress party has made it mandatory for each MLA to reach Mumbai with bag containing clothes and personal belongings so that they can stay for three days. I am now on my way carrying clothes and other belongings so I can stay in Mumbai till June 10,” he said.
