Six Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra are up for election as the existing MPs` tenure expires. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who just joined the party, as well as Medha Kulkarni and Dr. Ajit Gopchade. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) nominated former Union Minister Praful Patel, while the Shiv Sena nominated Milind Deora, who just switched loyalties, and the Congress chose Dalit activist Chandrakant Handore.

Chavan, Kulkarni, and Gopchade of the BJP filed nomination papers at the Vidhan Bhavan. Chavan went to the Siddhivinayak temple before filing his paperwork, stating his desire for a "new political life." "This is a commencement of my new political life," Chavan was quoted as saying in the PTI report. 

Kulkarni, the only female contender among the six, promised to use the chance provided by the party, the report added.