Sonali Bendre, Anil Kapoor, David Dhawan & More At Jeetendra-Shobha Kapoors 50th Anniversary
Jeetendra and his wife Shobha Kapoor celebrated their golden 50th wedding anniversary in grand style last evening! Bollywoods finest, including Sonali Bendre, Anil Kapoor, Padmini Kolhapure, David Dhawan, and more, joined the celebration. Watch the video for more! bollywood news | entertainment news live | latest bollywood news | bollywood | news18 | n18oc_moviesLiked the video? Please press the thumbs up icon and leave a comment. Subscribe to Showsha YouTube channel and never miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/c/SHOWSHAIndiaFollow Showsha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showsha_/Follow Showsha on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/showshaFollow Showsha on X: https://x.com/news18showshaFollow Showsha on Snapchat: https://snapchat.com/t/6YeotZeyMore entertainment and lifestyle news and updates on:https://www.news18.com/entertainment
Raj Kapoors Heroine Padmini Kolhapure Shares A Special Memory From 'Yeh Galiyan Yeh Chaubara' Shoot
Cine & TV artists Association(CINTAA) is gearing up to commemorate the centenary of the legendary Shri Raj Kapoor with an enchanting musical evening on December 18. Ahead of the grand event, his heroines, Padmini Kolhapure and Poonam Dhillon came together to talk about the special event and his contributions to Indian cinema. Watch the video for more. bollywood news | entertainment news live | latest bollywood news | bollywood | news18 | n18oc_moviesLiked the video? Please press the thumbs up icon and leave a comment. Subscribe to Showsha YouTube channel and never miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/c/SHOWSHAIndiaFollow Showsha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showsha_/Follow Showsha on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/showshaFollow Showsha on X: https://x.com/news18showshaFollow Showsha on Snapchat: https://snapchat.com/t/6YeotZeyMore entertainment and lifestyle news and updates on:https://www.news18.com/entertainment
Navy to launch `Sampark 4.0` to provide healthcare services for ex-servicemen
A team comprising an officer and five sailors will embark on a 10-day journey across various regions of Maharashtra, and hold interactive and immersive sessions at each ECHS Polyclinics located in Thane, Nasik (Deolali), Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur and Pune under the initiative
Marathi activists try to stop Karnataka MLA from entering Kolhapur temple
They say they are doing it to protest against the Siddaramaiah govt.s decision not to allow MES Maha Melava in Belagavi
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders stage protest in Kolhapur temple, raise slogans against Karnataka during MLA visit Deccan Herald
CBI arrests Indian bank panel advocate in Kolhapur for accepting Rs 1.70 lakh bribe
The central agency stated that the arrest was made on Tuesday. The advocate had initially sought a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh, which was later negotiated down to Rs 1.80 lakh, in exchange for deferring the possession of a mortgaged property under the SARFAESI Act. The accused was caught red-handed during a trap laid by the CBI at his office.
Mamata is a capable leader, says Pawar on her willingness to head INDIA bloc
MUMBAI, Dec 8: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has supported West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees statement expressing her willingness to take charge of the INDIA bloc. Talking to reporters in Kolhapur on Saturday, Pawar said the Trinamool Congress chief is a capable leader and has the right to show her intent to head the opposition alliance. Earlier this week, Banerjee said she could manage the dual responsibility of running the opposition front while continuing her role as [] The post Mamata is a capable leader, says Pawar on her willingness to head INDIA bloc appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Mamata Banerjee is a capable leader, says Sharad Pawar on her willingness to head INDIA bloc
MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has supported West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement expressing her willingness to take charge of the INDIA bloc. Talking to reporters in Kolhapur on Saturday, Pawar said the Trinamool Congress chief is a capable leader and has the right to show her intent to head the opposition alliance. Earlier this week, Banerjee said she could manage the dual responsibility of running the opposition front while continuing her role as the chief minister of West Bengal. Her statement comes at a time when broader tensions have emerged within the INDIA bloc due to dissatisfaction from various regional parties and the recent electoral setbacks for the Congress in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra. Asked about Banerjee's remark, Pawar said, She is a capable leader in the country and has the right to say it. The MPs she has sent to the Parliament are hardworking and aware. Want Mamata Banerjee to be major partner of INDIA bloc, will soon talk to her: Sanjay Raut
MVA need not fret over poll defeat; people not enthused by Mahayuti victory: Sharad Pawar
KOLHAPUR: NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the Opposition should not lose heart over its rout but go back to the people who do not seem to be enthused by the massive victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti in the Maharashtra elections. The Opposition's priority would be to ensure that all the election promises made by the ruling alliance, including increasing the financial assistance to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100, are implemented at the earliest, he said. Pawar said a comparison between votes polled and seats won by political parties in the Maharashtra assembly polls was surprising. It is true that we have been defeated. We should not fret over it but go back to the people, as no enthusiasm is visible among the people about the election results. There is a lot of resentment, the senior politician said at a press conference here. After Maharashtra poll debacle, defeated MVA candidates to seek verification of EVM-VVPAT units The ruling BJP-NCP-Shiv Sena alliance won 230 out of 288 seats in the November 20 elections. The Opposition's strength in the assembly is low, but many young Opposition MLAs will show their mettle after a couple of sessions, Pawar said. To a question on Samajwadi Party's state chief Abu Asim Azmi announcing that his party was pulling out of the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance after the Shiv Sena (UBT) hailed, in a newspaper advertisement, those who demolished the Babri Masjid, Pawar sought to play down the development. The central leadership of the Akhilesh Yadav-led party was of the firm view that the Opposition's unity is necessary, he said. Opposition parties can not demand that a Leader of Opposition must be appointed as they do not have the required numbers, Pawar said. None of the Opposition parties, including Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP), Congress or Sena (UBT) individually, have the minimum 29 MLAs en per cent of the assembly's strength to be eligible for the post. Pawar, however, noted that in the 1980s, when his own party was reduced to just six MLAs following defections, he still became the Leader of the Opposition for a year, followed by Mrinal Gore and Nihal Ahmed as the Opposition decided to rotate the post. To a question about the row over a wad of Rs 500 notes being found in the Rajya Sabha, Pawar, himself a member of the Upper House, said there should be a probe as to how the bundle made its way to the seat of an MP (Congress' Abhishek Manu Singhvi) who is an established and renowned lawyer. Pawar said the comparison between votes polled and seats won by political parties in Maharashtra assembly polls was surprising. Congress polled 80 lakh votes and won 15 seats while Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena bagged 79 lakh votes and emerged victorious on 57 seats, he said. Ajit Pawar's NCP polled 58 lakh votes and won 41 seats, whereas the NCP (SP) secured 72 lakh votes and won only ten seats, he said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that as a senior leader, Pawar shouldn't mislead the country. You will come out of this if you accept defeat. I expect you to give your colleagues advice on introspection, he stated on X. , @PawarSpeaks , . ? 2024 , 1,49,13,914 9, 96,41,856 13. 73,77,674 7 Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 7, 2024 Fadnavis said BJP polled 1,49,13,914 votes and bagged nine seats in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, whereas Congress polled 96,41,856 votes and bagged 13 seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) got 73,77,674 votes and won 7 seats, while NCP (SP) polled 58,51,166 votes and won 8 constituencies, he said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress polled 87,92,237 votes and won only one seat while the undivided NCP secured 83,87,363 votes but won 4 seats, he added. Maharashtra polls: What went wrong for the MVA?
No enthusiasm seen among people after Mahayutis massive victory: Sharad Pawar
Kolhapur, Dec 7 (PTI) NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed that no enthusiasm or overt joy was visible among the people of Maharashtra after the BJP-led Mahayuti coalitions landslide victory in the November 20 assembly elections. Speaking at a press conference at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, Pawar said the Opposition need not worry, but it should go back to the people after the setback. The Oppositions Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance will work to ensure that the government kept all its pre-poll promises including increasing the financial assistance for women under the Ladki Bahin scheme to Rs 2,100 from
No enthusiasm seen among people after Mahayuti's massive victory: Sharad Pawar
The NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was speaking at a press conference at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra.
Inconsistencies in postal ballots and EVM results in Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA
Mumbai : Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Varun Sardesai on Monday claimed the trends in postal ballots and EVM results of the Maharashtra assembly polls appear inconsistent, raising doubts about the integrity of the EVM system. Sardesai, who defeated NCP's Zeeshan Siddique to win the Vandre East assembly seat in the debut contest, also claimed a suspicious spike in voter turnout during the final two hours of polling and demanded a reply from the Election Commission. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Sardesai claimed statistical anomalies were observed in the Election Commission's official data, and called for greater transparency and accountability. While I am not making direct allegations, the data raises several doubts that must be addressed, he said. He said that postal ballots, which largely represent soldiers, senior citizens, essential service workers, and government employees, generally align with the overall voter sentiment in their constituencies. Trends in postal ballots were consistent with EVM results in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections (when MVA won 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra). However, in the assembly elections, a striking divergence was observed, Sardesai said. For example, the Maha Vikas Aghadi was leading in 31 constituencies through postal ballots, while the BJP-led Mahayuti was ahead in 16 constituencies. Yet, the final EVM results showed the MVA securing only 46 seats, while the Mahayuti tally surged to 230 seats (in assembly polls), he said. Sardesai further claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray received 874 postal votes and 62,450 EVM votes in the Worli constituency in Mumbai, while his opponent Milind Deora got 522 postal votes and 54,001 EVM votes. According to Sardesai, this pattern extended beyond the Shiv Sena (UBT). Congress leader Nana Patole was ahead by 54 per cent in postal ballots but saw a sharp 12.7 per cent drop in EVM counts, he said. Similarly, NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil, who had 70 per cent of postal votes, experienced an 18 per cent decline in EVM results, Sardesai said, adding that this trend was never observed in previous elections. He also mentioned Kolhapur South, Tivsa, and Ghatkopar East constituencies where MVA candidates leading in postal ballots saw significant drops in EVM counts. How is it possible that in almost every case, MVA candidates experienced a 5 to 15 per cent decline in votes from postal to EVM results, while Mahayuti candidates saw an equivalent rise? This raises serious doubts about the integrity of the EVM system, he said. Sardesai appealed to the Election Commission to address these issues, stating that its primary responsibility is to ensure free and fair elections. Why were the trends seen in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections so dramatically different in the Assembly elections? Any doubts in the electoral process must be resolved to maintain public confidence, he added.
Cyclone Fengal: Maharashtra's Mango, Cashew Farmers Worried As IMD Predicts Rain, Dip In Mercury
Heavy rain is likely in Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Satara, and Kolhapur on Wednesday. In addition, districts like Pune, Solapur, Sangli, and parts of Marathwada, including Dharashiv, Latur, and Nanded, may experience rainfall during this period
Sneak Peek of Todays Episode: Catch the culprit - Will Jethalals plan against Dankiwala work?
In the upcoming episode of TMKOC, Jethalal gears up for his crucial meeting with the man behind the fraud. With Bhides help, he transforms into 'Atmaram Tukaram Tawde,' complete with a convincing Marathi look. As the plan inches closer to execution, tensions rise. Will Sundars strategy expose the fraudster? Or will Jethalals disguise fall short of fooling the culprit? Find out tonight at 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM only on Sony SAB TV! Recap of the Previous Episode: Gokuldham society gathers as Sundar arrives with 35 fridges, escalating the tension over Mr. Dankiwala's fraud against Jethalal. Sundar devises a plan to catch the culprit by contacting a dealer who might be linked to Dankiwala. He persuades the dealer to arrange a meeting between Jethalal and Dankiwala's boss. To execute the plan, Jethalal agrees to disguise himself as a Marathi man from Kolhapur, setting the stage for an exciting confrontation.
Three of Family Die as Car Plunges Into Krishna River
Sangli: Three members of a family were killed after their car plunged into the Krishna river in western Maharashtra's Sangli district in the early hours of Thursday, police said.The accident took place on the Ankali bridge around 12.30 am when two families, the Khedekars and Narvekars, residents of Sangli, were returning after attending a wedding in Kolhapur. There are two bridges on the Krishna river at the spot, an old one and a new one, adjacent to each other. The driver lost control of the car while it was passing through the old bridge and it fell between the two bridges, said a police official. It landed on a dry patch near a bridge pillar, he added. Six severely injured persons were taken to hospital. While Prasad Bhalchandra Khedekar (35), his wife Prerana (36) and Vaishnavi Santosh Narvekar (21) died, Samarjeet Prasad Khedekar (7), Varad Santosh Narvekar (19) and Sakshi Santosh Narvekar (42) were undergoing treatment, the official said.
Maharashtra Assembly polls: Independents finish second in 19 constituencies
MUMBAI: While the contest was between the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, which together constitute six major parties, in the Maharashtra assembly polls, independent candidates showed their mettle by standing second in 19 constituencies. The Mahayuti swept the polls to the 288-member assembly, with BJP bagging 132 seats while Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena got 57 and 41 went into the kitty of the NCP. The opposition Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) of Sharad Pawar managed to win just 16, 20 and 10 seats, respectively. Maharashtra polls: At 85%, BJPs strike rate highest in state In Aheri constituency in Gadchiroli district, independent candidate Raje Ambrish Rao Raje Satyavanrao Atram, who had previously won in 2014 as a BJP candidate and was also a minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government, lost to Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Atram Dharamraobaba Bhagwantrao by just 16,814 votes. In Airoli constituency in Navi Mumbai, BJP's Ganesh Naik defeated independent challenger Vijay Chougule by 91,880 votes. However, Chougule managed to race ahead of the contestant from Shiv Sena (UBT). In Amalner (Jalgaon district), independent candidate Shirish Hiralal Chaudhari finished second to NCP's Anil Bhaidas Patil. He lost the poll by 33,435 votes. Similarly, in Beed's Ashti constituency, BJP's Dhas Suresh Ramchandra won by 77,975 votes, while independent candidate Bhimrao Anandrao Dhonde finished second. The Badnera constituency in Amaravati district saw independent candidate Priti Sanjay Band finish runner-up to Ravi Rana of the Rashtriya Yuva Swabhiman Party. Rana was backed by the BJP in Badnera. In Kalyan East, Mahesh Dashrath Gaikwad, an independent candidate, lost narrowly to BJP's Sulbha Ganpat Gaikwad by 26,408 votes. Sulbha is the wife of BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, who is in jail after firing at Mahesh Gaikwad inside a police station. In Kannad constituency (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district), independent candidate Jadhav Harshwardhan Raibhan was defeated by his estranged wife Ranjanatai (Sanjana) Harshvardhan Jadhav of Shiv Sena by 18,201 votes. In Raigad's Karjat constituency, independent candidate Sudhakar Parshuram Ghare finished second to Shiv Sena's Thorve Mahendra Sadashiv by a margin of 5,694 votes. In Solapur district's Karmala constituency, NCP's Narayan (Aba) Govindrao Patil won by 16,085 votes against independent candidate Shinde Sanjaymama Vithalrao, while the in Kolhapur North Shiv Sena's Rajesh Vinayak Kshirsagar defeated Congress-backed independent candidate Rajesh Bharat Latkar by 29,563 votes. In Solapur's Madha constituency, independent candidate Ranjit Babanrao Shinde lost to NCP's Abhijeet Dhananjay Patil by 30,621 votes. Malegaon Outer (Nashik) saw a massive 106,606 vote victory for Shiv Sena's Dadaji Dagdu Bhuse over independent candidate Pramod Bandukaka Purushottam Bachhav. In Maval constituency (Pune district), NCP's Sunil Shankarrao Shelke defeated independent candidate Anna Alias Bapu Jaywantrao Bhegade by a margin of 108,565 votes. In Nashik's Nandgaon constituency, independent candidate Bhujbal Sameer, who rebelled against the NCP, lost by 89,874 votes to Shiv Sena's Suhas Kande. In Nandurbar constituency, independent candidate Sharad Krishnarao Gavit lost to Congress' Shirishkumar Surupsing Naik by 1,121 votes. Maharashtra poll drubbing a wake-up call for Congress Independent candidate Satyajit Vikramsingh Patankar was defeated by Shiv Sena's Desai Shambhuraj Shivajirao by 34,824 votes in Satara's Patan constituency. Similarly, in Nagpur's Ramtek constituency, Congress-backed independent Rajendra Bhurao Mulak lost by 26,555 votes to Shiv Sena's Ashish Nandkishore Jaiswal. In Washim district's Risod constituency, independent candidate Anantrao Vitthalrao Deshmukh finished second to Congress's Ameet Subhashrao Zanak, who won by 6,136 votes. In Dhule's Shirpur constituency, independent candidate Dr. Jitendra Yuvraj Thakur was defeated by BJP's Kashiram Vechan Pawara by a massive margin of 1,45,944 votes. This was the highest margin of victory recorded in these elections. In Shrigonda (Ahilyanagar constituency), independent candidate Rahul Jagtap lost to BJP's Babanrao Pachpute by 37,156 votes. The poll in Warora (Chandrapur district) was also closely contested, with BJP's Karan Sanjay Deotale emerging victorious over independent candidate Mukesh Manoj Jiwtode by 15,450 votes. Two independent candidates won in the Maharashtra assembly polls, results of which were declared on Saturday. Sharaddada Sonawane emerged victorious from Junnar seat in Pune district, while Shivaji Shattupa Patil won from Changad in Kolhapur. Incidentally, the outgoing assembly had 13 independent MLAs. A total of 4,136 candidates were in the fray for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, of which 2,086 were independents.
Kolhapur South election results: BJP's Amal Mahadik leads Congress's Ruturaj Patil by 15374 votes
In Maharashtra's Kolhapur South Assembly constituency, BJP's Amal Mahadik is leading against Congress's Ruturaj Patil after 14 rounds of counting. Early results show the BJP leading in 126 seats, while its alliance partner, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is ahead in 54 seats. The NCP is leading in 40 constituencies.
From tribal art to a bit of Kashmir in PMs gift to Brazil, Guyana and Nigeria
NEW DELHI: With his each foreign visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only carries Indias diplomatic agenda but also its rich heritage. Official sources said that in his visits to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana, Modi carried with him gifts from all corners of the country eight from Maharashtra, five from J&K, three each from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, two from Jharkhand and one each from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, UP, Bihar, Odisha and Ladakh. According to an official statement, the gifts from Maharashtra included Silofar panchamrit kalash (pot) from Kolhapur given to the Nigerian President and Warli paintings to the Brazil President. Natural rough Amethyst with silver camel head on top from Pune was given to Australian PM and a hand-carved silver chess set to the Portugal PM. Modi also gifted an exquisite silver candle stand to the Italy PM and hand-engraved silver fruit bowl to the CARICOM secretary general. In a push to the culture of J&K, Modi gifted a pair of paper-mch gold work vases to the UK PM and Pashmina shawl in papier mache box to the First Lady of Guyana. The gifts from Rajasthan include a silver photo frame given to the Argentina President, marble inlay work to the Norway PM and gold work wooden raj sawari figurine to the Guyana PM. The gifts from Andhra Pradesh include a silver clutch purse given to the spouse of Brazil President and Araku coffee to leaders of CARICOM countries. Sohrai painting from Jharkhands Hazaribagh was given to Nigeria Vice President; and Khovar painting to the Indonesia President. Officials said other gifts include silver and rosewood ceremonial photo frame from UP given to the Chile President, wooden toy train from Karnataka to younger son of Guyana President, and silver filigree art from Cuttack to the Guyana Vice-President.
Maharashtra assembly election: Counting of votes begins
Maharashtra assembly election: Counting of votes beginsCounting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections began Saturday morning, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback.The counting of votes commenced at 8 am in all the counting centres in the state, an election official said. At the counting centres, officials first began verifying and counting the postal ballots, with the counting of EVM votes scheduled to start at 8.30 am. There will be a minimum of 20 rounds of counting in each assembly segment, an official said. The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019. Counting of votes also began at 8 am for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, where 67.81 per cent voting was recorded on November 20. Kolhapur district led with 76.63 per cent polling, followed by 75.26 per cent in Gadchiroli, which has some Left Wing Extremism affected pockets, while the lowest was in Mumbai island city at 52.07 per cent. Mumbai suburban district recorded 55.95 per cent polling. A total of 288 counting centres have been set up for the counting of votes. A total of 288 counting observers are overseeing each assembly constituency, with two observers assigned to monitor counting in the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, an official said. The high volume of postal ballots has led to the establishment of 1,732 tables for postal ballot counting and 592 tables for Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to ensure a smooth counting process across all assembly constituencies, the official said. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates. Parties like Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), also contested, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM putting up 17 candidates. The number of candidates this time increased by 28 per cent compared to the 2019 state assembly elections. This year, 4,136 candidates contested, up from 3,239 in 2019 elections. Among these candidates, 2,086 were independents. Rebels were in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party's official nominees. There were 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra this time, compared to 96,654 booths in the 2019 assembly elections. Mumbai police have issued an order prohibiting any assembly of people in 300-metre radius of all the 36 counting centres in the city, which comprises 36 assembly constituencies. No person, other than an official engaged with the election process or public servant engaged in duty, shall loiter or form any assembly within 300 metres radius from any counting centre, a police official said. The order is effective till midnight on November 24. The majority mark in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly is 145, the number any alliance or party needs to crack to be able to form government in the state. The term of the present state assembly ends on November 26.
Maharashtra assembly election: All Eyes on BJP-led Mahayuti vs MVA Battle
Mumbai: Counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections will begin at 8 am on Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback. The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019, election officials said. Counting of votes will also be held for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, where 67.81 per cent voting was recorded on November 20. Kolhapur district led with 76.63 per cent polling, followed by 75.26 per cent in Gadchiroli, which has some Left Wing Extremism affected pockets, while the lowest was in Mumbai island city at 52.07 per cent. Mumbai suburban district recorded 55.95 per cent polling. A total of 288 counting centres have been set up for the counting of votes on Saturday, including one for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll. A total of 288 counting observers will oversee each assembly constituency, with two observers assigned to monitor counting in Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, an official said. The high volume of postal ballots has led to the establishment of 1,732 tables for postal ballot counting and 592 tables for Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to ensure a smooth counting process across all assembly constituencies, the official said. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition's MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates. Parties like Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), also contested, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM putting up 17 candidates. The number of candidates this time increased by 28 per cent compared to the 2019 state assembly elections. This year, 4,136 candidates contested, up from 3,239 in 2019 elections. Among these candidates, 2,086 were independents. Rebels were in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party's official nominees. There were 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra this time, compared to 96,654 booths in the 2019 assembly elections. Mumbai police have issued an order prohibiting any assembly of people in 300-metre radius of all the 36 counting centres in the city, which comprises 36 assembly constituencies. No person, other than an official engaged with the election process or public servant engaged in duty, shall loiter or form any assembly within 300 metres radius from any counting centre, a police official said. The order is effective from 6 am on November 21 till midnight on November 24. Ahead of the counting of votes, a poster in Pune depicting NCP chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar as the next chief minister was put up by a local party worker and was later removed. The majority mark in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly is 145, the number any alliance or party needs to crack to be able to form government in the state. The term of the present state assembly ends on November 26. While most exit polls predict a victory for the Mahayuti alliance, three suggest that neither the Mahayuti nor the Maha Vikas Aghadi would secure a decisive majority to form the next government in Maharashtra.
Whos got Maha edge? High rural vote count key
MUMBAI: The rise in voting by almost 4% in the Maharashtra assembly elections against the 2019 figures has led the states political adversaries to claim an edge over each other. According to the Election Commission, 65.2% voting took place in Wednesdays polls. The count was 61.4% in 2019. In the Lok Sabha elections, 61.39% polling was reported. The voter turnout in the Assembly polls has turned out the highest in three decades. The state last recorded a higher turnout in 1995, with 71.7%. In Wednesdays voting, 97.02 million voters were eligible to vote across 288 constituencies. Rural areas, known for higher voter engagement, led the way, with the Karvir constituency in Kolhapur topping the charts at 84.79%. Gadchiroli district also recorded voter participation at 73.68%. In contrast, urban centres such as Mumbai recorded 52.07% turnout, while Mumbai Suburban recorded 55.77% and Thane 56.05%. Mumbais Colaba constituency improved from 40% in 2019 to 44.49% this election. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said a higher turnout has always benefited the BJP. The Ladli Bahena scheme is a major factor behind the rise in the turnout. Women voters came out in huge numbers to vote for MahaYuti, he said. I personally spoke with people in about 25 seats and was told about the higher women turnout. They voted for MahaYuti. State Congress chief Nana Patole said the party was confident of winning. There is huge anti-incumbency against the government. Thats why the voting percentage has gone up, he said. He said there was anger among farmer and rural communities over fall in cotton, soyabean and turmeric prices which resulted in more people coming out to vote, Patole said. However, observers agree that urban apathy could skew election results in favour of rural constituencies, making their votes even more decisive in closely contested regions. They refer to Mumbai, which is home to 36 constituencies and a significant chunk of Maharashtras electorate.
Maharashtra final voter turnout revised to 66.05%
The final turnout in the Maharashtra assembly polls was 66.05 percent, up from 61.1 percent in 2019, according to the Election Commission. The polling percentage for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll was 67.81 percent. The increase, excluding postal ballots, highlighted the EC's efforts to engage a broader electorate, the statement added. Kolhapur led with 76.63 per cent, followed by 75.26 per cent in Gadchiroli, while the lowest was in Mumbai island city at 52.07 per cent and 55.95 per cent in the metropolis' suburban district. More than 68,000 citizens aged over 85 and 12,000 individuals with disabilities cast their votes through home voting.
The district-wise voter turnout in Kolhapur was the highest at 76.25%, followed by Gadchiroli at 73.68% and Jalna at 73.30%.
Maharashtra Election Voting Percentage: Check District-Wise Voter Turnout In The State
Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: The highest turnout was recorded in the 10 assembly seats in the Kolhapur district at 76.25%, followed by Gadchiroli at 73.68%.
Revanth to Maha Voters: Modi Has No Success Story to Share
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of failing to deliver on promises made during his tenure. Addressing a press conference in Pune on Monday, as part of his three-day campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Revanth Reddy alleged that Modi had no success story to share with people after ruling for over a decade, which is why he has been raising irrelevant issues during his Maharashtra election campaign. He said that the Telangana government is providing four per cent reservations to Muslims and assured that if the MVA government is voted to power, it will address the issue of Muslim reservations in Maharashtra also. The Chief Minister wrapped up his three-day Maharashtra campaign tour with rallies in Pune and Kolhapur, reiterating his call for a united fight against the BJP. Revanth Reddy claimed that the Prime Minister was deflecting attention by raising irrelevant issues during his campaign. Even after 11 years of rule, the Modi government does not have a single success story to claim, he remarked. He drove home the point by mentioning about unfulfilled promises such as doubling farmers' income, providing two crore jobs annually and building homes for the poor by 2022. He accused the Modi government of bringing anti-farmer policies, including controversial farm laws that led to prolonged protests and claimed lives of over 700 farmers. Maharashtra has the highest number of farmer suicides, but the Prime Minister avoids this subject, he said. Revanth Reddy defended the Congress governments in Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, and asserted that the guarantees promised in these states were being implemented effectively. He challenged Modi to send a committee led by a Union minister or a senior Central government official to Telangana to verify the facts. Revanth Reddy highlighted Telanganas achievements under his leadership, including waiving 18,000 crore in crop loans for farmers, providing government jobs to 50,000 youth, offering free RTC bus travel for women, supplying cooking gas cylinders to 50 lakh families at 500, ensuring 24-hour free electricity for farmers and up to 200 units to poor households and achieving record grain production with added bonus for farmers. Revanth Reddy criticised the BJP's handling of Maharashtra, accusing the Modi government of destabilising democratic institutions. He targeted BJP allies Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and Ashok Chavan, calling them betrayers, who had turned Maharashtra into a stronghold for democracys enemies. Appealing to Maharashtra voters, Revanth Reddy described the upcoming elections as a battle for democracy and sought their support for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The countrys financial capital and the second-largest state politically deserve leaders who prioritise its people, not betrayal, he concluded. He took a swipe at Modi, accusing him of abandoning the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra during the final phase of the election campaign. Revanth Reddy pointed out that Modis absence in the last three days of campaigning reflects his acknowledgment of the alliance's imminent defeat.
PM Modi gifts Kolhapur-made panchamrit kalash to Nigerian President
New Delhi, Nov 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday gifted Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu a Silofar Panchamrit Kalash. The conventional craftwork in the form of a metal pot represents the traditional craftsmanship of Maharashtras Kolhapur, said officials. The Silofar Panchamrit Kalash is made from high-quality silver, and shaped with skill and precision. It [] The post PM Modi gifts Kolhapur-made panchamrit kalash to Nigerian President appeared first on The Shillong Times .
PM Narendra Modi gifts Silofar Panchamrit Kalash to Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
During his visit to Nigeria, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a handcrafted silver Kalash from Kolhapur. In a reciprocal gesture, PM Modi was bestowed with Nigeria's second-highest national honor, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
PM Modi gifts Kolhapur's traditional metal work to Nigerian President
The 'Silofar Panchamrit Kalash features elegant engravings typical of Kolhapur's renowned metalwork, with motifs that often include floral patterns, deities and traditional designs.
Congress has highest respect for Balasaheb Thackeray: Priyanka
Ahmednagar: Scotching all speculations among allies, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday declared that despite the partys ideological differences with the (undivided) Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, the Congress has always held him in the highest esteem. Addressing rallies for the Maharashtra Assembly elections in Ahmednagar (Shirdi) and Kolhapur on Saturday, Priyanka Gandhi Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Book Review | M.S. Golwalkar: A life built on lies
This is one of the most detailed biographies available of M.S. Golwalkar, the RSSs second chief, who, more than a decade before Independence, tried to establish the character of India as a Hindu nation. Here are attempts to describe the toxicity of Golwalkars philosophy, its linkages with Nazism, and the damage it has done. Before becoming a prophet of Hindutva, Golwalkar was apolitical and a good student, but his exposure to Christian evangelists who ran down Hinduism at Hislop College, Nagpur, got him thinking about his own cultural and religious roots. From this evolved his vision of India and its society. Early in the book is a lie on which Golwalkar built his early political career: He claimed to have been a professor at Banaras Hindu University, whereas in truth he was a demonstrator, filling in a temporary vacancy. That job lasted a year and a half, and earned him the title of Guruji for his long hair and his beard. In later years, it gave him an academic legitimacy that he never earned. Another meticulously documented example of his facility with spin appears when Golwalkar took over leadership of the RSS after his mentor, Hegdewar, died abruptly. The essence of the matter is that Golwalkar ascended to the post solely on the strength of his own assertion that Hegdewar had appointed him successor. This comfort with spin stood him in good stead as sarvasanchalak . His operations in British-ruled provinces were handicapped, but he made progress in Hindu-ruled states, where the RSS was started under names that flattered the rulers: for example, it was called Rajaram Swayam Sevak Sangh in Kolhapur, where Rajaram was a former ruler. Golwalkar saw Muslims and Christians as bigger threats to India than the British. His support of the struggle for Independence was lukewarm, though he did support Jews and the formation of Israel. His arrest and imprisonment after Gandhis assassination, his attempts to get the ban on the RSS revoked, his confusion and his founding the VHP during the Nehru years, and his stewardship of the RSS until his death in 1973 are all here. The depth of the research is evident: Its simmered in the authors mind for a decade or more. But there are questions in the context of contemporary politics. Golwalkar might have been devious and miserly with the truth, but its hard to think of a successful modern politician who isnt. Besides, infiltrating institutions is standard operating procedure for governments and political parties. Golwalkars admiration for the Nazi regime in the last 1930s is clear, but are we sure that the RSS hasnt evolved from that position? Is killing for political dissent (Stalin and Mao between them purged between 60 million and 100 million countrymen, many times more than Hitler) acceptable while racist killings arent? Are we to believe that all present-day Marxists align with Marxs acceptance of violence as a part of social progress? This is a worthwhile read on its own merits, but its even better if it prods the reader into some introspection about values . Golwalkar Dhirendra K. Jha Simon and Schuster pp. 385; Rs 899
Four members of a family killed as car falls into ditch in Rajasthan
JAIPUR: Four members of a family from Maharashtra's Kolhapur were killed and two others injured when their car fell into a ditch on the roadside near Kenpura village, police said on Friday. Sanderao SHO Laxman Singh said that the accident took place near Kenpura village on Thursday night when six passengers were travelling from Jodhpur to Sheoganj in Sirohi district after meeting their relatives. While returning to Sheoganj, their car went out of control near Kenpura on the highway. As soon as the car lost its balance, it overturned and went off the road, he added. The SHO said that the deceased were identified as Baburao (50), his wife Sarika (38), daughter Sakshi (19) and son Sanskar (17). The two injured were taken to the government hospital in Sanderao town, where they are undergoing treatment, he added. The initial investigation by the police revealed that the car fell into the ditch due to high speed. On receiving information, the police reached the spot and the bodies were taken out with the help of local people.
Shinde, Fadnavis Take Dig at Uddhav for Complaining over Bags Checking
Mumbai : The bag-checking saga continued in Maharashtra after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackerays bags were checked by the Election Commission officials, as bags of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were also inspected by the poll authorities. In addition to this, several political leaders including Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, Ramdas Athawale and state Congress president Nana Patole also posted videos of EC officials checking their bags. CM Shinde's bags were checked by Election Commission officials in Palghar on Wednesday, after his helicopter landed at the Palghar Police ground helipad. I have only clothes in my bag, no urine pot, said Mr. Shinde in an apparent taunt to Mr. Thackeray. The state BJP unit posted a footage on its social media handle X, showing Mr. Fadnavis' bags being checked by security personnel at Kolhapur airport on November 5. The ruling party in the post along with the video said, Let it be, some leaders just have a habit of creating drama. The BJP said the deputy CMs bag was checked in Yavatmal district on November 7, but he neither recorded any video nor made a fuss about it. Earlier, on November 5 Fadnavis bags were also checked at the Kolhapur airport, it said referring to the video. Simply holding the Constitution for show is not enough; one must also follow constitutional systems. We only request that everyone respects the Constitution, the BJP said in the post. Mr. Fadnavis said that Thackeray was trying to divert the attention by needlessly protesting against the checking of his bags by poll officials and was seeking votes by whining. What is wrong with checking bags? We had our bags checked during campaigning and there was no need for this level of frustration, the deputy CM said, adding that election officials followed the same procedures with his campaign team too. Earlier this week, Shiv Sena (UBT) shared videos online over the last two days of Thackerays bags being checked by poll authorities. In the last two days, Thackeray claimed his bags after he arrived in Latur and Yavatmal districts to campaign for the Vidhan Sabha elections. Thackeray had also asked if the same law would be applied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the ruling alliance during their campaign. In his social media post, Ajit Pawar wrote, Let us all respect the law and support efforts to uphold the integrity of our democracy.
Posing as vigilance officers, 5 men dupe trader of Rs 25 lakh citing poll code breach
Pune: Five men allegedly cheated a businessman of over Rs 25 lakh in Maharashtra's Kolhapur by posing as vigilance officers and citing violation of the election code of conduct by him for carrying cash, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, they said. Assembly polls in Maharashtra will be held on November 20 and the election code of conduct is in force at present. Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), flying squads of the Election Commission and police teams have been deployed across the state to curb poll-related irregularities. As soon as the victim, who is a swing trader, alighted from a private bus on a highway near Kolhapur early Tuesday morning, a man approached him and introduced himself as a vigilance officer. The latter asked the businessman if he was carrying any cash. When the victim told him that he had cash with him, the stranger said it was prohibited under the election code of conduct, inspector Deepak Jadhav of the Gandhinagar police station in Kolhapur said. He then instructed the businessman to sit in their car for an inquiry. Four other individuals were already sitting in the car. They drove in the direction of Kolhapur, claiming they needed to check the quantum of cash, he said. The accused asked the trader to hand over his bag and mobile phone and he acted accordingly. One of the accused persons then hinted at a possible compromise. However, the businessman insisted on going to the police station as he was confident that the cash was legitimate. When the car did not head in the required direction, he realised that they were imposters, Jadhav said. Fearing for his safety, the businessman requested the accused to take away the cash and release him. They eventually dropped him at Sarnobatwadi, fleeing with Rs 25.50 lakh in cash and his mobile phone, he said. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim, a case has been registered at the Gandhinagar police station, and efforts are underway to trace the accused.
To counter Uddhav, BJP posts video showing checking of Fadnavis' bags
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra BJP on Wednesday posted a video on X showing checking of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' bags, and said merely holding the Constitution for show is not enough and one must also follow the constitutional system. Some leaders have the habit of creating drama, the BJP said in the post, which comes after former CM Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) shared videos online over the last two days of his bags being checked by poll authorities. Maharashtra polls: EC searches Uddhavs bags for second consecutive day; Sena (UBT) alleges foul play In the last two days, Thackeray claimed his bags were inspected by the election authorities after he arrived in Latur and Yavatmal districts to campaign for the November 20 state assembly elections. Thackeray had also asked if the same law would be applied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the ruling alliance during their campaign. On Wednesday, the state BJP unit posted a footage on its social media handle X, showing Fadnavis' bags being checked by security personnel at Kolhapur airport on November 5. The ruling party in the post along with the video said, Let it be, some leaders just have a habit of creating drama. The BJP said the deputy CM's bag was checked in Yavatmal district on November 7, but he neither recorded any video nor made a fuss about it. Earlier, on November 5, Fadnavis' bags were also checked at the Kolhapur airport, it said referring to the video. Simply holding the Constitution for show is not enough; one must also follow constitutional systems. We only request that everyone respects the Constitution, the BJP said in the post. On Tuesday, Fadnavis said Thackeray was trying to divert the attention by needlessly protesting about the checking of his bags by poll officials and was seeking votes by whining. What is wrong with checking of bags? the senior BJP leader had wondered. Thackeray's frustration was showing, he added.
Congress moves EC over BJP's 'communal' ad on 'removing SC, ST, OBC quotas' and 7 other complaints
NEW DELHI: A Congress delegation on Monday took up with the Election Commission eight complaints regarding Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly polls, including a communal image posted by the BJP depicting reservations being taken from SCs, STs, and OBCs and given to members of a minority community. The opposition party claimed that all eight complaints raised by it were found valid by the poll body. We raised some serious concerns with the Election Commission. These matters were discussed today. All the eight complaints raised by the Congress were found valid by the Election Commission, Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil, who led the delegation, told reporters outside the EC office here. In his memorandum to the EC on Monday, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh cited the said image posted on the BJP's X handle with the caption: Congress-led MVA's game of appeasement is ON...Vote wisely, Maharashtra. The image in the post falsely depicted an individual forcing out members of the SC, ST and OBC communities out of a rickshaw and accommodating a person belonging to a certain religious minority community, Ramesh said in his memorandum. The image is clearly a brazen and blatant attempt by the BJP to propagate a false and baseless narrative about the Congress, he said. In light of the above, we request that this Hon'ble Commission directs the immediate takedown of the post from all social media handles of the BJP. Further, we request that this Hon'ble Commission takes urgent action against the BJP and its Official X Handle i.e.BJP4India, Ramesh said. PM Modi accuses Congress of 'weakening SC, ST, OBC unity' to end reservations The cartoon posted by the BJP shows a person resembling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushing members of SC, ST and OBC communities out of a rickshaw and accommodating a person belonging to a certain religious minority community. Earlier, sources said an FIR has been lodged at Ranchi for violation of the Model Code of Conduct and legal provisions against the BJP's Jharkhand unit for posting false and misleading videos on the 'BJP 4 Jharkhand' social media handle against INDIA bloc leaders. The cybercrime police station Ranchi has also written to the microblogging platform to remove the objectionable posts under Section 69(A) of the IT Act, the sources said. The EC had also received a complaint on Sunday from Congress leader Ramesh regarding false and misleading videos posted by 'BJP 4 Jharkhand' on its official social media handles. In a memorandum submitted to the EC on Sunday, Ramesh had urged the poll body to issue directives for the immediate takedown of all videos of the advertisement and consequently take urgent action against the BJP and its official Facebook handle for Jharkhand. The advertisement, which appeared to take a dig at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav by featuring three characters resembling them, showed them as anti-tribal and how they now want tribals' votes. The Congress has also raised a complaint alleging police inaction in connection with an attack on a delegation of its leaders by BJP members in Samaguri assembly constituency. There have also been instances of misuse of police powers for conducting raids and arresting supporters of the INC, the party said regarding the complaint pertaining to the Assam bypolls. In his memorandum on the matter dated November 8, Ramesh urged the poll watchdog to issue orders to transfer Nagaon Superintendent of Police Swapneel Deka, as well as officers in-charge of Rupahi and Khatowal police stations Sanjib Kumar and Biku Barma respectively with immediate effect. Further, to ensure that the elections conducted in Samaguri assembly constituency are free from any encumbrances, we request this Hon'ble Commission to deploy additional security forces to the said Assembly Constituency and install functional CCTVs in the following booths, he said. The Congress also raised with the EC a complaint from the Mahila Congress. We are writing to you with respect to an issue of grave concern that requires immediate intervention from this Commission. This representation pertains to certain statements made by Mr. Dhananjay Mahadik, Member of Parliament from the State of Maharashtra and Spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba said in her letter to the EC on November 10. On November 9, during an election event in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Mahadik made several statements which constituted a clear threat to voters who were going to cast their vote for the Indian National Congress' (INC) Candidate, she said. While elections to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will be held on November 13 and November 20, polls for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held on November 20. The votes will be counted on November 23. BJP urges Election Commission to 'censure and restrain' Rahul Gandhi for alleged Model Code violations
BJP warns beneficiaries of Ladki Bahin scheme against attending Congress rallies
Kolhapur: BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik has kicked up a controversy by allegedly warning women who received Rs 1,500 under the Mahayuti government Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme against attending rallies of the Congress party. The Majhi Ladki Bahin has been one of the major initiatives of the BJP-led Mahayuti this election year. In its manifesto for Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik sparked controversy by allegedly warning women in Kolhapur against attending Congress rallies after receiving Rs 1,500 aid from the government's 'Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme. Mahadik, facing a show-cause notice for potential code of conduct violation, claimed his statement was misinterpreted, while NCP's Supriya Sule condemned the remarks and demanded action from the women's commission.
18 passengers injured as private bus collides with truck on Mumbai-Pune Expressway
MUMBAI: Eighteen passengers were injured, eight of them seriously, after a private bus they were travelling in collided with a stationary truck on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Khopoli in Raigad district early on Saturday, police said. The accident took place around 4 am, a police official said. The private bus, which was going to Mumbai from Kolhapur, rammed into the stationary truck. The accident occurred as the driver of the bus apparently lost control over the steering, he said. Eighteen passengers were injured in the incident and they were rushed to the MGM Hospital at Kamothe in Raigad district, he said, adding that the condition of eight of them, including four women, is said to be critical. As a result of the accident, the movement of vehicles on the route was affected, but the authorities soon cleared the traffic congestion, he said. The Khopoli police are probing the incident, according to the official.
Maharashtra Elections: BJP expels 40 workers for 'not following party discipline'
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled 40 workers for disciplinary violations across 37 constituencies. This comes after the Mahayuti alliancecomprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCPlaunched a manifesto in Kolhapur, outlining plans for Maharashtra's prosperity.
Affordable homes for Marathis, free edu for boys on Uddhav list
At a rally in Kolhapur, Uddhav Thackeray announced that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi returns to power, they will control the prices of essential food items and provide free education for boys. He also pledged to build a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj temple in every district and countered the opposition's slogan with his own, emphasizing the party's commitment to protecting Maharashtra's interests.
Former CM addresses his first rally of the Maharashtra Assembly polls in Kolhapur district
Maharashtra CM lists ten promises in first Mahayuti poll rally at Kolhapur
The ruling coalition vows to hike aid for women, farmers, pensioners, ASHA workers; promises farm loan waiver, increased MSPs, lower power bills, more jobs; hits back against Opposition accusations on industrial investment
Fissures in Mahayuti as Maharashtra assembly election campaign begins
As the Maharashtra state assembly election campaign kick-started, cracks in the Mahayuti alliance became evident, with disagreements surfacing over support for Mahayuti candidates during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Former Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Hemant Godse from Nasik has accused Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Chhagan Bhujbal of betrayal. Godse claimed that deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and Bhujbal back-stabbed him during the Lok Sabha elections in Nasik. According to Godse, Bhujbal actively campaigned for the opposition candidate, urging people to vote for Rajabhau Waje, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate. Uddhav Thackeray pledges free education, women empowerment in Kolhapur campaign Shiv Sena never back-stabbed anyone, but some people did it in the recent Lok Sabha election, Godse said. Godse explained that Bhujbal was originally interested in contesting the Nasik Lok Sabha seat. However, at the last moment, Bhujbal was denied the candidature, and Godse was re-nominated. Ultimately, Godse lost to the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Rajabhau Waje. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who had supported Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections, has distanced himself from the alliance this time. He also criticised Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of using the court and the Election Commission of India to take over the Shiv Sena party and symbol. In a recent interview, Raj Thackeray said, I got my party and symbol through hard work, not by snatching it from anyone. Reacting to Raj Thackerays statement, Shiv Sena minister Deepak Kesarkar defended CM Eknath Shinde, asserting, CM Eknath Shinde has not snatched the party and symbol. He is a true follower of late Balasaheb Thackerays ideology, and that is why he got the party and symbol.
Uddhav Thackeray pledges free education, women empowerment in Kolhapur campaign
Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray began his campaign for the Maharashtra state assembly on Tuesday in Kolhapur, presenting five significant promises aimed at countering the Mahayuti governments Ladli Bahena scheme. During the Kolhapur rally, Thackeray pledged that his government, once elected, would provide free education not only for girls but for boys as well. Boys are the pillars of the home, and the same is true for girls, so both will receive education free of charge, he said. Thackeray also emphasised the importance of womens safety and empowerment. State police stations will be made women-friendly by recruiting a large number of girls into the state police force. We will also appoint women police officers as in-charges of the police stations, ensuring that women who come to report crimes feel comfortable and can lodge complaints against culprits, he added. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader addressed the issue of employment and housing, asserting that Mumbai belongs to all Marathi people. They should come to Mumbai to seek jobs and establish industries. We will prioritise Marathi people when it comes to job and housing allocations. Affordable housing will be made available so that anyone can purchase homes in Mumbai. Additionally, we will ensure fair prices for crops such as cotton, soyabean, onion, and sugarcane. Our government had waived off farmers loans in the past, and when we return to power, we will do it again, he promised. Karnataka Congress leaders from border districts to campaign in Maharashtra Thackeray spoke about inflation, a pressing concern for many. Once our government is in power, we will stabilise essential commodity prices. The inflation and drastic rise in the prices of basic goods is a major concern for the middle and lower-middle classes. The high cost of essential commodities is drilling holes in peoples pockets. We will provide relief from this crippling inflation, he assured. Criticising the Shinde-led Mahayuti government, Thackeray accused it of rampant corruption. In this government, only commissions and corruption have occurred, robbing the state exchequer, while the Ladli Bahena scheme has merely offered Rs 1,500 per month, he alleged. Thackeray dismissed the influence of national leaders on the upcoming elections in Maharashtra. Let Narendra Modi and Amit Shah come to Maharashtra for the election campaign; it will not make much difference or impact. Even if they camp in the state for the next 15 days, it will not help them. The way they toppled our pro-Maharashtra people's government has not gone down well with the citizens. The current state government works for Gujarat and in the interest of Modi and Shah, not for the local people, Thackeray claimed.
Amit Thackeray Faces Tough Challenge in Mahim
Mumbai: MNS chief Raj Thackerays son Amit Thackeray will have his task cut out on his electoral debut in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha polls in Maharashtra as Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena candidate and incumbent MLA Sada Sarvankar on Monday decided not to withdraw his nomination from the Mahim constituency. Amit Thackeray has been pitted against three-time MLA Sarvankar and Mahesh Sawant, who has been fielded by Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). The MNS is not a part of the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars NCP. However, the BJP leaders said they wanted to back Amit Thackeray and asked Sarvankar to withdraw in Mahim. November 4 was the last day of withdrawal of nominations. Sarvankar said he was asked by Chief Minister Shinde to meet Raj Thackeray and accept his decision no matter what. Sarvankar on Monday noon had gone to meet Raj Thackeray at the latter's Shivaji Park residence in Dadar. However, according to the MLA, Raj refused to meet him and conveyed that he was not interested to have discussions and the Shiv Sena leader was free to contest against his son. I have the highest regard for Raj Thackeray. I would have followed his orders had he met me once. But now I am firm on my decision to contest as a Mahayuti candidate and I will work for the people of Mahim, Sarvankar said. Meanwhile, in a relief to the BJP, senior party leader and former MP Gopal Shetty has agreed to withdraw his nomination as a rebel candidate from Borivali seat. He had filed his papers last week after the BJP gave ticket to Sanjay Upadhyay from the seat. As Shetty did not agree to withdraw, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde flew from Delhi to Mumbai to hold discussions with him, after which he finally bowed to the pressure from the party. However, even after withdrawing his nomination on the deadline day, Shetty expressed displeasure over Maharashtra BJPs decision makers. After pulling out of the fray, Shetty said, My anger was not against the BJP party or leadership. What really upset me was the system in which decisions were taken without adequately consulting the workers. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis praised Gopal Shetty for setting an example as committed Karyakarta who works for the organisations interest. The Congress received a shock as in a dramatic turn of events in Kolhapur, Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati, who was partys official candidate, withdrew her candidature and supported the party rebel. Madhurima Raje is the wife of former MLA Maloji Raje Chhatrapati, the son of Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj, the Congress MP from Kolhapur. The Kolhapur royal family are descendants of iconic Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and legendary social reformer Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj. The Congress had initially nominated Rajesh Latkar from Kolhapur North. However, he was replaced by Madhurima Raje. Latkar, however, remained in the fray as an Independent. There were no options left. We have decided not to contest, said Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj. Madhurimas withdrawal left senior Congress leader Satej Patil fuming and expressed his open displeasure over the development. He was heard telling her that she should have informed the party earlier that she didnt want to contest and he was being made scapegoat. Congress now has no official candidate in Kolhapur North. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena also persuaded Swikriti Sharma, wife of former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, to withdraw from the Andheri East seat, where the party candidate Murji Patel is contesting against Shiv Sena (UBT)s Rutuja Latke. CPI(M) withdrew from Nasik West seat after discussion with MVA leaders. Partys Maharashtra Secretary Uday Narkar said that the party has decided to withdraw to avoid splitting of anti-government votes. Rebel Congress leader Mukhtar Shaikh has withdrawn his nomination as an independent from the Kasba Peth assembly constituency and lent support to the official Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. He said that he had received several calls of reassurances from Congress leadership, which led to the withdrawal of his nomination. An official from the ECI said that after the deadline for nomination withdrawal ended, there were 4,140 candidates in the fray for the 288 Assembly seats. After the verification of nominations, 7,078 applicants were found to be eligible to contest the Assembly election. Out of them, 2,938 applicants withdrew their nominations before the deadline for the withdrawal, the official said. The voting for the 288 Maharashtra Assembly seats will take place in a single phase on November 20 and the results will be announced on November 23.
Cong reels as candidate pulls out in Maha stronghold
The end of the process to withdraw nominations for Maharashtra assembly polls on Monday left the Congress in despair in Kolhapur North seat after its candidate Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati withdrew, while the Bharatiya Janata Party managed to convince Gopal Shetty to opt out from Mumbai's Borivali.
Maharashtra polls: BJP names two more candidates; count reaches 148
MUMBAI: On the last day of filing of nomination papers, the BJP on Tuesday released the names of two more candidates for the next month's assembly elections in the state, which took the total count of its nominees to 148. As per the latest list, former MLA Narendra Mehta will contest from the Mira Bhayandar assembly segment in Thane district, while Sudhir Parwe will be fielded from the Umred (SC) assembly segment in Nagpur district. Elections to the 288-member assembly will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place three days later. The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance also comprising Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). BJP to reinforce Hindutva, trust allies in Maharashtra elections In a statement, the party said it has decided to allocate four assembly seats to its allies. These include the Badnera seat in Amravati district to the Yuva Swabhiman Party, the Gangakhed seat in Parbhani district to the Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP), the Kalina seat in Mumbai to the Republican Party of India (Athawale), and the Shahuwadi seat in Kolhapur to the Jan Surajya Shakti Party. The BJP also fielded the party's Nanded district leader, Dr Santuk Marotrao Hambarde, as a candidate for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll. He will be competing against Congress candidate Ravindra Chavan, the son of late Vasant Chavan, who had recently won the Lok Sabha election. This byelection to the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency was necessitated following the death of senior Congress leader Vasant Chavan in August. Haryana formula for Maharashtra: BJP not keen on ties with smaller parties
Maharashtra polls: BJP spokesperson Shaina, ex-minister Danve's daughter in third Shiv Sena list
MUMBAI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shaina NC figures in the third list of 15 candidates released by the ruling Shiv Sena on Monday night for the November 20 assembly elections in Maharashtra. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, announced the latest list which also has the name of Sanjana Jadhav, daughter of former Union minister and BJP leader Raosaheb Danve. Shaina will contest from the Mumbadevi seat in Mumbai, where her main rival is sitting Congress MLA Amin Patel. Jadhav will contest from Kannad in Aurangabad district (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district). The seat is currently represented in the assembly by Udaysing Rajput of the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by former CM Uddhav Thackeray. Two of the 15 seats were given to regional allies of the BJP-led NDA -- Jansurajya Paksha and the Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi. The Jansurajya Paksha has fielded its member Ashokrao Mane from Hatkanangale, while the Rajarshi Shahu Vikas Aghadi has given a ticket to Rajendra Patil Yedrawkar from Shirol. Both seats are in Kolhapur district. The third list was released by the Shiv Sena a day before the close of nominations. The Shinde-led party is a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti (grand alliance) coalition which also consists of the BJP and the NCP led by deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Polling for the 288-member state assembly will take place on November 20 and votes will be counted three days later.
Pune to get four new Vande Bharat Trains, check routes, stoppages, fares here
two of Vande Bharat Expresses are already operating in Maharashtra, connecting Pune Kolhapur, Hubli and Mumbai via Pune Solapur.
Mahayuti used its stint in power in Maharashtra to push corporate cronies' interests: Congress
Congress accused Maharashtra's Mahayuti government of prioritising corporate interests over environmental concerns, specifically highlighting Adani Green Energy's projects. They criticised the approval of ecologically harmful projects and alleged legal manipulation, emphasising local protests and water scarcity issues in Kolhapur related to Adani's pumped storage project.
Maharashtra: Congress releases third list of 16 candidates
Mumbai: Congress on Saturday released its third list of 16 candidates for the Maharashtra assembly elections which included senior leader Manikrao Thakare.With the third list, the party has declared 87 candidates so far for the November 20 elections to the 288-member assembly. Its talks with allies NCP(SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) for seat-sharing are still underway. Thakare, a former state Congress chief and the party's present Goa in-charge, was fielded from Digras constituency in Yavatmal district. Nanded South MLA Mohanrao Hambarde was retained, while Kolhapur North MLA Jayashri Jadhav was replaced with Rajesh Latkar. Nivruttirao Kamble was fielded from Deglur in place of sitting MLA Jitesh Antapurkar who has crossed over to the BJP. Lakhibhau Jadhav was fielded from Igatpuri in place of sitting MLA Hiraman Koskar who has switched his loyalties to the NCP. Asif Zakaria would contest from Vandre West, taking on Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, while Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant was fielded from Andheri West.
Congress announces third list of 39 candidates, gains two more in its share of 85 seats in MVA
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Congress on Saturday released a list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. The party has announced 87 candidates so far. Though the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) announced that they would contest 85 seats each, the Congress has got two more seats to contest. The third list, released late Saturday evening, has 16 candidates, while the second list had 23 candidates in the afternoon. The party has fielded Sachin Sawant from Andheri West and Mohanrao Marotrao Ambade from Nanded South. In Kolhapur North, Rajesh Bharat Latkar has been fielded while Prithviraj Gulabrao Patil will contest from Sangli. In the ST reserved seat Gadchiroli, the party has fielded Manohar Tulshiram Poreti and Manikrao Thakare contest from Digras. While Rana Dalipkumar Sanada will contest from Khamgaon, Dr Hemant Nanda Chimote will be in ST seat Melghat. In Nagpur South a disputed seat between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), the party has fielded Girish Pandav from that seat. While Kalu Badheliya has been fielded from Kandivali East, Yashwant Singh will contest from Charkop against BJPs Yogesh Sagar. The party has fielded Ganesh Yadav from Sion Koliwada. The party has fielded Suresh Bhoyar against BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi. Shekhar Shende will contest from Wardha. The party released the first list of 48 candidates on Thursday. The names of candidates were finalised at a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired by party chief Malllikarjun Kharge on Friday evening. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, and state leaders attended the meeting. AICC in-charge Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, said all constituents will be given representation as part of the MVA alliance. Samajwadi Party, CPM, CPI and AAP are part of MVA. We are giving representation to all the parties, but seats are limited, he said. In its first list, the party retained several sitting MLAs and fielded senior leaders including Nana Patole and former CM Prithviraj Chavan. The party also fielded former ministers Nitin Raut and Balasaheb Thorat from Nagpur North and Sangamner.
AAP may consider contesting couple of seats in Maharashtra: Party's Goa chief
AAP is considering contesting a few seats in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Despite being part of the INDIA bloc, AAP aims to strengthen its base in the Konkan region, particularly in Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, and Kolhapur, against BJP's Narayan Rane's influence.
23 Injured After Bus Hits Heavy Vehicle Near Lonavala On Mumbai-Pune Expressway
The bus was travelling to Borivali in Mumbai from Kolhapur in western Maharashtra when the accident took place around 5 am
Old Clip of Children in Truck Falsely Shared as One of Rohingya Muslims in India
The video shows Muslim children from West Bengal and Bihar, who had returned to Kolhapur for studies after holidays.
NCP MLA Set to Join Sharad Pawar Faction
MUMBAI: In yet another jolt to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, MLA Rajendra Shingne is now set to join the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) this week. Mr. Shingne, who is the MLA from Sindkhed Raja in Buldhana district, has met Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule in Pune and Mumbai multiple times in the last few days. According to the sources from the NCP (SP), Shingne is seeking an Assembly ticket from the Sindkhed Raja seat. He was loyal to the party founder and never disregarded the latter. In August 2024, Mr.Shingne, former FDA minister, had said that he did not have a choice but to go with Ajit Pawar in July 2023 as the district cooperative bank headed by him was in trouble. An NCP insider said that Mr. Shingne will be joining the party in the next two to three days. He is likely to be given a ticket from the Sindkhed Raja assembly constituency from the party, the insider said. Reacting to reports, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that the leaders often switch sides when the elections are near and the parties that do not have candidates with elective merit try to poach candidates from other parties. After NCP(SP) won eight out of nine Lok Sabha seats it had contested, party leaders including Sharad Pawars grand nephew Rohit Pawar had claimed that at least a dozen MLAs from the Ajit Pawar camp will switch sides before the Assembly elections. Ajit Pawar-led NCP leaders Umesh Patil and Vilas Lande also on Tuesday met Sharad Pawar in Pune. Around a month ago, Umesh Patil had resigned as spokesperson of NCP over issues of unfair treatment. He told this newspaper that he had held a discussion with Sharad Pawar regarding the political situation in Solapur district. I will support the NCP (SP) candidate in my district, he said. Satara district chief of the Ajit Pawars party Sanjeevraje Naik-Nimbalkar and Phaltan NCP legislator Deepak Chavan had on Monday joined NCP (SP) in the presence of the NCP founder. Sanjeev is the brother of senior leader Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, who had sided with Ajit Pawar last year. It is being said that Ramraje has decided to remain neutral in the Assembly election. BJP leaders Samarjeetsinh Ghadge from Kolhapur and Harshwardhan Patil from Indapur have also joined the NCP (SP) and both of them are likely to contest the Assembly election.
Maharashtra Cabinet Meeting Cancelled Due to Shindes Health Concern
Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shindes all events on Tuesday were cancelled or postponed due to his health concerns. However, the officials said that the CM will be back to work on Wednesday. A cabinet meeting was also postponed due to Mr. Shindes absence. It was supposed to be the last cabinet meeting of the Shinde government before the model code of conduct came into force in the state. The Shinde cabinet has approved more than 100 proposals in the last three cabinet meetings, including 40 decisions approved in the last weeks cabinet meeting. The same trend was expected to continue, but Tuesdays meeting was cancelled at the last minute. According to officials, Mr. Shinde has been advised complete rest and he is recuperating at his official residence Varsha in Mumbai. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has undergone eye surgery. So the doctor has advised him to take rest and special care. In the wake of the doctors advice, the CM has decided to take a break by cancelling the promotion program of Ladki Bahin Yojana under the Women Empowerment Campaign in Shirdi and the foundation laying ceremony of Onion Mahabank in Rahuri and all other scheduled programs today. However, the media is requested not to make any other arguments in this regard, CMs office said in a statement. However, sources said that Mr. Shinde experienced low blood pressure as a result of overexertion. He has been attending back to meetings and events across the state. Mr. Shinde was also scheduled to visit Solapur, where he was to participate in an event Vachanpoorti (Promise Fulfillment) at 12:30 pm. He was scheduled to depart from Mumbai airport at 11:30 am. Deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar attended the event in his absence. Mr. Fadnavis also attended the function at Shirdi while Ajit Pawar skipped it due to his Jansanman Yatra scheduled earlier in Kolhapur district. Speaking at the Solapur event, Mr Fadnavis assured that the Ladki Bahin scheme will not be discontinued after the election and the government will credit installments of Rs 1,500 each for the month of October and November in advance. He termed it as a bhau beej in advance. Under the Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana, the state government credits financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month in the bank accounts of eligible women. The state government has allocated Rs 46,000 crore to implement the scheme. Targeting the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, Mr Fadnavis said women should beware of some step brothers trying to stall welfare schemes. He claimed that Anil Wadpalliwar, the official election in-charge of state Congress president Nana Patole, and Congress leader Sunil Kedar approached the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court seeking stay on the Ladki Bahin (beloved sister), Lek Ladki (beloved daughter) schemes and 50 per cent discount on bus tickets for women, claiming these initiatives are a waste of money. As long as your real brothers are sitting in Mumbai (Mahayuti alliance), we will never allow the discontinuation of these initiatives, he said.
My son should get Rs 5 cr prize money, flat in Pune, says Olympic medallist Swapnil's father
Mumbai: The father of Paris Olympics shooting bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale has expressed disappointment over the Maharashtra government paying Rs 2 crore prize money to his son, saying Haryana doles out much higher amount for its athletes. Swapnil Kusale (29), who hails from Kolhapur, won a bronze medal in 50 m rifle 3 positions event at the Paris Olympics in August. His father Suresh Kusale on Monday said his son should get Rs 5 crore prize money and a flat near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune. Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, Suresh Kusale claimed, The Haryana government gives Rs 5 crore to its each (Olympics medal winning) player (Haryana gives Rs 6 crore to a gold medallist, Rs 4 crore to silver medallist, Rs 2.5 crore to bronze winner). As per a new policy announced by the Maharashtra government, an Olympic bronze medal winner will get Rs 2 crore. Why does the state form such criteria when Swapnil was only the second individual Olympic medal winner from Maharashtra (after wrestler K D Jadhav in 1952) in 72 years? he asked. Five individuals won medals in the Paris Olympics for India, of whom four were from Haryana and one, Swapnil Kusale, from Maharashtra. Haryana is a much smaller state compared to Maharashtra, but it gives higher prize money to its medal winning athletes, he said. However, our government has announced Rs 5 crore for a gold medal winner, Rs 3 crore for a silver medallist and Rs 2 crore for a bronze medallist. Why have such a criteria when only two players from Maharashtra have won individual Olympic medals in so many years? Suresh Kusale asked. Had I known such an outcome, I would have persuaded him to explore a career in some other sports. Is the amount kept low because Swapnil is from a humble background? Would the reward amount have remained the same if he had been the son of an MLA or a minister? he wondered. Suresh Kusale also said the 50-meter-three-position rifle shooting arena at the sports complex (in Pune) should be named after his son. Swapnil should get Rs 5 crore as an award, a flat near Balewadi Sports Stadium so that he could easily commute for practice. Swapnil's name should be given to the 50-meter-three-position rifle shooting arena, he said when asked about his demands. After his Paris feat, the ace marksman was promoted by his employer Central Railway and appointed an officer on special duty. The Maharashtra government recently announced doubling the prize money for players winning medals at major sports events, including Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games, among others.
Maharashtra: Man rapes his own 8-yr-old daughter in Kolhapur; gets 20 yrs rigorous imprisonment
The District and Sessions court here on Monday sentenced a man to rigorous imprisonment for 20 years for raping his own minor daughter in Lakshyatirth Vasahat, a suburb of the city, on January 10, 2020.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi Cooks, Eats With Dalit Family In Maharashtra
Rahul Gandhi visited a Dalit kitchen during his recent visit to Maharashtra's Kolhapur.
Rahul Gandhi invokes Shivaji statue, says two ideologies in country
MUMBAI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collapsed days after its installation in Malwan as it was erected by those opposed to his true ideology. Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, made the remarks at the Savidhan Sanman sammelan after unveiling the full-sized statue of Chhatrapati in Kolhapur. We should at least imbibe some of the principals Shivaji Maharaj stood, fought and lived for. He accomplished great deeds by uniting people of all castes and religions and fighting against injustice. Ch. Shivaji Maharajs ideals and ideas are truly reflected in the Constitution of India, said the Congress MP, adding if it werent for Shivaji Maharaj and Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, the Constitution wouldnt exist. He said there are two ideologies in the country -- one that unites the nation and works, while the other (referring to RSS-BJP) is against the Constitution and aims to destroy it. This second type of ideology instills fear in the peoples minds. Those who follow this ideology may bow before Shivaji Maharaj, but they do not follow his true ideals and principles. This same ideology tried to put hurdles in Shivaji Maharajs coronation (Rajyabhishek). They built a statue of him, but it collapsed within a few days. This is not a political battle, but a battle of ideas, Gandhi said. Dalits, backward classes, and marginalized groups are not given enough opportunities in industries, businesses, or courts. Due to the privatization of government institutions, reservations are being eliminated. To change this situation, it is crucial to protect the Constitution, for which the first step would be removal of 50% cap on reservations. The INDIA alliance will remove this cap and pass caste-based census legislation in Parliament, he stated. Underscoring the significance of caste-based census, he said, A caste-based census is like an X-ray, which will identify the problems of various communities and help find solutions.
MEIL commissions 5 solar plants in Maharashtra having capacity of 19 MW
Infrastructure company MEIL on Saturday said it has commissioned five solar plants in Maharashtra having a combined capacity of 19 megawatt (MW). The plants were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) said in a statement. MEIL has commissioned five solar power plants with a total capacity of 19 MW under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) scheme across Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Solar Plants and Dedicated to the Nation, it said. The five solar plants are at Shambhaji Nagar (3 MW), Nanded (5MW), Kolhapur (3MW), Akola (3MW), and Buldhana (5 MW) in Maharashtra. These power generated from green plants will provide uninterrupted electricity to farmers for the cultivation of their lands that will reduce the burden of cost of electricity bills. The excess power will be supplied to the grid. As part of the PM-KUSUM scheme, MEIL said it has to execute the
Removing 50 pc cap on quota necessary to protect Constitution, says Rahul
Kolhapur, Oct 5 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said removing the existing 50 percent cap on reservation is necessary to protect the Constitution, and asserted that the INDIA bloc will ensure the passage of laws to this effect in Parliament. Speaking at the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan here, he also said the Congress and Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Removing 50% cap on quota necessary to protect Constitution, says Rahul
Kolhapur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said removing the existing 50 per cent cap on reservation is necessary to protect the Constitution. Speaking at the Samvidhan Samman Sammelan here, he also said the Congress and the INDIA bloc will ensure passage of laws to remove this 50 per cent limit. Also ReadBJP has only Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Removing 50 pc cap on quota necessary to protect Constitution: Rahul Gandhi
Kolhapur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said removing the existing 50 per cent cap on reservation is necessary to protect the Constitution.Speaking at the 'Samvidhan Samman Sammelan' here, he also said the Congress and the INDIA bloc will ensure passage of laws to remove this 50 per cent limit. We will ensure the passage of law on caste census in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and no power can stop it, he said. The history of Dalits or backward classes was not being taught in schools, he said, alleging that efforts are now being made to erase that history.
Cong targets PM ahead of Maharashtra visit, questions stand on caste census
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Thane in Maharashtra, the Congress on Saturday questioned the BJP's stand on the caste census and raising the reservation cap of 50 per cent. Questioning the Mahayuti government's delays in holding the elections to the Municipal Corporations in the state, including in Thane, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it is an attack on democracy. The non-biological PM is in Washim and Thane, Maharashtra tomorrow. Four questions he must answer: Where does the BJP stand on the issue of a caste census and raising the cap of 50 percent on reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs imposed by the Supreme Court, he said in a post on X. Ramesh said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is in Kolhapur today, where he paid his respects to the legendary Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj -- the forerunner of the social justice movement in India -- at his Samadhi. Meanwhile, he said the prime minister is scheduled to visit the Pohradevi
No use of bowing before Shivaji Maharaj after scaring people, destroying Constitution: Rahul Gandhi
KOLHAPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked the BJP government, saying there was no use in bowing before Shivaji Maharaj after scaring people and destroying the Constitution and institutions in the country. Gandhi on Saturday unveiled a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire, in Kolhapur city of western Maharashtra. Addressing a public meeting before unveiling the statue, Gandhi slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the collapse of the statue of the warrior king at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg district and said the party's ideology was not right. There is no use of bowing before bowing before Shivaji Maharaj after scaring people, destroying the Constitution and institutions in the country, Gandhi said. His comments were apparently targeted at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had apologised to Shivaji Maharaj and those hurt by the collapse of his statue. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name or a king. For us, he is our deity. Today, I bow my head at his feet and apologise to my deity, Modi had said on August 30 during his visit to Maharashtra. The 35-foot statue, which fell on August 26 , was unveiled by the PM on December 4, 2023, on the occasion of Navy Day. Gandhi said Chhatrapati Shivaji's message to the world was that the country belongs to everyone. The Indian Constitution is a manifestation of what the warrior king stood for, he said. If people like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Shahu Maharaj were not there, the Constitution also would not have been there, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Rahul arrives in Kolhapur, to unveil Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue
Rahul Gandhi's visit to Kolhapur comes ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, scheduled for later this year
Rahul Gandhi in Kolhapur to inaugurate imposing statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji at Kasba Bawada
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will unveil a tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during his brief visit to the erstwhile royal kingdom of Kolhapur.
Rahul Gandhi unveils Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Kolhapur
Mr. Gandhi is in Kolhapur ahead of the Assembly elections in the State, scheduled for later this year.
CM Shinde seeks women's support for increasing Ladki Bahin aid to Rs 3,000
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said the financial assistance under the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme could even be raised to Rs 3,000 if women in the state support his government. Shinde also wondered why the opposition was jealous over his government's welfare initiatives and exuded confidence that the ruling Mahayuti alliance of the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP will retain power in the upcoming state elections. He was speaking on Tuesday at a congregation of seers at the Kanheri Math in Kolhapur on the occasion of the 'dharma dhwaj' inauguration. Under the Mahayuti government's flagship welfare scheme 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', introduced ahead of the state polls, married, divorced, and destitute women aged 21-65 are receiving Rs 1,500 per month as stipend with the annual family income of beneficiaries capped at Rs 2.5 lakh. Shinde criticised the opposition for criticising the government over the Ladki Bahin scheme and asked why was it getting jealous. If the dear
A division bench of the high court, comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice PK Chavan, heard Sunil's appeal against the Kolhapur Sessions Court's death sentence verdict. The convict also did not appeal against his conviction and the death penalty.
Repair Belagavi-Kolhapur-Pune national highway immediately, PM, Gadkari urged
A member of State Level Committee on Implementation of Prime Ministers 15 Point Programme for welfare of minoritieshas shared his recent harrowing travel experience
1L love jihad cases, vote jihad in 14 seats: Fadnavis
Addressing a public event in Kolhapur city on Monday evening, Fadnavis pointed out instances wherein women were tricked into inter-faith marriage and subsequently abandoned after they gave birth to children.
High Court Confirms Death Penalty For Man Who Killed Mother, Ate Body Parts
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday confirmed the death penalty imposed by a Kolhapur court on a man for killing his mother in 2017 and allegedly eating some of the body parts, noting this was a case of cannibalism.
More than 1 lakh complaints of love jihad; 14 Lok Sabha seats witnessed vote jihad: Fadnavis
Mumbai: More than one lakh complaints have highlighted a deliberate love jihad conspiracy wherein Hindu women were being lured into marriage by men using fake identities, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. Targeting opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, Fadnavis claimed vote jihad was witnessed in 14 of 48 constituencies in Maharashtra in recent Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a public event in Kolhapur city on Monday evening, Fadnavis pointed out instances wherein women were tricked into inter-faith marriage and subsequently abandoned after they gave birth to children. Fadnavis' remarks drew sharp reactions from Congress which accused him of violating the Constitutional oath and demanded an apology. A decade ago, we used to think that love jihad talk was a one-off incident. We thought it was not a conspiracy. We have now observed that there have been more than one lakh complaints where Hindu women are lured into marriage by running away with men from different faiths, said Fadnavis, who handles the state Home ministry. Love 'Jihad' is an unofficial term used by Hindu groups to refer to an alleged campaign by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls under the pretext of love and marriage. Fadnavis clarified that he was not against inter-faith marriages. However, in many cases, individuals have used fake identities and provided false information about themselves for marriage. These individuals have also abandoned their spouses after they have had children together, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said. This is not an act of love, but it is a deliberate conspiracy, and it is love jihad. It is a way of cheating and spoiling women from our religion, Fadnavis said. The BJP leader raked up vote jihad and referenced the outcome in the Dhule Lok Sabha constituency where the MVA candidate emerged victorious on account of en masse voting in the Malegaon Central assembly segment against the BJP nominee in the fray. Vote jihad was seen in Lok Sabha elections. In the Dhule constituency, the BJP candidate led with 1.90 lakh votes in five assembly seats. However, our candidate trailed by 1.94 lakh votes because of voting in the Malegaon Central assembly segment, losing the election by just 4,000 votes, Fadnavis said. The poll outcome notwithstanding, the real concern is the growing confidence of some people who think if they can vote in large numbers they can defeat Hindutva forces, even though they are a minority in absolute numbers, he said. This is the time to awaken, Fadnavis added. Out of 48 Lok Sabha constituencies (in Maharashtra), 14 seats witnessed vote jihad. Hindu religion never disrespected other faiths; tolerance is in our blood. I call for the need to awaken Hindutva if someone is voting for electing anti-Hindu leaders to top posts, the former chief minister said. Fadnavis also expressed concerns over the secret conversion of Hindus to other faiths. In certain cases, people have Indian names. But after they die, they are buried and a cross is installed. The major threat before us is that the number of certain religions looks smaller on paper, but in reality, more people have been converted secretly. We need to awaken and protect our religion, he said. Responding to Fadnavis' remarks, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said the BJP leader should know there were Muslim warriors in the army of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Fadnavis is weak in history. There were Muslim warriors in Shivaji Maharaj's army. He should apologise, Patole said. Leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, suggested that Fadnavis' remarks are politically motivated. The BJP only talks about jihad, mosque, Hindu-Muslim, and Bharat-Pakistan. If they do not use these four words, their candidates will lose deposits in the election. This is a pattern used by BJP people, he alleged. Congress leader Sachin Sawant alleged that Fadnavis had insulted the values of the Constitution by using words like vote jihad. Fadnavis has violated his Constitutional oath by using such language. The BJP should introspect why Muslims do not vote for them, Sawant said. Accusing the BJP of double standards, Sawant said the BJP defends leaders like party MLA Nitesh Rane and preacher Ramgiri Maharaj but promises two free LPG cylinders for Muslim festivals in the Jammu and Kashmir elections. Instead of defending their vile leaders, BJP should prosecute them for spreading hatred. If you cannot do it, there is no point in crying foul over the issue. Muslims do not vote for BJP as the party is not making honest efforts for the integration of society, he added.
Rahul Gandhi to unveil Chhatrapati Shivaji statue in Kolhapur on Oct 4
Mumbai: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will unveil a statue of the legendary warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Kolhapur, during his two-day visit to Maharashtra on October 4-5, party leaders said here on Monday. After reaching Kolhapur on Friday (October 4), he is scheduled to inaugurate Chhatrapatis grand, full-length figurine at Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Shah begins Maharashtra tour to assess BJPs poll preparedness
Mumbai : With an aim of improving BJPs performance in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha polls in Maharashtra, union home minister Amit Shah has urged the party workers to make extra efforts and reach out to the voters with various government schemes. Shah kickstarted his two-day Maharashtra visit with a party meeting in Nagpur, where he interacted with key office-bearers of all the 62 state assembly constituencies of Vidarbha region. The party workers should keep it in mind that without winning Vidarbha, we will not be able to form the next Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. Hence, they should work wholeheartedly to ensure the victory of all Mahayuti candidates, he said. The union minister also warned the party workers saying rebellion and disillusionment will not be allowed in the party. Our main aim is to stop the opposition MVA alliance from cominUnion Home Minister Amit Shah with Maharashtra DCM Devendra Fadnavis during Bharatiya Janata Partys Vidarbha region workers meeting, in Nagpur, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (PTI Photo)g to power in Maharashtra, Shah said. Vidarbha holds a key to BJPs performance as it suffered a severe setback in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. The saffron party won only two of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the Vidarbha region. In the 2019 Vidhan Sabha polls, the BJP had won 29 of the 44 seats it contested. In the meeting, Shah listed many achievements of the Narendra Modi-led government, like scrapping Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, constructing the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and revoking triple talaq. After Nagpur, Shah will also hold meetings with BJP workers at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Kolhapur. He will review the party's election preparations in these regions for the assembly polls. Later Shah is likely to meet chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis. During these interactions, Shah will discuss important party matters, including the seat-sharing formula for the assembly polls among the Mahayuti alliance.
Shah to Visit Maharashtra Next Week to Rejuvenate BJP Cadre
Mumbai :Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to embark on a two-day tour of Maharashtra from September 24. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule informed that Mr. Shahs visit is designed to mobilize BJP workers ahead of the assembly elections. He will interact with party members in Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on the first day, before heading to Nashik and Kolhapur on September 25. Mr. Shahs guidance will energise party workers and ensure the Mahayuti (ruling alliance comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP) retains power in Maharashtra, Mr. Bawankule said. According to reports, Mr.Shah will also discuss with CM Shinde, Deputy CMs Fadnavis and Pawar the impact of ongoing protests over Maratha, OBC and Dhangar reservations in the state and MahaYutis plan B to contain the damage. Before the Union ministers visit, the state BJP core committee will meet on September 23 in Mumbai and discuss the seats it is keen to get and also review the poll preparations in over 99,000 booths. The core committee will also review the partys coordination with the RSS and its affiliated organisations at booths, mandals, tehsils, districts and across the state. The Maharashtra Assembly polls are likely to be held in November this year. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) is the frontrunner for the election based on its performance in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. The MVA won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. On the other hand, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is leaving no stone unturned to turn the tide. Chief minister Eknath Shinde government has announced several schemes, including the direct cash transfer scheme for women, in order to attract women and youth. Recently, on Septemeber 8, Mr. Shah held a meeting with Mrd. Shinde and NCP leader Ajit Pawar over poll preparations. According to reports, the BJP is likely to contest around 140 out 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP are expected to contest 80 and 60 seats respectively.
Amit Shah to visit Maharashtra ahead of Assembly elections
Union Home Minister Amit Shah would meet with party functionaries in Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, followed by interactions in Nashik and Kolhapur during a two-day visit
SC grants bail to indigent convict without surety, cites plight of indigent prisoners
NEW DELHI: In a humanitarian and justice-centred approach, the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to a convict who was unable to pay the surety for his release in a POCSO case. The Court noted that the justice system cannot turn a blind eye to convicts in such situations. The justice delivery mechanism cannot be oblivious of the plight of indigent convicts who are unable to provide local surety. For their incapacity to meet the bail terms, the applicant (convict) continues to languish in jail notwithstanding the bail order passed in his favour as far back as on May 3, this year, by this court, said a three-judge bench of the top court led by Justice Hrishikesh Roy, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti. The bench further added, It would be a travesty of justice and a violation of Article 21 if a convict cannot get the benefit of a bail order for his inability to furnish local surety. This will infringe the rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution for the person, who continues to be detained despite a bail order in his favour. The Supreme Court granted bail considering the fact that the convict, Ramchandra Thangappan Aachari, had already served more than half of his 10-year sentence in a child sexual assault case. Having considered the circumstances here, we deem it appropriate to say that the petitioner (Aachari) be released on bail on his personal bond without insisting on local surety, to ensure compliance with this Courts bail order of May 3 this year, the bench stated. Aachari was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the POCSO case. His counsel submitted to the Court that although the bail order had been passed more than four months ago, the petitioner remained in Kolhapur Central Prison due to his inability to furnish a local surety.
MVA will finalise its seat sharing for Assembly this week: Raut
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday informed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which comprises Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and the Congress, will resume its seat sharing talks for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra from Wednesday. He said that the formula decided in the meeting will be the final one. Talks on seat-sharing among MVA partners will be held from Wednesday to Friday. The meeting will be held for three consecutive days. The formula regarding which party will contest which seats will be decided and it will be the final decision, Raut said. In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, the Congress emerged as the single largest party in Maharashtra by winning 13 out of 17 seats it contested. The NCP (SP) also won eight out of 10 seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) was the worst performer among the MVA allies as it won only nine out of 21 seats it contested. After the Lok Sabha results, the Shiv Sena (UBT) insisted that Uddhav Thackeray should be declared as the MVAs chief ministerial candidate. However, the Congress and NCP (SP) have rejected the demand and maintained that whichever party has the highest number of MLAs should get the top post. When asked about the Lok Sabha results, Raut said that the Congress and NCP won seats because Shiv Senas votes were transferred to them on the seats where they contested. We also ceded Kolhapur, Amravati and Ramtek, the seats we traditionally contested, to Congress. Had these seats been with Shiv Sena (UBT), it would have won them for sure. The party workers of Shiv Sena (UBT) also toiled for the NCP (SP), including for the seat of Baramati,. Similarly, we also have to accept that the Congress-NCP votes were transferred to us in a big way, he said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the Mahayuti alliance has formed consensus over 70 to 80 per sent Assembly seats and the rest seats will be finalised soon. Mahayuti leaders will soon address a joint press conference to declare our final seat sharing. Leaders of all three parties including chief minister Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have vowed to win the election unitedly. They are not bargaining on numbers. Instead, we are focusing on fielding winnable candidates, the BJP leader said.
MVA allies to hold seat-sharing talks from September 18 to 20: Raut
MUMBAI: The three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies will hold seat-sharing talks from September 18 to 20 for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters here, he said deliberations will be held on the seats to be contested, and the formula once decided during this meeting will be final. Assembly polls are likely to be held in the second week of November. While the opposition MVA comprises Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Congress, the ruling Mahayuti has Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP as its constituents. Talks on seat-sharing among MVA partners will be held from September 18 to 20. The meeting will be held for three consecutive days. The formula of which party will contest which seats will be decided and it will be final, Raut said. He stressed that winnability will be the criterion for deciding the seats. When asked that Congress and NCP (SP) clinched a higher strike rate than Shiv Sena (UBT) in this year's Lok Sabha elections, Raut said his party's votes were transferred to these two parties in a big way. The Shiv Sena (UBT) ceded Kolhapur, Amravati and Ramtek, the seats it traditionally contested, to Congress, he said. Had these seats been with Shiv Sena (UBT), it would have won them for sure, Raut added. The party workers of Shiv Sena (UBT) also toiled for the NCP (SP), including for the seat of Baramati, he said. We also have to accept that the Congress-NCP votes, Raut added.
PM Modi launches via video link Hubballi-Pune Vande Bharat Express
Minister of State for V. Somanna attends event to inaugurate another such express train in Kolhapur
AHMEDABAD: At the launch of several development projects at the GMDC ground in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticised the opposition, stating: Some individuals are driven by hatred and seek to undermine the unity of our country. They want to fragment India and reinstate Article 370 in Kashmir. Addressing a large audience, Prime Minister Modi said, While every Indian aspires to be a global ambassador for our nation, showcasing its strengths, some individuals are spreading negativity and attacking our unity. Sardar Patel united over 500 states to form India, yet today, those hungry for power seek to divide our country. In a pointed attack on opposition leaders, he remarked, You might have heard that some individuals are now promising to restore Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to reintroduce dual constitutions and legislations. These appeasement-driven figures are crossing all limits. Their hatred blinds them to the point where they seize every opportunity to defame India. They are also persistently targeting Gujarat. Therefore, Gujarat must remain vigilant and keep a close watch on these divisive elements, the Prime Minister added. Modi reaffirmed Indias commitment to development and unity: India, on its path of development, will confront such forces with unwavering resolve. We cannot afford to waste any time. My only aspiration is your development, the success of your lives, and the fulfilment of your dreams. My fellow countrymen are my greatest priority. Earlier in the morning, while inaugurating the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Modi highlighted Indias leadership in the global energy transition. He declared, Indian solutions for global application position India as the best bet of the 21st century. He emphasised Indias unique attributes: Indias diversity, scale, capacity, potential, and performance are exceptional, setting the stage for Indian solutions to have global applications. Not just India, but the entire world believes that India is the best bet of the 21st century. Reflecting on India's recent global engagements, he said, In the past month alone, we organised the Global Fintech Fest, participated in the First International Solar Festival, held the Global Semiconductor Summit, and hosted the 2nd Asia-Pacific Civil Aviation Ministerial Conference. Today, we continue this trend by hosting a conference on Green Energy. Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the governments achievements during its first 100 days in office: The work undertaken in these initial 100 days highlights our priorities and reflects the speed and scale of our initiatives. We have focused on all sectors critical to Indias rapid development. He outlined key milestones: In these 100 days, we have made significant decisions, including the construction of 7 crore housesmore than the population of many countrieswith 4 crore houses already handed out in previous terms. We've also approved 12 new industrial cities, greenlit 8 high-speed road corridor projects, launched over 15 semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trains, and established a research fund of 1 trillion. Additionally, we've announced various e-mobility initiatives, promoted high-performance biomanufacturing, and approved the Bio E3 policy. Speaking about external pressures, the Prime Minister shared an interaction with the media: A journalist asked whether global benchmarks put any pressure on me. I told the media, 'This is Modino one can exert pressure on me (Yeh Modi hai, yaha kisi ka dabaav nahi chalta hai).' During the event in Ahmedabad, Modi launched a series of major projects, including the foundation stones for 8,000 crore worth of initiatives. Among the highlights was the inauguration of India's first Vande Metro, connecting Bhuj to Ahmedabad. Several new Vande Bharat train routes were also launched, including Nagpur to Secunderabad, Kolhapur to Pune, Agra Cantt to Banaras, Durg to Visakhapatnam, Pune to Hubballi, and the inaugural 20-coach Vande Bharat train from Varanasi to Delhi. Additionally, Modi inaugurated Phase-II of the Ahmedabad Metro, which will extend connectivity to GIFT City. He also launched a 30 MW solar power system and inaugurated a 35 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Solar PV project at the Kutch Lignite Thermal Power Station. In another initiative, he opened 220 kV substations in Morbi and Rajkot. Furthermore, Modi unveiled the Single Window IT System (SWITS), designed to streamline financial services under the International Financial Services Centre Authority. In a significant boost to housing, the Prime Minister approved over 30,000 homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Rural scheme, released the first instalment for these homes, and handed over completed houses to beneficiaries in both urban and rural areas under PMAY. Throughout the day, Prime Minister Modi underscored his commitment to national development, stating that he remains unfazed by external pressures and opposition criticism. I worked around the clock to fulfil my promises in the first 100 days, yet some people mocked my efforts and questioned what Modi was doing. But now, my work is speaking for itself, he concluded.
Maharashtra panchayat resolution barring registration of Muslim voters sparks outrage
Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls, scheduled to be held in November, a panchayat in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district has issued an unconstitutional resolution barring the Muslim community from enrolling in the voters list, reports said. The resolution, passed on August 28, was officially communicated on September 5. It was signed by sarpanch Rasika Patil and states that the decision was made after an elaborate discussion, according to The Wire . The resolution stated that the names of Muslims who had recently arrived in the village should not be included in the voter list. The panchayat further declared it would remove any such names if found during the publication of the voter list. The resolution has sparked outrage among local Muslim organisations who have filed a formal complaint with the district magistrate calling for an FIR to be lodged against the sarpanch and the panchayat members involved. The Muslim Education Society (MES) lodged its complaint on Sunday condemning the resolution as discriminatory and unconstitutional, Clarion India said. In response to the backlash, Shanganapur Sarpanch Rasika Patil issued a video statement, claiming the resolution had been misunderstood. She explained, A few weeks ago, two Bangladeshi Muslim women arrived in the village with Aadhaar cards, appearing to live as Indian citizens. The issue was raised in the Gram Sabha, and this resolution was aimed at addressing that specific situation. However, it is now being portrayed in a way that threatens the peace and order of society. Despite the clarification, Muslim organisations remain adamant that the resolution is unconstitutional and have demanded immediate legal action. The incident has raised concerns over the growing trend of Islamophobia and the potential for social discord. As the issue continues to unfold, authorities have yet to take formal action against the panchayat members. Local political and community leaders have also voiced concern over the situation, urging the panchayat to uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens.
25th CII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management
Hyderabad: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) announced the winners of the 25thCII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management 2024. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievements and innovations in energy management across various sectors, highlighting the commitment of organizations to sustainability and efficiency. Awards Overview This year, the CII National Award for Excellence in Energy Management saw exceptional participation from around the country , with registration from 570 + companies across 15+ sectors. 207 companies were shortlisted for the final round. All these companies represent the highest standards in optimizing energy use and implementing innovative solutions. Heres a glimpse of the awards: Award categories & Number of Winners: 1. National Energy Leader: 21 Units ( represents consistency in energy performance for 3 consecutive years) 2. Excellent Energy Efficient Unit: 82 Units 3. Energy Efficient Unit: 115 Units 4. Most Innovative Product/ Service: 2 5. Innovative Product/ Service: 2 6. Young & Emerging Leader in Energy Efficiency: 4 7. High impact Program for Energy Efficiency- 2 Organizations CII National Energy Leaders 2024: 1. Adani Dahanu Thermal Power Station, Dahanu 2. Bharat Aluminium Company Limited, Korba 3. Central Workshop, Southern Railway, Ponmalai 4. Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, Ariyalur 5. Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, Dalmiapuram 6. Dalmia Cement (North East) Limited, Lanka 7. Fortis Healthcare Limited, Mohali 8. GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, Hyderabad 9. GMR Warora Energy Limited, Warora 10. ITC Limited, Kidderpore 11. JK Cement Limited, Balasinor 12. JK Cement Limited, Jharli 13. JK Paper Limited, Unit: JKPM, Rayagada 14. Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited, Kagal, Kolhapur 15. NTPC Limited, Sipat 16. Orient Cement Limited, Chittapur 17. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Visakhapatnam 18. Seshasayee Paper and Boards Limited, Erode 19. Tata Motors Limited, Pantnagar 20. Tata Steel Limited, Jamshedpur 21. Wipro Limited, Kodathi, Bengaluru
Make pupils sensitive, honest: President to teachers
NEW DELHI: On Teachers Day, President Droupadi Murmu gave away national awards to teachers selected from across the country for their extraordinary contribution in the field of education. Happiness lab, gamified assessments, home-based education visits, preventing child marriages and an automated school bell made of recycled materials are among the feats that have bagged National Teachers Awards for 82 teachers. The President urged the teaching fraternity to prepare students to be sensitive, honest, sincere and enterprising, besides preparing them educationally. Moving ahead in life is a success, but the meaning of life lies in working for the welfare of others, she said. We should have compassion. Our conduct should be ethical. Teaching these values to students is the duty of teachers, she said, adding that teachers play the most important role in the success of any education system. Murmu was a teacher before being appointed as governor and thereafter the President. Teaching is not just a job. It is a sacred mission of human development. If a child is not able to perform well, then the education system and teachers have a bigger responsibility, the President said. She also emphasised the all-round development of the child at the school level. The responsibility of teachers and parents goes hand-in-hand to prepare youngsters in such a way that they are always respectful of women. Great teachers build a great nation, she said. As many as 82 teachers from across the country bagged the National Teachers Awards. One of them, Chandralekha Damodar Mestri, a teacher at the Satyawati Soiru Angle Higher Secondary School in South Goa, received the award for bridging the language gap for her primarily first-generation learner students. Sagar Chittaranjan Bagade, a teacher at Sou. S. M. Lohia High School and Junior College in Maharashtras Kolhapur, won it for organising numerous social events to raise awareness on issues affecting orphans, tribals, young HIV patients, and individuals with disabilities. Another teacher, K Suma from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, bagged the award for her dedication to improving the infrastructure in government schools and increasing enrolment. Bihars Minakshi Kumari, who teaches at Shiv Ganga Girls plus 2 High School in Madhubani district, is awarded for her contribution in community involvement by engaging parents in improving school outcomes like clean uniforms and drinking water facilities. Among the teachers honoured, there were many who have worked innovatively to foster the love of learning among the children.
Maharashtra: Sculptor Jaydeep Apte Arrested Over Shivaji Statue Collapse
Mumbai: Maharashtra police have managed to apprehend sculptor Jaydeep Apte, who was on the run for 10 days. Apte had built the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan that collapsed on August 26. On Thursday, he was produced before a magistrate court, which remanded him to police custody till September 10. After receiving information from his wife, the police arrested Apte from his residence at Kalyan on Wednesday night. Immediately after the statue collapsed, the police had started searching for him. After not finding him at his home or at the places of his relatives or friends, the police had issued a Lookout Circular against the sculptor. Multiple police teams were deployed across different locations to trace Apte. His family had informed the police that he had not contacted them after the statue at Rajkot fort collapsed. However, he contacted the family on Wednesday night after his wife informed the police that he was coming to meet the family. After his arrest, Apte was handed over to Sindhudurg police, who took him to Sindhudurg for further investigation. This was the second arrest in the case. Earlier, the police had arrested structural consultant Chetan Patil from Kolhapur on August 30. His police custody also ended on Thursday. The police produced both the accused before a magistrate in Sidhurg. While seeking their remand, the police told the court that they wanted to ascertain the quality of material used to construct the statue, for which the interrogation of both the accused was necessary. Aptes lawyer Ganesh Sovani informed that his client had decided to surrender before the police and face legal action instead of applying for a pre-arrest bail. The decision was made on Wednesday and as per the plan, he came to Kalyan to surrender before the police, he said. There was outrage across Maharashtra after the statue collapsed. It has also become a major political issue ahead of the Assembly elections, which are expected to be held in November this year. The opposition has alleged that there was corruption in awarding contracts to Apte and the Eknath Shinde government is shielding him. After Aptes arrest, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, Everyone is equal before the law, and the sculptor of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue will be held accountable. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our revered figure. Politicising this incident is unfortunate.
Innovative educators win national honours from President Murmu
NEW DELHI: Innovative initiatives in education, such as gamified assessments, efforts to combat child marriages, and the creation of eco-friendly school bells, have earned National Teachers Awards for 82 educators nationwide. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards in a ceremony held on Thursday. Among the honorees is Chandralekha Damodar Mestri, from Satyawati Soiru Angle Higher Secondary School in South Goa. Mestri has been recognized for her work in bridging language barriers for first-generation learners, developing affordable teaching resources, and conducting home visits to foster educational engagement. Sagar Chittaranjan Bagade of Sou S. M. Lohia High School and Junior College in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, received accolades for his extensive social awareness campaigns, including initiatives for orphans, tribal communities, and individuals with disabilities. He also organized folk dance and ballet performances, earning a place in the Asia Pacific Book of World Records for providing international exposure to students. K Suma, a teacher from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was honoured for her commitment to enhancing school infrastructure and boosting student enrollment. Her contributions include promoting health through yoga and supporting inclusive education with regular home visits. Minakshi Kumari of Shiv Ganga Girls Plus 2 High School in Madhubani, Bihar, has been acknowledged for her efforts in community involvement, such as improving school amenities and advocating against child marriage. Her advocacy has resulted in preventing 20 child marriages and increasing girls' participation in academics and sports. President Droupadi Murmu conferred National Awards on teachers from across the country at a function held in New Delhi on Teachers Day. Emphasising that teaching is a sacred mission of human development, the President said that teachers should identify the natural talent of each pic.twitter.com/eYLCZVJKoI President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 5, 2024 Hukam Chand Chaudhary, a Rajasthan government school teacher, was celebrated for his innovative, low-cost educational tools, including a recycled-material automated school bell and an AI-driven WhatsApp chatbot for student queries. Pallavi Sharma, Principal of Mamta Modern Senior Secondary School, was recognized for her development of educational initiatives such as a Maths and Science Park, a Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Laboratory, and Khushishala, a happiness lab. Her work includes creating 916 audiobooks for visually impaired students and designing tactile learning materials. Mantaiah Chinni Bedke, a teacher at ZP Upper Primary Digital School in Jajavandi, Maharashtra, received praise for her creation of cost-effective teaching aids, including a speaking wall to enhance vocabulary through visual and textual interaction. Narasimha Murthy H K of Daffodils English School in Sanjaynagar, Karnataka, was honored for his engaging teaching methods, which include problem-solving tasks, Sudoku, IT expos, project-based learning, and gamified educational activities like treasure hunts and Minecraft Education. The National Teachers Awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of teachers who have significantly enhanced educational quality and impacted their students' lives. Each awardee receives a certificate of merit, a cash prize of Rs 50,000, and a silver medal, with the opportunity to engage with the Prime Minister. This year, the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, selected 50 teachers through a transparent, multi-stage process at the district, state, and national levels. The selected teachers represent 28 states, three Union Territories, and six organizations, including a diverse group of 34 males, 16 females, two differently-abled individuals, and one teacher working with Children with Special Needs (CWSN). In addition to school teachers, 16 educators from the Department of Higher Education and another 16 from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will also be honored, reflecting the expanded scope of the awards introduced last year.
