more-in Mumbai: The Shiv Sena will seek to return its sitting MP, Anil Desai, to the Rajya Sabha, elections to which are scheduled on March 23. In April and May, 58 Rajya Sabha seats will be falling vacant, of which six are in Maharashtra. Sena sources said the party has the numbers to ensure Mr. Desai’s re-election, whose tenure as MP will end in April. Mr. Desai is considered to be close to party chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is likely to announce his candidature soon. “For us, he is somebody who has been there and done that. His performance as MP has been exemplary, and the party thinks he should be sent back for another tenure,” a senior Shiv Sena leader said. Earlier this week, the Election Commission of India announced that 16 seats will be falling vacant by April 2, and another 42 soon after. These include Maharashtra MPs D.P. Tripathi and Vandana Chanvan (both NCP), Rajiv Shukla and Rajani Patil (both Congress), Ajay Sancheti (BJP) and Mr. Desai. A senior Sena leader said, “We’re confident of re-electing Mr. Desai, as we have 63 members in the State Assembly. The BJP is likely to try for three seats, and the other parties, one each.”

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