India, Feb. 21 -- With the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) likely to secure just one of the seven Rajya Sabha seats in the March 16 biennial elections, senior leaders within the alliance appear inclined to back Sharad Pawar, 85, whose current term in the Upper House ends on April 2.

Though Pawar and his party, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), have maintained silence on whether he will seek another term, insiders suggest he may agree to contest, provided he is elected unopposed.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday indicated that elections may not be necessary if the opposition fields only one candidate. "It is certain that six of the seven seats will be won by the Mahayuti comprising BJP, Shiv Sena a...