The Election Commission is likely to hold polls to the nine Maharashtra Legislative Council seats on May 21, sources said on Friday.

The polls were deferred due to the spread of coronavirus.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who was sworn in on November 28 last year, has time till May 27 to get elected to the state legislature, failing which he will have to step down.

Maharashtra Governor B. S. Koshyari had requested the Election Commission on Thursday to declare polls for nine vacant seats to the state Legislative Council.

Sources in the poll panel said a decision was taken on Friday to hold the polls before May 27.

'They would be held on May 21,' a functionary said, adding that details are bring worked out.

The sources pointed out that the state chief secretary has assured the Commission that all guidelines issued by the Centre to prevent the spread of coronavirus would be followed during elections.

Earlier, the state cabinet recommended to the Governor twice to nominate Thackeray to the council as two out of 12 seats that the governor nominates are lying vacant.

Thackeray meets Koshyari

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday called on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

The meeting lasted for about 20 minutes, a Raj Bhavan statement said.

During the meeting, Thackeray exchanged greetings with the Governor on the occasion of the 60th foundation day of Maharashtra state.