In Maharashtra, polling is underway for the Biennial Election for 10 seats in the State Legislative Council. It will witness another contest between the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi and the BJP. The polls have turned into a prestige battle for the ruling alliance which was outwitted by the BJP in the recent Rajya Sabha elections. Two hundred and forty six MLAs had exercised their franchise till the reports last came in. According to the Election Commission, votes will be cast till 4 p.m. while the counting of votes will be taken up at 5 p.m. today.<br />''   <br />'' Eleven candidates are in the fray for the 10 MLC seats, with the three ruling MVA parties – Shivsena, the NCP and the Congress – each fielding two candidates while the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is fielding five candidates. The Shivsena has nominated Sachin Ahir and Amshya Padvi, a party functionary from the tribal-dominated Nandurbar district. The Congress has fielded Mumbai Congress Chief Bhai Jagtap and former Minister Chandrakant Handore. NCP leader Eknath Khadse and Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar are in the fray.<br />''   <br />'' The BJP has renominated outgoing MLCs Pravin Darekar and Prasad Lad and given tickets to Prof. Ram Shinde, Uma Khapre and Shrikant Bharatiya.<br />''   <br />'' MLAs form the electoral college for the MLC elections. The victory quota is around 26 votes as the strength of the 288-member Legislative Assembly has now reduced to 285, following the demise of Sena MLA Ramesh Latke while two NCP MLAs -Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh – are currently in jail and are not allowed to vote by the high court.<br />''