Man beaten and stabbed to death over stalking allegations in Maharashtra

A 21-year-old man in Maharashtra's Nanded district was beaten and fatally stabbed by the family of a woman who had accused him of stalking. The brutal attack occurred near his residence on Friday evening. The victim's mother was also assaulted while attempting to intervene. Police have arrested 10 individuals in connection with the murder.

Maharashtra Man, Accused Of Stalking Woman, Stabbed To Death By Her Parents: Cops

A 21-year-old man was beaten and stabbed to death by parents and relatives of a woman who accused him of stalking her in Maharashtra's Nanded district, police said on Sunday.

Man beaten and stabbed to death in Nanded; 10 arrested

A 21-year-old man was beaten and stabbed to death in Nandeds Hadgaon town by the parents and relatives of a woman who accused him of stalking her. Police have arrested 10 people in connection with the attack.

SCR GM inspects railway stations in Secunderabad-Nanded route

Nizamabad businessmen and traders met with SCR officials at Nizamabad Railway Station, urging the introduction of new afternoon trains to Hyderabad and Mumbai

Two die of suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome in Pune, toll rises to 11: Officials

PUNE: The fatality count due to suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) rose to 11 after two more patients died in Pune hospitals during treatment, officials said on Wednesday. The deceased include a 27-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man. The woman, diagnosed with GBS, died in a city hospital on Tuesday, while the man from Daund in Pune district, died in the state-run Sassoon General hospital of suspected GBS on Monday. The deceased woman was a resident of Nandedgaon area, the epicentre of the GBS outbreak. She complained of loose motions on January 15 but recovered without any medication. On January 22, she developed weakness in the lower limbs and was admitted to the hospital where she was given treatment for GBS. On January 25, she was shifted to another hospital where she was put on life support. She died during treatment on February 18, officials added. The man was admitted to Sassoon General Hospital on January 10 for suspected GBS. He died on Monday due to acute respiratory failure. Meanwhile, the total number of GBS cases remained unchanged at 211 on Wednesday as no fresh case was reported, officials added.

HC rejects rly plea to condone delay in appeals over Wardha-Nanded line land acquisition

Two Injured in Firing Incident Near Gurdwara in Nanded

A shooting near a gurdwara in Nanded leaves two injured, with one reportedly a murder accused on parole

Nanded firing: Two injured in attack near gurdwara, investigation underway

Two people were injured in a shooting near a gurdwara in Maharashtras Nanded. One of the victims is reportedly a murder accused out on parole. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

RTI Requests Pile Up In Maharashtra, 7 Municipal Corporations Yet To Clear A Single Application

According to the report, Ahmednagar, Chandrapur, Dhule, Kolhapur, Nanded, Solapur, and Akola municipal corporations have not resolved any of the RTI applications filed with them

Tally of nerve disorder GBS rises to 180 in Pune; Mumbai records first case

PUNE/MUMBAI: The tally of suspected Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS) cases in the Pune region has reached 180, with the detection of seven cases, while a 64-year-old woman became the first patient diagnosed with the nerve disorder in Mumbai, officials said. The seven cases in Pune comprise four fresh cases and three from previous days, an official from the health department said on Friday. Of the 180 suspected cases, 146 have been diagnosed with GBS. At least 35 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation, 88 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 25 from the Pimpri Chinchwad civic limits, 24 from Pune Rural and eight from other districts. While 79 patients have been discharged, 58 are in ICU and 22 on ventilator support, a health department release said. The number of deaths in the region stood at six, it added. Mumbai reported its first case of GBS on Friday after a 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with the rare nerve disorder, civic officials said. Talking to PTI, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner and its state-appointed administrator, Bhushan Gagrani, said the patient was currently undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a civic-run hospital. BMC officials said the woman, who resides in the Andheri (East) area of the city, was hospitalised with a history of fever and diarrhoea that was followed by ascending paralysis. The woman was initially hospitalised on January 21. Within three days, she developed difficulty in walking and progressive weakness in her lower limbs, they said. A provisional diagnosis of Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP), a variant of GBS, was made based on clinical findings and diagnostic tests, said the officials, and described her current condition as moderate. GBS is a rare condition in which a person's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, as well as problems swallowing or breathing. Severe cases can result in near-total paralysis. GBS is more common in adults and males, though people of all ages can be affected. Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Friday said the state government will bring a law to ensure people get clean drinking water and also fine entities that contaminate and pollute water. The Pune Municipal Corporation, state health department, etc, have worked very hard to ensure GBS cases are contained, he told reporters. Several agencies such as an expert team from the Centre, World Health Organization and state health department are working in tandem on the various aspects of the disease and ensuring that such cases do not spread. Now, since it is confirmed that waterborne bacteria has triggered the outbreak, responsibility will be fixed and action taken, he asserted. We are also planning to bring a law with provisions of fines on those entities that contribute to the pollution and contamination of water. The new law will ensure common people get clean drinking water through their respective civic and local bodies. We will present a draft of the bill in the upcoming Budget session, Abitkar said. He said the PMC has been directed to ensure proper chlorination of water in the Nanded village area, which has seen a high number of GBS cases. Proper monitoring is being done in Nanded village to ensure clean water is supplied. Various teams were tasked with collecting water samples from various sources, including sewage released by some resorts on the upper side of Khadakwasla dam. They are also verifying whether the contamination was triggered by poultry farms on the upper side of Khadakwasla, the minister said.

Man detained in Iran for clicking pix returns home

An Indian engineer, Yogesh Panchal, was detained in Iran for almost two months for allegedly clicking photographs in a restricted zone. He was released earlier this week after the Ministry of External Affairs intervened. Panchal, who hails from Nanded district in Maharashtra, visited Iran in December to explore business opportunities. He was apprehended from his hotel room on December 7 and accused of shooting videos and photos in a restricted zone. He was held in a local detention center for 59 days and treated well, although blindfolded throughout his incarceration. The family sought help from Rajya Sabha member Ajit Gopchade, but the Iranian Embassy in Delhi initially did not cooperate. The MEA's intervention led to a hearing and his eventual release.

Detained In Iran For Clicking Pictures, Nanded Man Returns Home After 2 Months

Panchal, who hails from Vasmat in Nanded district, told reporters that he visited Iran in the first week of December for exploring business opportunities.

Detained in Iran for clicking pictures, Nanded man returns home after two months

Yogesh Panchal, an engineer from Maharashtra, returned to India on February 4 after being detained in Iran for nearly two months for clicking photographs in a restricted zone. His release was facilitated by the Ministry of External Affairs following intervention by MP Ajit Gopchade. Panchal was treated well during his detention and released after a hearing.

63-year-old man dies of suspected GBS in Pune; total fatalities rise to six

PUNE: The number of suspected Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) deaths in Maharashtra's Pune district has risen to six after a 63-year-old man died, a health official has said. The man was admitted to a hospital in the Sinhgad Road area after he complained of fever, loose motions and weakness in the lower limb and was diagnosed with GBS, the official said on Thursday. His condition deteriorated on Wednesday and he died of acute ischemic stroke, the Pune Municipal Corporation health official said. He added that of the six deaths, five are suspected GBS deaths, while one is a confirmed fatality from the rare nerve disorder. With the detection of three new cases, the number of suspected GBS cases in Pune rose to 173, a Maharashtra health department release said. Of these, 140 have been diagnosed with GBS. Of the 173, a total of 34 patients are from Pune Municipal Corporation limits, 87 from newly added villages in PMC area, 22 from Pimpri Chinchwad civic limits, 22 from rural parts of the district, and eight from other districts, the release said. Of the 173, the release added, 72 have been discharged, 55 are in ICU and 21 are on ventilator support. Rise in Guillain Barre Syndrome cases in Maharashtra An official said a tap water sample from a housing society in the vicinity of Nanded village, where the highest number of GBS cases have been reported, has tested positive for campylobacter jejuni. It is a common bacterial pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and can trigger GBS, he added. A senior health official from the Rapid Response Team (RRT) set up to investigate the GBS outbreak within a 5-kilometre radius of Nanded village in Sinhgad Road area confirmed the development. A PMC official said the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has confirmed the GBS outbreak in Nanded and its adjoining areas was caused by water contamination, specifically due to the presence of waterborne campylobacter jejuni. The PMC said 11 private reverse osmosis (RO) plants in Nanded and adjoining areas have been sealed after test reports indicated water from these was unfit for consumption. With this, the total number of RO plants sealed by the civic body's water supply department has reached 30. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) will soon be issued to private RO plants, water tanker operators and owners of borewells supplying drinking water. They will be required to use bleaching solutions to ensure the supply of clean and uncontaminated water, said Nandkishor Jagtap, head of PMC's water department. GBS is a rare condition in which a person's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the legs and/or arms, as well as problems swallowing or breathing. Severe cases can result in near-total paralysis. GBS is more common in adults and in males, though people of all ages can be affected. Investigations still on to identify cause behind Guillain-Barre Syndrome spurt: ICMR chief

Lack of Chlorine in water linked to Pune GBS outbreak

A water quality survey held around Nanded village, the epicentre of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) in Pune city, has found there was lack of chlorine in the drinking water supplied to households of 26 patients of this nerve disorder, officials said.

Suspected GBS deaths in Maharashtra rise to four, case tally at 140; E.coli found in water sample

(Eds: Recasting overnight story) Pune, Feb 1 (PTI) The number of suspected deaths in Maharashtra due to Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS), a rare nerve disorder, have risen to four, while the tally of cases recorded in the state so far stood at 140, health officials said. A 36-year-old man died due to rauma to the respiratory system due to pneumonia at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital in the neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation limits on Thursday. The fourth suspected victim was a 60-year-old man from the Dhayari area off Sinhgad Road here who died on Friday. The man was admitted to the hospital on January 27 following loose motions and weakness in the lower limbs. He died due to cardiac arrest, according to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department. According to state health officials, of 140 suspected patients, 98 were diagnosed as confirmed GBS cases. A total of 26 patients are from Pune city, 78 from newly added villages in the PMC area, 15 from Pimpri Chinchwad, 10 from Pune Rural, and 11 are from other districts, said the official release. No fresh case was reported on Friday. Most of the cases recorded in the state are from Pune and surrounding areas. A total of 160 water samples from different parts of Pune city were sent to the Public Health Laboratory for chemical and biological analysis, and samples from eight water sources were found contaminated. An official said Escherichia coli or E.coli bacteria was found in one of the samples obtained from private borewells in the Sinhgad Road area. E.coli in water is a sign of faecal or animal waste contamination, and the prevalence of bacteria can lead to GBS infection. Following the increase in GBS cases in Nanded, Kirkatwadi, Dhayari, and other localities on Sinhgad Road, the Pune Municipal Corporation has been collecting water samples from borewells and wells for investigations. Yesterday, we collected samples from private borewells and wells in the GBS-affected areas of Sinhgad Road. In one of the samples, E-Coli bacteria was found, said PMC water supply department chief Nandkishor Jagtap. Two days ago, a meeting was held of operators of private tube wells and borewells, and they were instructed to use bleaching power solutions provided by PMC to ensure the bacteria is contained, Jagtap said. Our chemists gave them a demonstration on how to mix the solutions in the water. The borewell point in the Nanded area, which provides 30 to 40 tankers to nearby housing societies, has been issued a notice to use bleaching power solutions, failing which action will be taken, he informed. GBS is a rare condition that causes sudden numbness and muscle weakness, with symptoms including severe weakness in the limbs. Campylobacter jejuni, a bacterium found in contaminated food and water, is believed to be the reason for the outbreak.

People Demand More Trains from Nizamabad

Nizamabad: Passengers in Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts are struggling due to limited train availability during peak hours, with high demand for services to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and other key routes. Despite 50 trains passing through Nizamabad railway station daily, no direct express trains originate from the station. Businessman B. Chandrasekhar pointed out that a train could cut travel time to Hyderabad to 2.5 hours, compared to over four hours by road. Nizamabad serves as a crucial link between North and South India, with recent electrification completed. However, the absence of a double railway line on the Secunderabad-Nizamabad-Nanded route has led to restricted services. While special trains run from Karimnagar to Mumbai during festivals, post-festival demand is met only by Devgiri Express. Commuters are urging South Central Railway to introduce an additional train from Nizamabad or Karimnagar to Mumbai, as it remains the shortest route from North Telangana. Passengers are now demanding direct express trains from Nizamabad/Basar to Hyderabad, additional Mumbai-bound train post-festivals and permission for Bodhan passengers to board Tirupati-bound Rayalaseema Express. The key concerns: No direct express train from Nizamabad to Hyderabad, forcing commuters to rely on Ajanta and Devgiri Express, which operate at inconvenient hours. Rayalaseema Express, bound for Tirupati, starts from Bodhan but does not allow passengers to board there, frustrating locals in Bodhan and nearby Maharashtra. Highway congestion on NH-44 and in Hyderabad makes road travel unreliable.

GBS situation in Pune linked to...: Health minister

Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has linked 80% of suspected Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune to water contamination around a well in Nanded village. The state health department and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are taking measures to address the issue. The well is a source of water for surrounding villages, and officials suspect contamination is leading to the spike in GBS cases. The minister emphasized that GBS affects individuals with weak immunity, and campylobacter jejuni bacteria, usually causing stomach infection, can trigger the disease. The PMC has conducted water sample tests, with some showing evidence of norovirus and campylobacter jejuni. Clean drinking water is being provided through tankers to affected areas.

Over 50 hospitalised for food poisoning in Nanded after Ekadashi meals during pilgrimage

Over 50 individuals were hospitalized in Maharashtra's Nanded district after consuming 'bhagar' and peanut paste during a pilgrimage in Mahur. Following symptoms of food poisoning, they were admitted to Mahur rural hospital, where four were initially in critical condition. All patients are now stable and expected to be discharged soon.

Guillain-Barr Syndrome cases up in Pune; teams to check outbreak

PUNE: There has been a significant increase in cases of Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS) cases in Pune and the surrounding areas. According to officials, the infection is primarily linked to contaminated water and unclean food, among other factors. So far, 73 confirmed cases have been reported, comprising 47 males and 26 females. The majority of these cases have come from Punes Kirkatwadi, Nandoshi, Nanded, Dhayari, and Sinhagad Road. Primarily caused by the Norovirus, GBS spreads through contaminated food or water and can also be transmitted through airborne particles when an infected person vomits. Of the 73 GBS patients, 44 are from Pune rural, 11 are from Pune city, and they belong to the Pimpri Chinchwad area. Fourteen GBS patients are stated to be on ventilators. The infection usually lasts for one to three days, while some cases lead to severe health complications. The local health authority has sent GBS patients samples to the National Institute of Virology for further testing. However, the initial reports from the NIV indicated the presence of Campylobacter jejuni bacteria and Norovirus, both of which are spread through contaminated food and water. The symptoms of both infections include abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea. The local Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) initiated a survey of these affected areas and even issued an inspection report of Parvati Water Treatment Centre that confirmed the presence of contaminated water. Residents of these areas have been asked to drink clean drinking water by boiling and purifying it before consumption. Besides, it was also observed that in GBS-affected areas, the PMC lacks adequate infrastructure, such as water pipelines, to supply clean drinking water, making the residents dependent on private water tankers and other unverified sources. As part of the ongoing efforts, the municipal corporation has decided to install mesh barriers on the wells supplying water to the areas of Kirkatwadi and Khadakwasla to prevent contamination. Residents have raised concerns regarding the presence of waste and sewage near the wells, which could exacerbate the health risks in the area. After a sudden rise in the number of GBS-diagnosed patients, the Pune Municipal Corporation has initiated house-to-house measures to contain the spread of GBS at an early stage. The PMC health department has surveyed 1,943 households in Pune, 1,750 households in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation area, and 3,522 households in Pune rural areas. As many as 7,215 household surveys were carried out. PMC has constituted 100 health survey teams in Pune.

Malkajgiri May Become New Terminal Station

Hyderabad: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated Cherlapalli as a railway terminal, the South Central Railway (SCR) is reportedly working towards developing the Malkajgiri station into another terminal. Malkajgiris proximity to the city centre and its direct connectivity towards Kamareddy, Nizamabad, Nanded and Mumbai made it an ideal choice. Sources said SCR officials carried out an inspection of the station on Thursday. Malkajgiri are among Hyderabads 12 railway stations that are set to undergo a Rs 2,000-crore upgrade. SCR had previously considered upgrading Malkajgiri due to its potential and geographic advantages. Approximately eight years ago, under then-divisional railway manager Vandana Singhal, plans were announced to make Malkajgiri the second terminal for the Hyderabad division, but they did not materialise at that time. With three platforms in place, the station can potentially be expanded. Its conversion into a terminal could decongest other city stations. Commuter groups like the MMTS Travellers Association believe Malkajgiri, part of Indias largest parliamentary constituency, has been overlooked. General Secretary Nandlal suggested increasing the number of MMTS services and adjusting their schedules to meet the needs of employees, students, and passengers connecting to outstation trains from Malkajgiri. Despite multiple representations, authorities often cite a lack of trains or rakes. Noor, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), SCR, has recommended several modifications to transform Malkajgiri into a major station: constructing an additional platform near the east booking office, laying a new track beside Road No. 1, rearranging existing platforms to add two more tracks. Noor also proposes assigning rooms to the station manager and the RPF, building another floor for crew and AC waiting halls, and reconfiguring platform numbers. He said these measures would give Malkajgiri six platforms, along with pit lines, and bolster its capacity to serve as a terminal.

Track maintainers stage protests in Telangana, AP against Centres anti-labour policies

Hyderabad: South Central Railway Mazdoor Union affiliated to All India Railway Federation staged demonstrations before Divisional Railway Office in Secunderabad, Nanded, Vijayawada, Guntur and Guntakal on Friday against anti-labour attitude of the Central government and for failing to redress the just reasonable demands of the track maintenance category. Thousands of Track Maintainers (TM), who are also called gangmen took part in the demonstrations in support of their demands. The demonstrations were organized under the leadership of union general secretary Ch Sankara Rao. Rao said thousands of TM vacancies were not being filled in Indian railways resulting in heavy workload on them. Non-creation of additional posts of trackmen for double line, triple line, non-reduction of workload of track maintainers and age-old practices of the British regime are still followed by railways for manpower creation. He said the workload of keymen was not reduced in spite of several representations and the trackmen were demanding six hour duty in two shifts. The same was not considered. The trackmen were recruited in Level-1 (Group-D) category in spite of having higher educational qualifications such as graduation and are failing to get promotions in Indian railways due to short-sighted policies of not providing Rs.4,200, Rs.4,600 and Rs.4,800 grade pay to the trackmen category. According to Rao, a large number of vacancies are lying vacant in non-safety categories like Train Managers, Ticket Collectors, Commercial Clerks, ECRCs, Office Clerks and are not filled by promoting the Track Maintainers by allowing them to compete in the LDCE. An immediate action needs to be taken to provide 10 per cent extra in LDCE open for all track maintainers and the risk allowance provided for track maintainers is less as daily there are run over cases and there is no safety for them during the night time. The demand for provision of two track maintainers in the night patrolling is not considered stating that there is no sufficient staff due to the large number of vacancies. Thereby a single trackman is forced to work daily in the night time. There is an immediate need to provide two track maintainers in view of law and order situation and also in view of the safety of them. The Railway Minister's lip sympathy for track maintainers without acting accepting the above demands is not justified. All the recruitments of Level-I (Group-D) should be in the track maintainers category and after a period of three years they should be sent to other departments in view of the physical and manual work involved in the trackmen duties.

Telangana is focusing on Lendi project completion: Minister Uttam

Hyderabad: Telangana state is focusing on the speedy completion of the construction of the Lendi project between Maharashtra and Telangana states, said Irrigation and Civil Supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy. To this end, on Thursday morning, January 23, a group of Maharashtra Congress representatives, including Maharashtra Nanded Congress MP Ravindra Chavan, former MLA Hanumant 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 .

Shaktipeeth Expressway: 802-KM Link to Boost Nagpur-Goa Link - All You Need To Know

The Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, an 802-kilometer-long six-lane corridor, is all set to transform travel between Nagpur and Goa. Developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), this project will cut down travel time from the current 18-20 hours to just 8-10 hours, revolutionizing connectivity across the state. The expressway will pass through 12 districts, linking key pilgrimage centers while driving tourism, economic growth, and infrastructure development. Route and Districts Covered The expressway begins at Pavnar in Wardha district and ends at Patradevi on the Maharashtra-Goa border, passing through 12 districts, including Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, and Sindhudurg. By offering a faster, more convenient route, the expressway is expected to enhance regional tourism and economic activities. Connecting Pilgrimage Sites and Growth A standout feature of this expressway is its ability to connect significant spiritual destinations. Stretching from Wardha to Sindhudurg, it will provide easier access to famous pilgrimage spots, such as Tuljapur near Solapur, Mahalaxmi in Kolhapur, and Patra Devi, promoting spiritual tourism while fostering economic development. This linkage between cultural heritage and progress will not only benefit devotees but also boost regional industries. Villages Along the Route The expressway will pass through several villages, including Sangavade, Sangavadewadi, Halasavade, Nerli, Vikaswadi, Kaneriwadi, Kaneri, Kogil Budruk, and Khebwade. By integrating rural areas into the expressway's network, the project is expected to open up new economic opportunities for these regions and improve the standard of living for local communities. Cost and Scale of the Project The total cost of the Shaktipeeth Expressway is estimated to be Rs.86,000 crore. Once completed, this highway will become one of Indias longest, surpassing the 701-kilometer Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway. Beyond its sheer size, the project symbolizes the connection between Maharashtra's cultural heritage and its vision for economic advancement. Challenges and Progress Despite facing challenges, the project is moving forward steadily. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has prioritized land acquisition to ensure the project's timely progress. Modeled after the Samruddhi Expressway, this initiative highlights the state governments commitment to reducing travel times and improving infrastructure. The Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway is more than just a road. It represents a new chapter of connectivity, offering a bridge between tradition and modernity, and unlocking new opportunities for millions of people across Maharashtra. A Vision for Maharashtra's Prosperity The Mahayuti government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has introduced an expressway that stands as more than just a transportation route, represents progress and unity. By linking important Shaktipeeths and cutting down travel time, this initiative is expected to boost spiritual tourism and drive economic development. Moreover, the project reflects the government's dedication to balancing infrastructure advancements with environmental and social accountability. The Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway symbolizes a brighter and more connected future for Maharashtra. Prioritizing improved accessibility while protecting the environment, this venture is poised to become a milestone in India's journey toward modern infrastructure development.

Cops on alert at TG border after Bidar robbery

Kamareddy: Police have issued a high alert along the Telangana-Karnataka border following a daring robbery in Bidar town, Karnataka, on Thursday. Armed robbers on a motorbike shot dead two security guards and stole 93 lakh as the victims were trying to refill cash in an SBI ATM. Karnataka police have formed special teams to track the robbers in Bidar district and have shared information with their counterparts in Telangana and Maharashtra to tighten security in border areas. Authorities are focusing on the possibility that the robbers are moving along the inter-state borders. The incident has drawn comparisons to a similar robbery on January 12 in Pitlam mandal, Kamareddy district, Telangana, just 70 km from Bidar. In that case, robbers used a gas cutter to break into an ATM and steal 17 lakh. Investigators suspect the two incidents could be linked. Police are analysing CCTV footage to trace the movements of the robbers across the border regions. The attack on security personnel has created widespread panic among residents in Bidar (Karnataka), Nanded (Maharashtra), and Kamareddy (Telangana).

Unable to fulfill son's wish for a smartphone, farmer dies by suicide with the same rope as his son

A farmer and his son died by suicide in a Maharashtra village after the former was unable to buy smartphone for the latter. Unable to fulfill his son's aspiration for a smartphone, the farmer hung himself with the same rope in which the son died by suicide. The incident was reported at a village in Nanded, Maharashtra. Upon spotting the 16-year-old, Class X student hanging from the tree on the farm at Minaki in Biloli tehsil on Thursday morning, his father also hanged himself from the same tree, TOI reported. The boy, youngest of three brothers, came home from his hostel for Makar Sankranti and requested his father to buy him a smartphone for academic purposes. However, the father could not afford to buy the gadget because of financial constraints. Nanded police have registered a case and are investigating.

Train reverses 700 metres to pick passenger who fell

Mumbai-Nanded Tapovan Express reversed 700m on Saturday to pick up Sarvar Shaikh, a 30-year-old passenger who had fallen off near Manmad junction. Despite efforts, he later died in hospital. The loco pilot secured permission to maneuver the train back, and an ambulance was arranged at Manmad for medical assistance, while express continued its journey.

VHP says acquittal of Nanded blast accused 'tight slap' on Congress

The Congress' dream of proving Hindus to be terrorists in the 2006 Nanded blast case stands exposed, with the court acquitting all the persons made accused in the case, VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said

VHP says acquittal of Nanded blast accused tight slap on Congress

New Delhi, Jan 5: The VHP on Sunday termed the acquittal of the 2006 Nanded blast accused a tight slap on the Congress face and asked the partys top leadership to apologise to Hindu society. The reaction came after a sessions court in Maharashtras Nanded acquitted on Saturday all nine surviving accused in the 2006 blast case. The Congress dream of proving Hindus to be terrorists in the 2006 Nanded blast case stands exposed, with the court acquitting all the [] The post VHP says acquittal of Nanded blast accused tight slap on Congress appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

2006 Nanded blast case: Court acquits all nine surviving accused

Sessions court acquits all 9 surviving accused in 2006 Nanded bomb blast case

Of the total 12 accused in the case, two had died in the explosion, while one died during the course of the trial

69th Railway week organised by SCR

Hyderabad : South Central Railway general manager Arun Kumar Jain stressed that safety, asset maintenance, quality works, and staff training were the major reasons for the zones success, and these facors ensured a safe, comfortable and affordable journey for passengers. Addressing the 69th Railway Week celebrations here on Friday, Jain stated that there should be no compromise in implementing safety standards. The General Managers best performance efficiency shield was jointly awarded to the Secunderabad and Vijayawada divisions. The awards were received by divisional railway managers Bhartesh Kumar Jain (Secunderabad) and A. Narendra Patil (Vijayawada). Thirty five zonal level efficiency shields were distributed, acknowledging the contributions of the Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada Guntakal, Guntur, and Nanded divisions. Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar were presented to 75 officers and staff.

SCR to operate additional special trains for Maha Kumbh

HYDERABAD : The South Central Railway will operate 26 additional special trains connecting various destinations to cater to the extra rush of passengers during the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2025. Train No. 07081 will leave Guntur at 11 pm on February 14, and reach Azamgarh at 5.15 pm the next day. Train No. 07082 will leave Azamgarh at 7.45 pm on February 16 and reach Vijayawada at 7.30 am two days later. Train No. 07083 will leave Machilipatnam at 10 pm on February 5 and reach Azamgarh at 5.15 pm the next day. Train No. 07084 will leave Azamgarh at 7.45 pm on February 7, 2025, and reach Machilipatnam at 9 am two days later. Kakinada Town to Azamgarh Train No. 07085 will leave at 8.10 pm on February 20 and arrive at 5.15 pm two days later. Train No. 07086 will leave Azamgarh at 7.45 pm on February 22, and terminate at Vijayawada at 7.30 am two days later. Moula Ali to Banaras Train No. 07087 will leave at 11.55 pm on February 17, 2025, arriving at 11.30 am two days later. Train No. 07088 will leave Banaras at 7.15 pm on February 19, 2025, reaching Moula Ali at 7 am two days later. Moula Ali to Gaya Train No. 07089 will leave at 5.50 pm on February 15, and arrive in Gaya at 9 am two days later. Train No. 07090 will leave Gaya at 7.45 pm on February 17, 2025, and reach Moula Ali at 7.30 am two days later. Vikarabad to Gaya Train No. 07091 will leave at 3.45 pm on February 18 and reach Gaya at 9 am two days later. Train No. 07092 will leave Gaya at 7.45 pm on February 20 and reach Vikarabad at 8.30 am two days later. Vijayawada to Gaya Train No. 07093 will leave at 7.20 pm on February 5 and arrive in Gaya at 10 am two days later. Train No. 07094 will return from Gaya at 7. 45 pm on February 7, 2025, and reach Vijayawada at 8 am two days later. Kakinada Town to Gaya Train No. 07095 will at 2.30 pm on February 8, and reach Gaya at 10 am two days later. Train No. 07096 will return from Gaya at 2.15 pm on February 10 and terminate at Vijayawada at 4 am two days later. Nanded to Patna Train No. 07099 will leave at 11 pm on February 13 and arrive in Patna at 10.30 am two days later. Train No. 07100 will return from Patna at 3.30 pm on February 15 and reach Nanded at 4.30 am two days later. Aurangabad to Patna Train No. 07101 will leave Aurangabad at 7 pm on February 19 and 25 and reach Patna at 10.30 am two days later. Train No. 07102 will return from Patna at 3.30 pm on February 21 and 27, 2025, and arrive in Aurangabad at 7.45 am two days later. Kacheguda to Patna Train No. 07103 will leave at 4.45 pm on February 22 and arrive at Patna at 10.30 am two days later. Train No. 07104 will return from Patna at 11.30 am on February 24 and reach Kacheguda at 7 am two days later. Secunderabad to Patna Train No. 07105 will leave at 5 pm on February 7 and arrive at 10.30 am two days later. Train No. 07106 will return from Patna at 3.30 pm on February 9 and reach Secunderabad at 11.30 am two days later. Trains will stop at Vijayawada, Warangal, Ramagundam, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi. Other trains will halt at Patna, Danapur, and Buxar, among many others. Coaches include 2A, 3A, Sleeper, and General Second Class categories.

SCR to run 26 additional Maha Kumbh Mela special trains

Hyderabad: In order to clear extra rush of passengers participating in the Maha Kumbh Mela - 2025, the South Central Railway (SCR) is operating 26 additional Maha Kumbh Mela special trains between various destinations in February. Train No. 07081/07082 Guntur Azamgarh Vijayawada (Two services): These special trains will stop at Guntur Azamgarh special train will stop Vijayawada, Khammam, Dornakal, Mahbubabad, Warangal, Ramagundam, Mancherial, Sirpur Kaghaznagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Shahganj stations in both the directions. Train No. 07083/07084 Machilipatnam Azamgarh Machilipatnam (Two services): These special trains will stop at Gudlavalleru, Gudivada, Vijayawada, Khammam, Warangal, Ramagundam, Mancherial, Sirpur Kaghaznagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Shahganj stations in both the directions. Train No. 07085/07086 Kakinada Town Azamgarh Vijayawada (Two services): These special trains will stop at Samalkot, Nidadavolu, Tadepalligudem, Eluru, Vijayawada, Khammam, Warangal, Ramagundam, Mancherial, Sirpur Kaghaznagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Varanasi and Shahganj stations in both the directions. In the return direction, Train No. 07086 will be terminated at Vijayawada station and will not stop at Kakinada Town, Samalkot, Nidadavolu , Tadepalligudem, Eluru stations. Train No. 07087/07088 Moula-Ali Banaras Moula-Ali (Two services): These special trains will stop at Bhongir, Jangaon, Kazipet, Jammikunta, Peddapalli, Ramagundam, Bellampalli, Sirpur Kaghaznagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur and Prayagraj Chheoki stations in both the directions. Train. No. 07089/07090 Moula Ali Gaya Moula Ali Special Trains (Two services): These special trains will stop at Bhongir, Jangaon, Kazipet, Jammikunta, Peddapalli, Ramagundam, Bellampalli, Sirpur Kaghaz Nagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn, Bhabua Road, Sasaram, Dehri on Sone and Anugraha Narayan Road stations in both the directions. Tr. No. 07091/07092 Vikarabad Gaya - Vikarabad Special Trains (Two services): These special trains will stop at Lingampalli, Cherlapalli, Jangaon, Kazipet, Jammikunta, Peddapalli, Ramagundam, Bellampalli, Sirpur Kaghaz Nagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn, Bhabua Road, Sasaram, Dehri on Sone and Anugraha Narayan Road stations in both the directions. Tr. No. 07093/07094 Vijayawada Gaya Vijayawada Special Trains (Two services): These special trains will stop at Madhira, Khammam, Dornakal, Mahbubabad, Warangal, Jammikunta, Peddapalli, Ramagundam, Bellampalli, Sirpur Kaghaz Nagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn, Bhabua Road, Sasaram, Dehri on Sone and Anugraha Narayan Road stations in both the directions. Tr. No. 07095/07096 Kakinada Town Gaya Vijayawada Special Trains (Two services): These special trains will stop at Samalkot, Nidadavolu, Tadepalligudem, Eluru, Vijayawada, Madhira, Khammam, Dornakal, Mahbubabad, Warangal, Jammikunta, Peddapalli, Ramagundam, Bellampalli, Sirpur Kaghaz Nagar, Balharshah, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Betul, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn, Bhabua Road, Sasaram, Dehri on Sone and Anugraha Narayan Road stations. In the return direction, Train No. 07096 will be terminated at Vijayawada station and will not stop at Kakinada Town, Samalkot, Nidadavolu , Tadepalligudem, Eluru stations. Tr. No. 07099/07100 Nanded Patna Nanded Special Trains (Two services): These special trains will stop at Purna, Basmat, Hingoli, Washim, Akola, Malkapur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn., Buxar, Ara and Danapur stations in both the directions. Tr. No. 07101/07102 Aurangabad Patna Aurangabad Special Trains (Four services): These special trains will stop at Jalna, Selu, Parbhani, Purna, Basmat, Hingoli, Washim, Akola, Malkapur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn., Buxar, Ara and Danapur stations in both the directions. Tr. No. 07103/7104 Kacheguda Patna Kacheguda Special Trains (Two services): These special trains will stop at Bolarum, Medchal, Kamareddi, Nizamabad, Basar, Dharmabad, Umri, Mudkhed, Nanded, Purna, Basmat, Hingoli, Washim, Akola, Malkapur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn., Buxar, Ara, Danapur, stations in both the directions. Tr. No. 07105/07106 Secunderabad Patna Secunderabad Special Trains (Two services): These special trains will stop at Bolarum, Medchal, Kamareddi, Nizamabad, Basar, Dharmabad, Umri, Mudkhed, Nanded, Purna, Basmat, Hingoli, Washim, Akola, Malkapur, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Jn., Buxar, Ara, Danapur, stations in both the directions. All these special trains will consists of 2A, 3A, sleeper and general second class coaches, according to a press release.

Maharashtra ATS arrests nine Bangladeshis for illegal stay; 43 held in one month

The latest action was taken with the help of local police in Mumbai, Nashik, Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in the last four days

Maharashtra ATS arrests 9 Bangladeshis for illegal stay; 43 held in one month

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested nine Bangladeshi nationals for entering India illegally and staying without proper documents. This arrest is part of a special drive where 43 Bangladeshi nationals have been detained in 19 cases last month, with local police assisting the operations in Mumbai, Nashik, Nanded, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

SCR announces two additional general class coaches to nine trains

Hyderabad: South Central Railway on Tuesday announced that two additional general class coaches would be added for nine more trains. The number of trains with additional general coaches would now reach 40. SCR, in a press release, said the augmentation of general coaches would be taken up on the following routes: Hyderabad-Mumbai CSMT; Tirupati-Hazrat Nizamuddin; Nanded-Amritsar; Hyderabad-Jaipur; Hyderabad-Visakhaptnam; Hyderabad-Tambaram; and Secunderabad-Hisar . SCR said that in July, during phase one, six pairs of trains (13 rakes) were augmented with 26 additional LHB general class coaches each. In phase two, during November-December, another 25 trains (40 rakes) were augmented with 80 additional general class coaches. With regard to the air conditioned coaches, the SCR said it was a temporary measure to suit the needs of passengers travelling in these trains.

No Kites Near Railway Tracks: SCR

Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) has urged people to avoid flying kites near railway tracks as the overhead lines are charged with high-voltage electricity and cause risk to human life. SCR also told the people to avoid contact with kite threads hanging from traction overhead. The Chinese imported kite threads are a conductor of electricity, posing risks to human life and railway electrical infrastructure. During the previous Sankranti season, quite a few cases were reported from several zones of Indian Railways where individuals suffered electric shocks after touching kite threads entangled in 15kV traction overhead conductors. The public is also advised to report sightings of kite threads hanging from overhead conductors to railway authorities to ensure the threads are safely removed by trained personnel. Sritej on ventilator support again Hyderabad: Eight-year-old Sritej, admitted to KIMS Cuddles hospital after the Sandhya theatre stampede has been put on ventilator support again. The update from doctors mentioned that he has needed oxygen and minimal ventilator support for the last two days. His chest x-ray had shown haziness on the right side, which improved after bronchoscopy and suctioning. He has also been given low-dose inotropic support for maintaining circulation since yesterday. As per the PCR report, his antibiotics have been changed since Saturday. He has not had any fever and he continues to tolerate feeds via nasogastric tube well. His neurological status remains status quo, the doctors informed. SCR provides counseling to improve safety Hyderabad: South Central Railway (SCR) will provide regular counseling for staff, including locomotive pilots and operational personnel, to reinforce safety protocols, said SCR general manager Arun Kumar Jain in a review meeting on train safety and punctuality held at Rail Nilayam on Monday. He emphasised the need to intensify field inspections and the importance of safety measures during yard shunting and directed that brake power tests must be conducted by all locomotive pilots and shunters before train movements. Divisional railway managers of Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntakal, Guntur and Nanded participated in the review meeting video conference. DCA filed 337 drug cases in 24 Hyderabad: The Drug Control Administration (DCA) released its annual report 2024 on Monday. As per the report, the maximum cases of seizures included those pertaining to misleading advertisements, followed by the seizure of drugs sold by quacks. Between January 1 and December 25, the DCA officials filed 199 cases of drugs with misleading advertisements and 136 cases of drugs being sold by unauthorised medical practitioners. Around 98 unlicensed medical shops were found. As many as 79 cases of price violations and 44 cases of drugs sold as food products or nutraceuticals were caught. The officials busted eight cases of spurious drug rackets, five for unlicensed cosmetic drug manufacturing, three for sale of banned drugs and one for misbranded cosmetic drugs in 2024. Total drugs worth Rs.7.64 crore were seized in 2024. Joint operations between DCA and the prohibition and excise department resulted in the seizure of drugs worth Rs.11.32 crore.

SCR to Run 16 Special Trains for Maha Kumbh Pilgrims

Hyderabad: The South Central Railway said it would operate 16 special trains for pilgrims to travel to the Maha Kumbh Mela, being celebrated from January 13 to February 26. The trains will be operated from January 18 onwards. The SCR will operate four services between Moula Ali and Azamgarh; two on the Kacheguda-Patna route and two on the Moula Ali-Gaya route. Besides, the SCR will also operate services on the Guntur-Azamgarh route as well as from Nanded to Patna. All these special trains will consist of 2A, 3A, sleeper and general second-class coaches.

Fadnavis releases Good governance report riddled with inaccurate data

Mumbai: The Maharashtra District Good Governance Index (DGGI) 2024 report, which was released by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis with much fanfare on Thursday, is riddled with inaccurate data. As per the data, the total cultivated area under crop insurance in Rabi season is 4,30,067.06 hectares, which is 22 times more than the total cultivated area in the district. Similarly, in at least 10 other districts, the area under insurance is more than the cultivated area. While releasing the report, Mr. Fadnavis said that it also reflects the scope of governance according to various sectoral benchmarks. However, a senior government officer said that the data given in the report, like the section about crop insurance and district revenue, does not give the real picture. For example, the total cultivated area in the Rabi Season in Kolhapur district is only 18,813.0 hectares. It means that the crop Insurance cover was taken for the 2286 per cent of the total cultivated area. Other districts such as Jalana, Beed, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Washim, Akola, Yavatmal and Nanded also have area under the insurance cover more than 100 per cent of the total cultivated area. Moreover, the report has used the data of revenue income from the fiscal year 2021-22, instead of last year. Interestingly, the Raigad district has surpassed Mumbai city and suburbs in revenue growth, the report says. The DGGI is based on 161 benchmarks across 10 development sectors, namely Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Public Health, Public Infrastructure and Utilities, Economic Governance, Commerce and Industry, Social Development,Judiciary and Public Safety, Human Resource Development, Citizen Centric Governance and Environment. Flaws can be observed in the data as each sector in the DGGI report contains a 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial year's data, which can't reflect the actual position of 2023-24, the officer said. Even the figures revenue growth of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) did not match with the revenue growth shown in the year 2020-21 and 2021-22 of the DGGI 2024 report. As per the report, Mumbai citys revenue was shown Rs 25,956 crore for the year 2021-22, Mumbai suburbs revenue was also shown the exact same. But the actual revenue of the BMC, which is the municipal body for both Mumbai city and suburbs, reported Rs 39,764.82 crore in the year 2021-22, an official said. A senior official from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) told this newspaper that they have also raised a query with the Commissionerate of Agriculture, Pune how the area covered by the Crop Insurance is for more than the cultivated area. However, they have not received any response even after two weeks. Interestingly, the DES decided to publish the report with erroneous data. We have just uploaded the data as shared by the Commissionerate of Agriculture. Once we get the clarification from them, we will make a correction in it, the senior official said.

Sikhs of Nanded fondly sing Manmohans praise

Dr Singh visited Nanded multiple times in various capacities as a Planning Commission member, finance minister, and prime minister. In October 2008, the city hosted the grand 300th-anniversary celebration of the Guruship of Guru Granth Sahib, elevating its prominence as one of the five Takhats of Sikhism

Rs 500 paddy bonus lures Maharashtra, Karnataka suppliers

Nizamabad: The introduction of a Rs 500 bonus for paddy has inadvertently fuelled illegal transportation of paddy from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka into Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts. Despite efforts by officials to strengthen inter-state borders, middlemen remain pivotal in facilitating the smuggling operations. Previously, farmers transported paddy to Maharashtra seeking higher prices. Under the guise of supporting farmers, certain traders diverted paddy from Nizamabad and Kamareddy to districts such as Nanded, Latur, Bheed, Parbhani, Jalna, Pune, Solapur, Mumbai, and other regions in Maharashtra. With the new Rs 500 bonus incentive, traders have started moving paddy back from Maharashtras Nanded district to Telanganas Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts. Civil supplies, revenue, and police officials have intensified coordination to block the influx of paddy from Maharashtra and Karnataka. However, these measures have largely failed due to the involvement of corrupt employees at key inter-state entry points. Traders exploit these vulnerabilities to smuggle paddy through locations including Salabathpur, Pothangal, Birkur, Salura, Kandakurthi, and Khandgaon.

Parbhani violence: Somnath Suryavanshi killed as he was Dalit and protecting Constitution, says Rahul Gandhi

PARBHANI: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed Somnath Suryavanshi was killed because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution. Police killed Suryavanshi, and it was a 'cent per cent custodial death, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha alleged after meeting Suryavanshi's family members in Parbhani. Talking to reporters, Gandhi said he met Suryavanshi's family members who showed him the post-mortem report, as well as some photographs and videos. Parbhani witnessed violence after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue outside the railway station in the city, located in Marathwada region, was vandalised on the evening of December 10. Suryavanshi (35), a resident of Shankar Nagar in Parbhani, was among more than 50 persons arrested in connection with the violence. He died on December 15 at a state-run hospital where he was rushed after complaining of chest pain and uneasiness while he was in judicial custody and lodged at the Parbhani district central prison, as per police. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a judicial probe into the Parbhani violence. What do we know about the 'custodial death' of 35-year-old law student in Maharashtra's Parbhani Fadnavis said in the state assembly recently that Suryavanshi had told a magistrate that he was not tortured and the CCTV footage also doesn't show any evidence of brutality. After meeting Suryavanshi's family, Gandhi claimed, The youth was killed because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution. This is a cent per cent custodial death. The police have murdered him. The chief minister lied in the assembly to give a message to the police. The RSS ideology is to wipe out the Constitution, the Congress leader charged. Gandhi demanded that the matter be resolved and those who killed the man be punished. This is not politics, there has been a murder and action has to be taken, he said. Asked who was responsible for the Parbhani incident, Gandhi said, Ideology is responsible for this and since the chief minister has spoken, he too is responsible. Later, Rahul also met the family of Vijay Wakode, who had died during a protest in Parbhani following the violence. Earlier, Rahul arrived at Nanded airport from Delhi and travelled to Parbhani by road. He was accompanied by AICC in-charge for Maharashtra Ramesh Chennithala, state Congress chief Nana Patole and other leaders. Fadnavis orders probe into Beed, Parbhani clashes

Rahul Gandhi to Visit Village of Murdered Beed Sarpanch

Mumbai: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Parbhani on Monday to meet the family of a Dalit youth who died under mysterious circumstances while in judicial custody after the violence in the Marathwada town last week. Gandhi will arrive in Nanded by special flight on Monday afternoon and then travel to Parbhani to offer condolences to the family of Somnath Suryawanshi, who belonged to the Wadar community. The Congress MP will be accompanied by state Congress President Nana Patole and senior leaders including MLA Vijay Wadettiwar. Suryawanshi, 35, was one of approximately 300 people, mostly Dalits, detained by police in the aftermath of the violence that erupted on December 10 after the desecration of a statue of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar near Parbhani Railway Station. He was later found dead in judicial custody just 72 hours later, sparking widespread outrage and accusations of police brutality from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and Dalit groups. Following the uproar, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a compensation package for the family, ordered a judicial probe, and appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the death. Earlier, the Parbhani Police had claimed that Suryawanshi had complained of chest pains and was rushed to hospital for treatment. However, a provisional autopsy report of December 16 stated that he succumbed to shock following multiple injuries. The MVA and Dalit leaders had vociferously alleged that Suryawanshi was brutally beaten by the police and had succumbed to grave injuries.

Parbhani Dalit mans death in judicial custody: Rahul Gandhi to meet kin

Mumbai: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Parbhani on Monday to meet the family of a Dalit youth who died under mysterious circumstances while in judicial custody last week, officials said here on Saturday. Rahul Gandhi will reach Nanded by a special flight on Monday afternoon and from there drive 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 .

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader kidnapped in Nanded, released later; cops begin probe

Mumbai: A leader from Nanded was allegedly kidnapped by eight to nine persons and then released sometime later, prompting police to register an FIR and begin a probe, an official said on Saturday. Nanded Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Gaurav Kotgire was abducted from the Bafna area, some 670 kilometres from here, on Friday night, the official said. He was bundled into an SUV when he was working in his garage and taken to an unidentified location. He was released a few hours later, after which he approached police. He claimed the accused had covered their faces and threatened him with a weapon. The accused allegedly told him to not indulge much in politics and property deals as well as talk ill of other leaders, the official informed. A case of kidnapping and other offences has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against unidentified persons and efforts are on to trace and nab the accused, the Itvara police station official added.

EVM, VVPAT verification in Maharashtra's Nanded showed no difference in vote tally, say authorities

The candidate-wise votes obtained on EVMs from five centres in each Assembly constituency in the district were tallied with VVPATs

Officials say no VVPAT anomaly found at 75 Nanded booths

Following opposition allegations of EVM manipulation in the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, Nanded district officials conducted a post-election verification. The verification of 75 polling centers revealed no discrepancies between EVMs and VVPAT slips. The BJP-led alliance swept all nine constituencies in Nanded, prompting the opposition's concerns.

Stop misleading people about EVMs, accept poll mandate: Shinde tells Opposition

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday hit out at the opposition, accusing it of misleading people about electronic voting machines and not accepting their mandate. Talking to reporters, Shinde said the ruling Mahayuti alliance won the November 20 assembly polls because of its work, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi must accept the people's mandate and support the government in development works. The Mahayuti combine of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP swept the recently held polls, winning 230 out of 288 seats, while the opposition bloc of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) managed just 46 seats. The opposition parties have alleged irregularities with EVMs for its poll losses and demanded the use of ballot papers. MVA need not fret over poll defeat; people not enthused by Mahayuti victory: Sharad Pawar Slamming the opposition, the Shiv Sena chief said, When you win, there is no EVM scam, but the machine becomes bad when you lose. This is not the right approach. He said the opposition must accept the people's mandate that they have been decisively defeated. People have shown the opposition its place and proved that they don't vote for those who sit at home, the deputy chief minister said. In the Lok Sabha elections, 2. 48 crore votes went to the Mahayuti, which is 43.55 per cent. The MVA polled 2. 5 crore votes, which was 43.71 per cent. Still, the opposition got 31 seats, and Mahayuti won 17. Should we say there was an EVM scam? he asked. Shinde said creating confusion about a democratically elected government was not good for democracy. People have given us the mandate for our work. Stop crying and accept the development work we have done. Accept the mandate, he said. He further questioned how members of the opposition parties who boycotted the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday to protest the EVM issue took oath as MLAs on Sunday. Does this mean they have abandoned the issue? he said. Shinde pointed out that the opposition won the assembly election in Jharkhand and the bypolls to the Nanded (Maharashtra) and Wayanad (Kerala) Lok Sabha seats. He said while the Mahayuti polled 49. 30 per cent votes, getting 3. 18 crore votes, MVA received 2. 35 crore votes, which is a difference of 1 crore votes. There will be no illegal work and no injustice to anyone, he said. The government functions as per the Constitution, Shinde said on reports of the Waqf Board sending notice to farmers in Latur. Shinde's statement about votes has come a day after NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said a comparison between votes polled and seats won by political parties in the Maharashtra assembly polls was surprising. Taking to X, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said 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 in his post. Opposition members take oath as MLAs in Maharashtra assembly

South Central Railways introduces 66 additional general class coaches

South Central Railways (SCR) has expanded its express train services by adding 66 additional general class coaches. Another 80 general class coaches are planned to be introduced in a phased manner. The additional coaches have been provided on important trains operating on key routes to Guntur, Nizamuddin, Tirupati, Kakinada, Danapur, Machilipatnam, Yesvantapur, Nanded, and Madurai. The coaches will be added to 19 Express trains, at the rate of two per train.

27-year-old driver charred to death in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A 27-year-old driver was charred to death after the garbage-laden lorry that he was driving rammed into a divider near Gowdavelly and caught fire at about 5.30 am on Wednesday. Medchal SHO B. Satyanarayana said the victim G. Sandeep, was driving the vehicle at a high speed and lost control over the steering. When it hit the divider, the diesel tank got damaged and the fire spread due to friction. The truck was proceeding from Miyapur to Bandlaguda. ACB raids RTA checkposts across TG, seizes cash Seven teams of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday conducted simultaneous checks on RTA checkposts at Bhojraj of Adilabad district, Vishnupuram, Nalgonda and Alampur of Gadwal and seized the unaccounted cash. During the searches, ACB seized an unaccounted amount of Rs 62,500 from the Bhoraj checkpost, Rs 86,600 from Vishnupuram and Rs 29,200 from the Alampur checkpost. The ACB teams also observed several irregularities in the checkposts. A report will be sent to the government on the erring officials for taking necessary action. SCR adds 66 additional general class coaches South Central Railways (SCR) has expanded its express train services by adding 66 additional general class coaches. Another 80 general class coaches are planned to be introduced in a phased manner. The additional coaches have been provided on important trains operating on key routes to Guntur, Nizamuddin, Tirupati, Kakinada, Danapur, Machilipatnam, Yesvantapur, Nanded, and Madurai. The coaches will be added to 19 Express trains, at the rate of two per train.

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

Split voting at Nanded polling booths benefits Congress in LS bypoll but not in simultaneous Assembly election

The winning Congress candidate for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll got 1.59 lakh votes more than the losing Congress candidates for the Assembly election in six Nanded seats, held on the same day

'Disruption of House, a malady': RS Chairman Dhankhar on Opposition protests

NEW DELHI: Both houses of Parliament were stalled on Thursday for the third straight day amid protests by Opposition members demanding a discussion on the US indictment of Gautam Adani and Sambhal violence. As soon as the Lok Sabha met, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, newly elected MP from Wayanad, took oath holding a copy of the Constitution. Congress Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan, who won Nanded in Maharashtra, also took oath. Before Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House for the day, it passed a motion moved by Waqf JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal, seeking an extension of the tenure of the panel to submit the report until the last date of the Budget session in 2025. The Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted within minutes after it met at noon, following one adjournment shortly after 11 am. In a strongly worded message, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar warned the members that parliamentary disruption was not a remedy but a malady which weakened the foundation of Indias democracy. The chamber is more than just a house of debate. It is from where our national spirit has to echo, he said. Parliamentary disruption is not a remedy but a malady that weakens the very foundation of our democracy. It slides Parliament into irrelevance. The sanctity of this House demands debate, not discord; dialogue, not disruption, Dhankhar said as the opposition members continued to shout slogans. Recalling that Wednesday marked a historic milestone the beginning of the final quarter-century before Indias Constitution turned 100 -- Dhankhar said the House members missed the opportunity to engage in productive dialogue. This was a moment for our House of Elders, guided by the spirit of nationalism, to send a powerful message of hope to 1.4 billion Indians, reaffirming our commitment to their dreams and journey towards Viksit Bharat at 2047, he said. Responding to a query by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on how to persuade the chair to allow their notices, Dhankar said, We persuade the chair historically only by exhibiting the highest standard of conformance to the rulesthe ruling of the chair must evoke deference and not a challenge.

Parliament adjourned till Friday amid Opposition protest over Adani, Sambhal issues

NEW DELHI: Both houses of the Parliament were adjourned for the day on Thursday amid protests by Opposition members over the Adani issue, violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal and other issues. Proceedings in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were initially suspended until 12 noon. However, after reconvening, opposition protests continued, resulting in both houses being suspended until Friday. As soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was elected from Kerala's Wayanad in the recent bypoll, and Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan, who was elected from Maharashtra's Nanded, took oath as Lok Sabha MPs. Immediately after the oath taking of the two new members, many Opposition members, including from the Congress, were on their feet as they sought to raise issues related to the allegations against the Adani Group and other issues. Some members from the Congress and Samajwadi Party were in the Well while other Opposition members stood in the aisle and shouted slogans. Speaker Om Birla asked the Opposition members to allow the Question Hour and said they can take up their issues later. I have been giving you enough opportunities to raise your issues and will continue to do so in future. But your way of systematic blockade of the proceedings is not acceptable. The issue which you want to raise has nothing to do with the country, he told the protesting members. Birla said people have chosen the MPs as their representatives to raise the genuine issue of the people but they were resorting to disrupt the proceedings of the House which is not good. He said there were difference of opinions in the Constituent Assembly too but those were raised in dignified manners. Amid the din, one question was taken up. As the protests continued, the Speaker adjourned the House will 12 noon. The Opposition members wanted to discuss the Adani controversy and the recent violence in Sambhal. Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha opposition MPs protested the rejection of adjournment notices for a discussion on allegations against the Adani Group, and the violence in Manipur and Sambhal. Soon after laying of listed papers in the morning session, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he had received 16 notices for adjournment of scheduled business under Rule 267 of the House. The Chairman said he was rejecting all the notices. The notices were for discussion on allegations of corruption against the Adani Group, communal violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal and ethnic clashes in Manipur. Pramod Tiwari of the Congress, who had given a notice for discussion on the Adani issue, also raised a point of order' on the rejection of his notice. As several opposition members were on their feet, the chairman adjourned the proceedings of the House till 12 noon.

Priyanka Gandhi takes oath as Lok Sabha MP after big win from Wayanad

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took oath as a Lok Sabha MP on Thursday following her thumping victory from Kerala's Wayanad in a bypoll. The 52-year-old, who joins her mother Sonia and brother Rahul as an MP in what is a rare instance of three members of a family together in Parliament, took affirmation in Hindi while holding a copy of the Constitution soon after the House met. Congress leader #PriyankaGandhiVadra takes oath as Wayanad MP in Lok Sabha in Kerala's Kasavu saree. Sansad TV pic.twitter.com/MhA7GRoFcM The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 28, 2024 Ravindra Chavan (Congress), who won the Nanded bypoll also took oath in Marathi in the name of God. The bypoll was necessitated following the demise of his father Vasantrao Chavan recently. Priyanka Gandhi took the plunge into active politics in 2019 and was later appointed Congress general secretary. Five years after that, Priyanka Gandhi begins her journey as an elected representative of the people. With a winning margin of more than 4.1 lakh votes, she surpassed the tally of her brother Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in Kerala. Priyanka Gandhi's entry into Parliament comes at a difficult time for the party, which has been jolted by electoral defeats in Haryana and Maharashtra. It would be interesting to see if she is able to give a much-needed fillip to the grand old party and help put it back on the electoral track. Often drawing comparisons with her grandmother Indira Gandhi for their similarity in looks and way of speaking, Priyanka Gandhi has been the go-to campaigner for the party since her entry into active politics and even before that when she campaigned for her mother Sonia and brother Rahul. Congress leaders from Wayanad handed over the election certificate of the Wayanad parliamentary by-election to Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday and conveyed their best wishes. Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday won the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll with a thumping margin of over four lakh votes, defeating Sathyan Mokeri of the CPI(M)-led LDF. Look forward to being your voice in Parliament: Priyanka Gandhi to people of Wayanad

Priyanka Gandhi takes oath as LS MP after big win from Wayanad

NEW DELHI, Nov 28: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took oath as a Lok Sabha MP on Thursday following her thumping victory from Keralas Wayanad in a bypoll. The 52-year-old, who joins her mother Sonia and brother Rahul as an MP in what is a rare instance of three members of a family together in Parliament, took affirmation in Hindi while holding a copy of the Constitution soon after the House met. Ravindra Chavan (Cong), who won the Nanded [] The post Priyanka Gandhi takes oath as LS MP after big win from Wayanad appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to take oath as Lok Sabha MP today

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take oath as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra secured the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 4,10,931 votes, defeating Sathyan Mokeri of the Communist Party of India (CPI). Wayanad, a Congress stronghold, witnessed a triangular contest between Priyanka Gandhi, BJP's Navya Haridas, and CPI's Sathyan Mokeri. Meanwhile, Congress leader Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan will also take oath as Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. Congress' Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan won the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in a by-election with 5,86,788 votes. The seat fell vacant following the death of the sitting Congress MP, Vasantrao Balwantrao Chavan, necessitating the bypoll. Moreover, Suresh Gopi Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tokhan Sahu, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will lay the papers on the table in Lok Sabha today. On Wednesday, Priyanka Gandhi expressed her happiness after receiving her certificate of election, describing it as a symbol of love, trust, and commitment to shared values. My colleagues from Wayanad brought my certificate of election today. For me, it is not just a document; it is a symbol of your love, trust, and the values we are committed to. Thank you, Wayanad, for choosing me to take forward this journey to build a better future for yourselves, she said on X. On November 23, after her victory in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi expressed her gratitude to the voters for their support. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. I will make sure that over time, you truly feel this victory has been your victory and that the person you chose to represent you understands your hopes and dreams and fights for you as one of your own. I look forward to being your voice in Parliament! she said on X. The Wayanad seat was vacated by her brother Rahul Gandhi, who previously represented Wayanad but shifted to Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh after being elected to the Lok Sabha from there during this year's general elections. The by-elections were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with notable contests in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad, Kerala, where Priyanka Gandhi made her electoral debut.

Priyanka Gandhi, Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan to take oath as MPs in Lok Sabha today

Priyanka Gandhi and Ravindra Chavan are set to be sworn in as Members of Parliament. Gandhi achieved a landslide victory in Wayanad. Chavan secured the Nanded seat in recent by-polls. Gandhi's win follows her brother Rahul Gandhi's vacation of the Wayanad seat. This marks a unique instance of three family members serving in Parliament concurrently.

Oppn should accept its defeat and introspect instead of pointing fingers at EVMs: Bawankule

Nagpur: Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday said instead of raising question marks over the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the opposition parties should accept their defeat in the state assembly polls and introspect. Talking to reporters here, he also accused the opposition of speaking lies over the issue of EVMs. Responding to a query on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies alleging manipulation of EVMs, Bawankule asked why they did not raise a question mark over these machines when they performed well in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra earlier this year. The Congress also won the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll. So was the EVM proper in Nanded? he asked. All these are just lies...They should accept their defeat and introspect. We introspected after losing the Lok Sabha elections (in Maharashtra) and moved ahead. We worked at the booth level and met people. This time (in the assembly polls), our vote percentage increased, he said. The MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress, won 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the general elections, and one Congress rebel later extended support to the alliance. In the assembly elections held on November 20, the ruling Mahayuti of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP won a whopping 230 seats, while the MVA managed to get only 46 in the 288-member House. Bawankule's remarks on the EVMs come a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to revert to paper ballot voting in elections in the country. The apex court said that allegations of tampering with EVMs raked up only when people lost polls. What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs are not tampered with. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with), remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale on Tuesday. On a query over finalising the name of the chief minister in Maharashtra, Bawankule said, In the alliance government, such things take time as many factors like the ministerial post, portfolios, and guardian ministership have to be taken into account and decided. The MVA candidates who faced defeat in the Maharashtra assembly polls have decided to seek verification of the EVM-Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) units in their segments, a leader of the opposition alliance said. Many losing candidates of the Shiv Sena (UBT) pointed fingers at the functioning of the EVMs during their interaction with party head Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday.

NCP(SP) backs mass movement against EVMs

Mumbai: Alleging large scale discrepancies in the EVM functioning, the opposition parties have threatened to launch mass movement in the state against the voting machines. There is a need to start a mass movement on the lines of farmer's agitation in Delhi, said NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad. I have been saying since the beginning that you should oppose EVMs. The plan seems to be to systematically eliminate the opposition. I also told (party chief) Sharad Pawar that we have to fight against EVMs. Otherwise EVMs will take you to Russia, where (Vladimir) Putin eliminated his opponents through elections, said Awhad after the meeting of the NCP (SP) party, which was held in Mumbai to take stock of party's embarrassing defeat in the recently held Vidhan Sabha polls in Maharashtra. Awhad said that the party's several defeated candidates complained about the EVMs in the meeting. They expressed doubts saying the EVMs did not give them expected rise in votes despite being ahead in postal votes. Many of the winning MLAs have also claimed EVMs being faulty, he added. It seems that a pattern was fixed and voting was done according to that pattern. Just four months ago, Chandrapur seat was elected by 2.40 lakh votes (in the Lok Sabha polls) and now it went behind by one lakh votes. The Lok Sabha bypoll seat of Nanded was won by the MVA but all the Vidhan Sabha seat went to the Mahayuti. It means district to district pattern was given, Awhad said. There is a need to take all the opposition parties into confidence and raise a mass movement against EVMs on the lines of farmer's agitation in Delhi. We are mentally prepared for this, he added. In the Shiv Sena UBT party meeting too, the candidates expressed doubts over the functioning of EVMs and asked the party leadership to take a firm stand on the issue. The Maharashtra Congress leaders have also raised doubts over the results of the assembly polls alleging rigging in elections. State Congress president Nana Patole said, Whatever election results have come, they are not acceptable to anyone, not even to the people of Maharashtra. If you see social media, the the people of Maharashtra are saying that the government has not come with their votes. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader has also said that the Maharashtra Assembly election results were not acceptable to his party and suspected that EVMs were manipulated to benefit BJP and its allies. How can BJP, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar win so many seats? It is not possible in Maharashtra. People of Maharashtra are not dishonest, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.

Congress Will Achieve Social Justice 3.0 With Caste Census: CM Revanth

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said a nationwide caste census will be the third great movement for social justice, and would be achieved under the Congress leadership in the coming days, his demand being bolstered the caste census nearly reaching its conclusion. Speaking at the Samvidhan Rakshak Abhiyan (Save Constitution Campaign) meeting organised by the Congress at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on Constitution Day on Tuesday, Revanth Reddy traced the evolution of social justice through the initiatives of previous Congress-led governments at the Centre. Revanth Reddy described Social Justice 1.0 as the introduction of reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and the nationalisation of banks by Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Social Justice 2.0, he said, was achieved through the extension of voting rights to 18-year-olds and the implementation of the Mandal Commission under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Under Social Justice 3.0, the Congress has launched the caste census to ensure representation in proportion to a population under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Telangana has been at the forefront of this effort, with 92 per cent of its social, economic, and caste survey already completed, Revanth Reddy said. This survey will ensure that communities receive their rightful share based on the principle of Jitni Bhagidari, Utni Hissedari (proportional representation to population), the CM said. Revanth Reddy alleged that the Constitution was under threat over the past decade. He credited Rahul Gandhi's nationwide efforts to safeguard constitutional principles as instrumental in garnering public support against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration. When Modi sought 400 seats, the people limited him to 240, rallying behind Rahul Gandhi's movement to protect the Constitution, Revanth Reddy said, of the Lok Sabha election results earlier this year. He also cited Congress victories in Wayanad and Nanded Lok Sabha byelections recently as evidence of shifting public sentiment at the national level, contrasting them with BJP alliances success in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. People defeated PM Narendra Modi in the country and the results of the Wayanad and Nanded Lok Sabha by-elections are proof of that, Revanth Reddy said, adding that the BJP alliance won in Maharashtra and the Congress alliance clinched victory in Jharkhand Assembly polls. Revanth Reddy observed that the fight to protect the Constitution was not limited to Rahul Gandhi, and called on the people to join the movement. We should remember that the ongoing fight is between the protectors of the Constitution and the enemies of the Constitution. The Mahatma Gandhi family is fighting to protect the Constitution and the Modi family (Sangh Parivar) is trying to change the Constitution, Revanth Reddy alleged. He reiterated Congress's commitment to social justice, stating that the completion of Telangana's caste survey will propel the third wave of the social justice movement, ensuring equity and representation for marginalised communities.

Power corridor | Congress firms up strategy, Manipur on agenda

The Congress, after its parliamentary strategy group meeting on Monday, said that the party was firm on its demand for a JPC probe into the corruption by Adani Group, the latest revelations about which have been made by the US authorities. The meeting was presided over by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and other leaders. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that a JPC probe was necessary in view of the recent revelations made in the US. Apart from this, the party will also raise the Manipur situation, border agreement with China and the challenges it may lead to, social polarisation, riots orchestrated in UP and pollution. Electronic tabs for MPs to mark attendance Lok Sabha members attending the winter session of Parliament beginning Monday will have the option of marking their attendance using a digital pen on an electronic tab. Electronic tabs will be kept at four counters in the lobby of the Lok Sabha chamber as part of Speaker Om Birlas initiative to make Parliament paperless. Physical attendance registers will continue to be kept at the counters. But members are advised to use the tab as a preferred choice and help make Parliament paperless, the LS Secretariat said. Officials said the members would have to first select their names from the drop down menu on the tab, affix their signatures with the digital pen, and press the submit button to register their attendance. A team of engineers from the National Informatics Centre will be deployed at each counter for assistance. Keep constitution away from politics Ahead of the winter session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday morning said that the Constitution should be kept away from politics since it remains a document that is a source of social and economic change. He said this in the backdrop of opposition MPs waiving miniature copies of the Constitution during their oath-taking ceremony in the LS after the general elections in April. The remarks also came a day ahead of the Constitution Day, which will be observed in Parliament on November 26. ls remembers MPs who are no more Obituary references of five members were read out in Lok Sabha on Monday. This included references to two sitting members Congress leader Vasant Chavan from Nanded in Maharashtra and Trinamool Congress leader S K Nurul Islam from Basirhat in West Bengal who died during the inter-session period. Former members M M Lawrence, M Parvathi, and Harishchandra Chavan also died during the inter-session period. The Speaker expressed grief at the deaths of the five leaders soon after the Lok Sabha met. For a cause, TDP MP takes a bicycle ride As the capital chokes on toxic smog, an MP from Andhra Pradesh set an example for others by cycling to Parliament on Monday. Clad in yellow kurta, Telugu Desam Party MP Appala Naidu Kalisetti hogged everyones attention by pedalling a yellow bicycle to reach Parliament. I use the bicycle to create awareness among the public on air pollution. It is hazardous and it should be controlled, he told media. The national capital is under the fourth stage of curbs under the GRAP.

No Cabinet Expansion Plans: Revanth While Leaving for Delhi

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy left for Delhi on Monday evening. He will hold a meeting with Congress MPs on Tuesday to discuss strategies for the ongoing Parliament Winter Session. The meeting will address unresolved state bifurcation issues and focus on bringing pressure on the Centre for fulfilling pending assurances given to Telangana under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Dispelling rumours that he would discuss the state Cabinet expansion with the Congress high command, Revanth Reddy said, while addressing a press conference here on Monday, that his visit was not a political one. The media always speculates about Cabinet reshuffle whenever I visit Delhi. However, this trip is primarily for attending the wedding of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's daughter. On Tuesday, I will discuss Telanganas issues with our MPs and finalise a strategy to push for pending funds and projects in Parliament, he said. The Chief Minister added that he intended to meet Union ministers to request approvals for key state projects and the release of overdue funds. Telangana has suffered for a decade. These funds are our right, not a favour from the BJP. We must actively engage with Union ministers, regardless of political differences, Reddy said. The Chief Minister also revealed plans for the Congress-led governments first-anniversary celebrations, spanning nine days from December 1. Invitations will be extended to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The celebrations culmination will be marked by unveiling of the Telangana Talli statue at the Secretariat. He dismissed opposition criticism of his frequent Delhi visits, declaring, Unlike some leaders who go to Delhi to kneel before the Prime Minister or escape legal troubles, I visit to fight for Telangana's rights and development. Taking a jab at Union minister G. Kishan Reddy and other BJP leaders, he said that their celebration of recent election results in Maharashtra was baseless. Congress has proven its strength in Lok Sabha bypolls, including Wayanad and Nanded, while BJP faced rejection. The ruling parties in Maharashtra and Jharkhand retained power. What is there for BJP leaders to celebrate? Kishan Reddys claims are delusional, he remarked. Revanth Reddy also dismissed allegations by BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao about the Congress' supposed ties with the Adani Group. I have no interest in responding to Psycho Ram's accusations, he said. The Chief Minister reiterated his governments commitment to Telanganas progress, stressing that the states development mattered to him and not political vendettas. This is not a time for anger or resentment but to move forward with determination for the welfare of Telangana and its people, he said.

BJP clinches most assembly bypolls; Congress wins both Wayanad, Nanded Lok Sabha seats

The BJP and its allies secured victories in a significant number of assembly by-elections held across 13 states, while the Congress emerged triumphant in both Lok Sabha by-elections. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra marked her electoral debut with a resounding win in Wayanad, Kerala.

Maharashtra poll drubbing a wake-up call for Congress

NEW DELHI: Still smarting from the shock defeat in Haryana, the near-wipeout in Maharashtra proved to be yet another punch for the Congress, which is struggling to keep afloat as a national force. While the resounding victory of the MahaYuti reinforced the BJPs dominance in the political landscape, the Congress again failed to lead a united fight against the saffron force. Though Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said the party would analyse the unexpected Maharashtra results in detail, questions are being raised about its failure to adopt a coherent strategy and narrative. Observers attribute the disappointing performance of the party to Gandhis focus on caste census and caste-based reservation, which failed to resonate with the electorates in Haryana and J&K. In Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the Congress was on a sticky wicket during seat talks with allies after losing Haryana to the BJP for the third straight time. Observers say that losing a big state like Maharashtra after Haryana is likely to weaken the partys bargaining power in an era of coalition politics. While the INDIA bloc registered an impressive victory in Jharkhand, the credit mostly went to Hemant Soren-led JMM which ran a spirited campaign. It will only add to the criticism that the grand old party plays second fiddle to strong regional players and it fails to grow in states where it faces the BJP. With the poor show in Maharashtra, the Congress strength in the Lok Sabha got reduced to 98 seats after it lost Nanded in the bypoll. With the defeat, the MVA stood to lose Rajya Sabha seats from the state. The Congress which contested the highest number of seats among MVA allies, was winning or leading in only 16 seats with one of the lowest strike rates of 16%. The party also faced criticism for its limited campaigns in Maharashtra while its senior leaders invested more time in Wayanad, where Priyanka Gandhi made her electoral debut. Rahul Gandhi will now be under pressure from within the INDIA grouping. Several alliance partners, including Uddhav Thackeray, Arvind Kejriwal and Omar Abdullah, have questioned the Congress for its Haryana defeat. However, the Congress put up a brave face on Saturday asserting that its defeat in Maharashtra is part of a targeted conspiracy against the party. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that it would stick to its narrative of Adani case, Manipur violence, weakening rupee and demand for a nationwide caste census and removal of 50% cap on reservation. Bumpy road ahead for INDIA bloc Knives are already out as INDIA allies raising questions on the performance of Congress, which is leading the bloc. CPI general secretary D Raja said that serious introspection by the INDIA bloc constituents is the need of the hour. CPMs Ashok Dhawale flagged the delay in finalising seat deal, not giving enough space to smaller parties among the reasons for the blocs poor show.

Results show regional parties are needed: KTR

Hyderabad : The BRS on Saturday sought to capitalise on the election results from Maharashtra and Jharkhand,with its working president K.T. Rama Rao declaring that the outcome in the two states had once again shown the importance of regional parties. Rama Rao said the rejection of the Congress in Maharashtra and that of the BJP in Jharkhand by voters had yet again demonstrated that it was only the regional parties that work for the people in their states. The BJP and Congress constantly conspire against regional parties, and as part of their campaign, engage in shameless criticism of work by regional parties in their respective states. Despite all such efforts, BJP and Congress have failed in their plans, he said. It is only where regional parties are weak do the BJP, or Congress win, he said. Senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao said people in Maharashtra refused to believe Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddys lies during the campaign on how the Congress had implemented its Six Guarantees. It has become clear that Telugu speaking people in Mumbai, Solapur, Pune, Nanded and other areas in Maharashtra saw through the lies, he said. Harish Rao also said that people in Jharkhand taught a lesson to the BJP that its revenge politics will be rejected, and congratulated JMMs Hemant Soren for victory.

Priyanka wins Wayanad Lok Sabha seat by huge margin, Congress retains Nanded too

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won by a margin of 4,10,931 votes, which is higher than the margin of 3,64,422 votes by which her brother Rahul Gandhi won Wayanad in the 2024 general elections. In Nanded, the Congresss Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan won by a thin margin of 1,457 votes.

BJP snatches one Lok Sabha seat from Congress; Maharashtra win boosts Rajya Sabha majority prospects

The BJP secured a significant win in the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, increasing their seats to 241. This victory, coupled with their landslide win in Maharashtra, strengthens their position in the Rajya Sabha. The BJP-led alliance is now closer to securing a majority in the Upper House, with potential gains from upcoming vacancies.

Maharashtra: BJP's Hambarde takes leads over Congress rival with 12,283 votes in Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll

BJP candidate Santukrao Hambarde is leading in the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll. He is ahead of Congress candidate Ravindra Chavan by over 12,000 votes. The by-election was held following the death of Congress MP Vasant Chavan. Ravindra Chavan is Vasant Chavan's son. The Nanded seat has seen political shifts in recent elections.

Bypoll results start trickling in; here's a look at all big news & newsmakers

Bypoll results: Bypolls for Lok Sabha seats were held for two seats of Wayanad and Nanded, while assembly bypolls were held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven seats in Rajasthan, six seats in West Bengal, five seats in Assam, four seats each in Punjab and Bihar, three seats in Karnataka and Kerala, two seats in Madhya Pradesh and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya.

Bypoll results start trickling in; Priyanka Gandhi's Wayanad show among the big news so far

Bypoll results: Bypolls for Lok Sabha seats were held for two seats of Wayanad and Nanded, while assembly bypolls were held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven seats in Rajasthan, six seats in West Bengal, five seats in Assam, four seats each in Punjab and Bihar, three seats in Karnataka and Kerala, two seats in Madhya Pradesh and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya.

Bypolls: Priyanka Gandhi gains comfortable lead in Wayanad, BJP leads on Nanded Lok Sabha seat

In Wayanad, Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has currently got 1,65,487 votes and is currently leading by a margin of almost 1,08,558 votes

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.

Bypoll election results updates | Counting of votes in 48 seats across 14 states begins

Counting of votes for two Lok Sabha seats, Wayanad and Nanded, and 46 Assembly seats began at 8 a.m. today, with early trends expected by 9 a.m. Wayanad, in particular, has drawn nationwide attention as it marks the electoral debut of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra . She is contesting from the seat formerly held by her brother, Rahul Gandhi. The election in Wayanad was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi, who contested and won from both Wayanad and Rae Bareli in the last general election, opted to retain the latter. Meanwhile, in Nanded, there is a direct fight between Ravindra Chavan of Congress and BJPs Santukrao Hambarde. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of sitting Congress MP Vasant Chavan. Bypolls for 46 assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka went for bypolls took place on November 13 and 20. Elections were held in nine assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh with an overall voter turnout of 49.3%. The constituencies that went to the polls included Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. Ghaziabad recorded the lowest turnout at 33%, while Kundarki saw the highest at 57.7%. The voter turnout percentages in other constituencies were as follows: Katehari (56.9%), Khair (46.3%), Karhal (54.1%), Majhawan (50.41%), Meerapur (57.1%), Phulpur (43.43%), and Sisamau (49.1%). This was significantly lower than the 61.03% recorded during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. A total of 90 candidates contested the bypolls in the state, with Ghaziabad fielding the highest number of candidates at 14. In Punjab, by-elections were held in four constituencies Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC), and Barnala. These polls were necessitated after the sitting MLAs from these constituencies were elected to the Lok Sabha during the general elections earlier this year. The results of bypolls for six assembly seats in West Bengal are poised to be a significant indicator of public sentiment, serving as a crucial test for the ruling Trinamool Congress. The elections come against the backdrop of widespread protests over the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, which has sparked public outrage and demands for justice. Bypolls were also held for one seat each in Kerala (Palakkad) and Uttarakhand (Kedarnath), seven assembly seats in Rajasthan, five in Assam, four in Bihar, and three in Karnataka. These elections will be a crucial indicator of public sentiment ahead of key state and general elections in the coming months.

Bypoll results: Priyanka's fate to be decided in Wayanad; prestige fight in UP

New Delhi: The counting of votes for the bypolls to 46 Assembly seats in 13 states and in the Lok Sabha segments of Nanded in Maharashtra and Wayanad in Kerala, a crucial electoral exercise since the parliamentary polls in April-May, will begin at 8 am on Saturday.Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her poll debut from Wayanad, a seat that was earlier represented in the Lok Sabha by her brother, Rahul Gandhi. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the counting of the votes polled in the three bypolls in Kerala -- Wayanad Lok Sabha and the Palakkad and Chelakkara Assembly seats. In Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi was pitted against Communist Party of India (CPI) veteran Sathyan Mokeri and BJP's Navya Haridas. The Assembly bypolls were held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, seven seats in Rajasthan, six seats in West Bengal, five seats in Assam, four seats each in Punjab and Bihar, three seats in Karnataka, two seats each in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala and one seat each in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Meghalaya. The ?Meerapur, Kundarki, Sisamau, Katehari, Phulpur, Majhawan, Ghaziabad, Karhal and Khair seats went to bypolls in the crucial political battleground of Uttar Pradesh on November 20. While the results will not directly impact the composition of the 403-member state Assembly, the contest is being seen as the first major face-off between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its political rivals since the Lok Sabha election. The BJP and the opposition parties have accused each other of election malpractices. While Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has exuded confidence that the bypoll results will be favourable for his party, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has asserted that the BJP will emerge as a clear winner. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the BJP won the Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan and Khair seats, while the SP secured victories in Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal and Kundarki. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which was an SP ally then, won the Meerapur seat. The party has since switched sides and is now a part of the BJP-led NDA. While the Congress did not contest the bypolls, it extended support to the SP. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) contested all nine seats independently, while Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) fielded candidates in Ghaziabad, Kundarki and Meerapur. The Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), led by Chandrashekhar Azad, also contested all seats except Sisamau. A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place for the counting of the votes cast in the seven Assembly bypolls in Rajasthan, an official said on Friday. The Jhunjhunu, Ramgarh, Dausa, Deoli-Uniara, Khinvsar, Salumbar and Chaurasi seats went to bypolls in the desert state on November 13. Bypolls were held in the Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates) and Barnala Assembly seats in Punjab on Wednesday. The bypolls were necessitated after the incumbent legislators were elected to the Lok Sabha. The contest in Punjab is being seen as a litmus test for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, whose government has completed two years and a half in office. The Congress and the BJP are the two other main contenders. Karnataka witnessed a fierce fight between the ruling Congress and a combative BJP-JD(S) alliance in the bypolls to the Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna Assembly segments on November 13. A good show by the Congress will be seen as an endorsement for both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, while a solid performance by the BJP would mean the silencing of its state president B Y Vijayendra's critics within the saffron organisation fold. For JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, it will be a battle of prestige as his son Nikhil is testing his electoral fortunes from Channapatna after tasting defeats in earlier contests. Kumaraswamy vacated the seat after being elected to the Lok Sabha. Counting of votes will also be taken up for the Raipur City South Assembly bypoll in Chhattisgarh. Polling was held on November 13. The ruling BJP and main opposition Congress were locked in a direct fight in the seat, where the bypoll was necessitated after incumbent BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal's election to the Lok Sabha. The Sitai, Madarihat, Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur and Taldangra Assembly segments in West Bengal went to bypolls on November 13. Five of these constituencies are in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) stronghold of south Bengal, while Madarihat remains a BJP bastion in the northern parts of the state. The bypolls were necessitated after the incumbent MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. The CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress contested the bypolls separately for the first time since 2021. Kedarnath in Uttarakhand also went to bypolls on November 20. The Assembly seat in Rudraprayag district fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Shaila Rani Rawat in July. Bypolls were also held in the Dholai, Sidli, Bongaigaon, Behali and Samaguri Assembly segments in Assam, Tarari, Ramgarh, Imamganj and Belaganj in Bihar, Vav in Gujarat, Vijaypur and Budhni in Madhya Pradesh and Gambegre in Meghalaya.

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.

LIVE | Maharashtra poll results: Mahayuti or MVA? Counting begins at 8 am to decide next state government

Counting of votes for the Maharashtra Assembly elections begins at 8 am today, with the spotlight on the contest between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is aiming for a comeback. The voter turnout in the November 20 elections was 66.05%, up from 61.1% in 2019, according to election officials. Exit polls predict a strong performance for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, with several surveys giving it a clear edge over the Congress-led MVA coalition. The majority mark in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly is 145. Separately, votes will be counted for the Jharkhand Assembly elections and bypolls in 48 seats across 14 states. Additionally, counting will take place for bypolls to the Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra's Nanded and Kerala's Wayanad, where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made her electoral debut. Click the hyperlinks to follow updates and results for the Jharkhand assembly elections and the bypolls . Mahayuti, MVA gear up for post-result maneuvers Hours before counting, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar held a virtual meeting, instructing candidates to stay at counting tables until all votes are counted and head to Mumbai with MLA certificates. Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala issued similar directives, arranging charter flights to bring MLAs to Mumbai. Meanwhile, on the ruling Mahayuti coalition side, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde is closely monitoring Independents, exploring contingencies amid speculation over BJP's plans. The BJP has formed a six-member team to woo likely Independent winners. We were told that once a rebel who was affiliated to the BJP wins, then immediate talks should be initiated regarding his or her demands, a senior BJP leader told TNIE's Sudhir Suryawanshi. READ FULL REPORT HERE Rebel candidates to play spoilsport in Maharashtra? Rebels are in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party's official nominees. There is a huge buzz around who the independents will harm the mostthe Mahayuti or the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Besides the Congress and BJP, it has also hit both the Senas and both the NCPs. There is not the slightest doubt among anyone that rebels have spiced up the polls whose results are due on November 23. A viral audio clip of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has also underlined how much of a headache have been to political parties. READ FULL REPORT HERE

Parties Brace for Results in Jharkhand

New Delhi: There is guarded optimism in the BJP-led NDA and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc as they await the outcome of the Jharkhand Assembly polls on Saturday. While the NDA parties are hoping that the exit polls predicting their win come true, the Opposition camp is also confident. The counting of postal ballots starts at 8 am on Saturday. Early trends will start coming from 9-9.15 am. Results of bypolls in 48 Assembly constituencies and two parliamentary seats Wayanad and Nanded too will be declared on Saturday. All eyes will be on key seats that will decide the electoral fates of prominent politicians. Chief Minister Hemant Soren contested from Barhait, his wife Kalpana from Gandey, while the Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) contested from Chandankiyari. Here the BJP tossed up slogans like ek rahenge toh safe range (if we remain united, we will be safe), with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mocking that it translated into the unity between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and billionaires. Other prominent leaders included Deepika Pandey Singh of Congress from Mahagama, Sita Soren (sister-in-law of CM Hemant Soren) from Jamtara, AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto from Silli, and former chief minister Champai Soren from Seraikela.

Counting for bypolls: Will Priyanka win in Wayanad

The counting of votes for the bypolls to 46 assembly seats in 13 states and in the Lok Sabha segments of Nanded in Maharashtra and Wayanad in Kerala, a crucial electoral exercise since the parliamentary polls in April-May, will begin at 8 am on Saturday.

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.

Maharashtra assembly polls: 20 constituencies in Marathwada log over 70 pc voter turnout

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Twenty out of the total 46 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra's Marathwada region have recorded more than 70 per cent voting in the state polls, the official figures showed. Out of these 20 seats, 17 were currently represented by the legislators belonging to the Mahayuti alliance comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Elections to the 288-member state legislative assembly were held on Wednesday. As per the provisional figures provided by the Election Commission, an estimated 65 per cent voting was recorded in the state. The average voter turnout in Marathwada was 69.65 per cent. The region's highest voter turnout of 80 per cent was recorded in the Sillod assembly seat in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, while the Nanded North constituency saw the lowest voting of 56.65 per cent, as per the figures. The Marathwada region comprises eight districts - Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Osmanabad and Parbhani. The assembly seats which recorded more than 70 per cent voting are as follows: Sillod (80.0), Ghansawangi (77.06), Bhokardan (77.2), Paithan (76.05), Bhokar (75.01), Badnapur (74.6), Gangapur (73.45), Jintur (73.28), Vaijapur (73.21), Kalamnuri (73.15), Gevrai (72.66), Vasmat (72.30), Gangakhed (72.01), Parli (72.0), Ashti (71.43), Phulambri (71.99), Hadgaon (70.40), Partur (70.12), Kinwat (70.05) and Pathri (70.02).

Telugu voters take part in Maha polls

Nizamabad: The Assembly elections and the byelection for the Nanded Parliament constituency in Maharashtra were conducted peacefully on Wednesday. Telugu-speaking voters in Maharashtra actively participated, while many migrant workers from Nizamabad district travelled back home to vote. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle from Beed, Ravi, a dry cleaner from Nizamabad, said his family temporarily closed their shop to exercise their voting rights. We returned home for three days to vote despite the intense political competition, he said. Some candidates reportedly arranged transport for Maharashtra natives in Nizamabad to polling stations in districts like Nanded, Latur, Beed, and Osmanabad. Vote counting is scheduled for November 23, with migrant workers expected to return after Sunday.

Revanth to Leave Today for Maha Campaign

Hyderabad : Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is set to participate in the final phase of the Maharashtra Assembly election campaign this weekend. With the campaign deadline approaching on November 18 and polling scheduled for November 20, Revanth Reddys two-day visit underscores his role as a key Congress campaigner. The Chief Minister will leave Hyderabad on Saturday and reach Nagpur at 10 am. He will begin his campaign in Chandrapur. His schedule for the day includes campaign meetings and roadshows in Rajura, Digras, and Wardha constituencies, before returning to Nagpur for the night. On Sunday, Revanth Reddy will travel to Nanded and continue his campaign in Nayagaon, Bhokar, and Solapur Assembly constituencies. Revanth Reddys participation comes as the Congress intensifies its efforts in Maharashtra, with a list of 40 star campaigners released earlier by the high command. Revanth Reddy is only star campaigners for the Maharashtra poll. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has been appointed star campaigner for the Jharkhand elections. Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Dansari Anasuya (Seethakka) are All India Congress Committee (AICC) senior observers for Maharashtra, while Deputy CM Bhatti will oversee campaign efforts in Jharkhand. Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy are actively campaigning across Maharashtra

Pawan campaigns for NDA in Maharashtra, recalls Shivaji

Vijayawada: Jana Sena president and AP Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan campaigned for the NDA alliance at Degloor in the poll-bound Maharashtra state on Saturday. We are undertaking significant development programmes to transform Maharashtra into a one-trillion-dollar economy by 2028, he told the gathering. He underlined that Maharashtra will play a vital role in making India a three-trillion-dollar GDP nation. Pawan Kalyan will be campaigning in several Telugu-dominating places, as part of which he addressed a public meeting at Degloor. The Deputy CM said, I came to honour the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji, who taught us the meaning of fighting for our rights. I express my respect for the soil that imparted the concept of self-rule. I am here to pay tribute to the great land that became the Karmabhumi of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. In line with the values taught by Rani Mata Jijabai, I stand before you today. Pawan Kalyan sought support of people for NDA candidates contesting from Nanded Lok Sabha and Degloor assembly constituencies. He mentioned development programmes taken up by the NDA government in the last 10 years, like construction of 11,000 kilometres of roads, including the crucial 701-kilometre Samruddhi Mahamarg from Nagpur to Thane by India's Highway Man Nitin Gadkari. The Deputy Chief Minister, a popular actor, said fighting in movies is easy, but standing up for dharma in real life is difficult. The eternal dharma is strong; we must unite to protect Marathi language and culture, he stated Pawan Kalyan declared that the fortresses fought for by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj stand guard over southern India, keeping invaders at bay and preventing the destruction of temples. I urge you to give solid support to the NDA alliance, he added.

Ponguleti Prays at Basar Before Maha Campaign

Adilabad: Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Saturday offered special pujas at the Basar Saraswati Temple before heading to Maharashtra's Bhokar in Nanded district to campaign for Congress candidate Tirupati Baburao Kadam Khodekar. Khodekar is contesting from the Bhokar Assembly constituency in the upcoming elections. Speaking to media in Basar, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy announced that the Telangana government is committed to allocating sufficient funds for the development of the Basar Saraswati Temple. He pledged to elevate the temple to the standards of the Bhadrachalam Ramachandra Swamy Temple, ensuring it becomes a major spiritual and cultural hub. The minister also emphasised the governments focus on education, highlighting plans to establish integrated schools with a budget of 150 crore each. These schools aim to provide education in government institutions on par with corporate schools. During his visit, RGUKT vice-chancellor N. Goverdhan briefed the minister about initiatives for the all-round development of the Basar IIIT. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan campaigned for BJP candidate Srijaya Chavan, daughter of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, in the Bhokar Assembly constituency.

Maharashtra polls: On campaign trail, Rahul Gandhi enjoys Nagpur's 'tarri poha'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi enjoyed Nagpur's famous 'tarri poha' during his Maharashtra election campaign. He visited a local eatery and even tried cooking the dish. Gandhi interacted with youngsters, discussing issues like farming, the Constitution, and unemployment. He also held rallies in Chimur and Dhamangaon. Earlier, he shared sugarcane juice with women in Nanded.

CM Revanth to campaign in Maharashtra for 2 days

Hyderabad :Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is set to participate in the final phase of the Maharashtra Assembly election campaign this weekend. With the campaign deadline approaching on November 18 and polling scheduled for November 20, Revanth Reddys two-day visit underscores his role as a key Congress campaigner. The Chief Minister will leave Hyderabad on Saturday and reach Nagpur at 10 am. He will begin his campaign in Chandrapur. His schedule for the day includes campaign meetings and roadshows in Rajura, Digras, and Wardha constituencies, before returning to Nagpur for the night. On Sunday, Revanth Reddy will travel to Nanded and continue his campaign in Nayagaon, Bhokar, and Solapur Assembly constituencies. Revanth Reddys participation comes as the Congress intensifies its efforts in Maharashtra, with a list of 40 star campaigners released earlier by the high command. Revanth Reddy is only star campaigners for the Maharashtra poll. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has been appointed star campaigner for the Jharkhand elections. Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Dansari Anasuya (Seethakka) are All India Congress Committee (AICC) senior observers for Maharashtra, while Deputy CM Bhatti will oversee campaign efforts in Jharkhand. Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy are actively campaigning across Maharashtra. Historically, Telangana and Maharashtra share close geographical, social, and political ties. The undivided Adilabad and Nizamabad districts of Telangana border Maharashtra, and many residents from these districts have deep social and family connections with regions like Nanded, Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, and Solapur. A significant number of people from Adilabad and Nizamabad have also settled in these parts of Maharashtra. The Congress plans to capitalise on this by mobilising leaders and cadres from Telangana, especially from Adilabad and Nizamabad districts, to bolster support for the MVA alliance.

Rahul: MahaYuti snatched 5L jobs

MUMBAI: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that five lakh jobs in Maharashtra were snatched as various big projects were shifted to other states. Rahul has made the shifting of development projects as a major election issue. Addressing a rally in Nandurbar, he said, Such arbitrary shifting is simply injustice. We will not allow it, he said. In Nanded, visited the government bus stand and distributed congress pamphlets detailing the partys guarantees. He met women passengers and promised that once the MVA government was elected, it would announce the bus travel free-of-cost to women passengers. PM Modi feels the red book of the Constitution he carries is blank because he has never read it. The BJP has objections to the red colour of the book (which Gandhi has been displaying in rallies). But for us, irrespective of the colour, we are committed to preserve it (Constitution) and ready to give up our lives too. Modi ji feels the Constitution (book) is blank because he has never read it, he said. He said the Constitution represents the soul of India, embodying the principles of national icons such as Birsa Munda, BR Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi. Rahul said his party wanted greater representation for adivasis, Dalits, and backward classes in decision-making.The senior Congress leader accused the BJP of insulting national icons and tribals by referring to them as vanvasi instead of adivasi. BJP insulting tribals Congress want greater representation for adivasis, Dalits, and backward classes in decision-making. He accused the BJP of insulting national icons and tribals by referring to them as vanvasi instead of adivasi.

Rahul Gandhi enjoys sugarcane juice at bus stand after poll rally

Nanded: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday had a glass of sugarcane juice at a street-side outlet and interacted with local women after a campaign rally here. Gandhi addressed a rally in this central Maharashtra city ahead of the November 20 state assembly elections. Afterwards, before going to the airport, his convoy headed to the 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 .