India, March 4 -- Even as the three constituents of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are locked in a tussle over the lone Rajya Sabha seat up for grabs, the coalition also faces the prospect of losing 17 of the 18 seats in the state legislative council, for which elections will be held in the next two months.

Nine seats, to be filled via election by MLAs, will go to the polls next month, while four others will be filled via polling in local bodies. The ruling Mahayuti alliance will likely nominate its leaders for five seats nominated from the governor's quota.

Nine legislative council seats will fall vacant in May and July this year. Although five are held by the Mahayuti and four by the opposition MVA, the opposition will win just on...