Karnataka Congress leaders from border districts to campaign in Maharashtra
KALABURAGI: The assembly elections in Maharashtra slated to be held on November 20 are very crucial for the Congress, especially for party leaders from North Karnataka as some of the districts including Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad (now Dharashiv), Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg are located along the border districts of North Karnataka region, which include Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapur and Belagavi districts. Many relatives of Kannadigas from Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapur and Belagavi districts reside in six districts of Maharashtra and their votes are crucial as far as the winnability of the candidates is concerned. Solapur and Latur districts, in particular, have a good number of Kannadigas. Maharashtra elections have become a prestigious issue for the Congress as AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, hails from Kalaburagi (his birth place is Warawatti of Bidar district), which has a good number of people whose mother tongue is Marathi. In fact, Kharge is also versed in Marathi language. According to sources, the Congress has prepared a list of leaders from Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura and Belagavi districts and has asked them to campaign in favour of the Congress in those six districts. Many Congress leaders will be leaving for the districts assigned to them in a day or two as the Deepavali festival celebrations have almost completed and these leaders will camp in Maharashtra till the end of campaigning. The Congress is a major partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance which is fighting the elections against NDA. At present, the NDA is in power in Maharashtra. The BJP is also sending its leaders from North Karnataka, who can speak Marathi, to woo Kannadiga voters residing in Maharashtra. Already, the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the bordering districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka have conducted meetings and chalked out strategies to prevent liquor coming from Karnataka to Maharashtra and to prevent the entry of anti-social elements entering Maharashtra from Karnataka.
Congress calls for probe into Ajit Pawar move into NDA fold
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday called for a probe into alleged blackmail and coercion tactics used to bring NCP leader Ajit Pawar into the NDA fold. Taking a swipe at the BJP, the Congress also said the saffron partys washing machine was nowhere more powerful than in Maharashtra. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh cited Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawars recent remarks to claim that the issue involved not just the use of coercion and blackmail but also breach of the oath of confidentiality and the Official Secrets Act. The BJPs washing machine is an all-India phenomenon but perhaps nowhere was it more powerful than in Maharashtra, he said. The use of the term washing machine by the Opposition in political parlance refers to the pattern of allegedly sullied leaders being inducted into the BJP and portrayed as clean. When in Opposition before 2014, the BJP raised allegations about massive corruption by Ajit Pawar, then the states irrigation and water resources minister and the allegations claimed corruption to the tune of `70,000 crore, Ramesh pointed out. The Congress leader claimed that Ajit Pawar has now confirmed that blackmail and coercion surrounding these charges were used by the BJP to bring him over to the National Democratic Alliance. The non-biological Prime Minister himself led the charge, famously labelling the NCP now his much beloved ally at the state and Centre as a Naturally Corrupt Party, he said. Ajit Pawar has now revealed that after becoming Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis showed him a file recommending an open inquiry against Ajit Pawar in the alleged irrigation scam. One can only imagine the threat that was implicit in this move: submit to us, or face action, Mr Ramesh said. Ajit Pawar and several other MLAs broke away from the Nationalist Congress Party led by his uncle Sharad Pawar and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state last year. The Congress leader asserted that this was a serious matter since it involved not just the use of coercion and blackmail but also breach of the oath of confidentiality and the Official Secrets Act. An investigation should be conducted into this matter, he said. His remarks came days after Pawar alleged he was backstabbed by close colleague and then home minister R.R. Patil, who ordered an open inquiry against him in the alleged multi-crore irrigation scam. Pawar claimed a file mentioning Patils remarks ordering an inquiry was shown to him by Fadnavis after he became chief minister in 2014. Mr Pawar made these claims while addressing a rally for NCP candidate Sanjay Kaka Patil, who is in the fray against the late Patils son Rohit from Tasgaon in Sangli district.
Whos who? Identical names cause election chaos in Maharashtra
Ahead of the November 20 assembly elections, major political parties in Maharashtra face challenges from Independent candidates with identical names, which may confuse voters. In the Sangli district, Rohit Raosaheb Patil competes against three other Independents with similar names. In Pune, candidates Bapusaheb Tukaram Pathare and Ashwini Nitin Kadam also encounter opponents with almost identical names.
Maharashtra polls: Candidates sweat over Independents with identical names
In the upcoming November 20 assembly elections, candidates in various constituencies face challenges from Independent candidates with identical names, posing potential voter confusion. Notably, Rohit Raosaheb Patil contests against similar-named Independents in Sangli, while similar cases arise in Pune with Bapusaheb Tukaram Pathare and Ashwini Nitin Kadam.
Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Candidates sweat over Independents with identical names
In the Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahakal constituency in Sangli district, where Rohit Raosaheb Patil, the son of late NCP leader and former home minister R R Patil, is contesting against Ajit Pawar-led NCP's ...
MVA Kicks Off First Joint Rally for Maharashtra Polls Today
Mumbai : The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will hold its first joint rally on Thursday for the Maharashtra Assembly election in Mumbai. At the rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge will announce the Congresss guarantees in the presence of Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the event will be held at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in the evening. Mr Gandhi will be on a one-day visit to Maharashtra. He will first participate in the Sanvidhan Bachao meeting in Nagpur in the morning. After that, he will attend the MVAs joint rally at the BKC, he said. In the past, the Congress released its guarantee cards, containing poll promises for the 2024 general election and several recent state Assembly elections. Among the MVA allies, the Congress is contesting the highest number of seats (103) in Maharashtra, followed by the Shiv Sena(UBT) 89 and the NCP(SP) 87 seats. Six seats have been given to other MVA allies, while there is no clarity on three Assembly segments. According to reports, the MVA allies have also fielded candidates against each other in at least six seats. Congresss Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala acknowledged misunderstanding, but insisted there are no rifts between the MVA allies. He claimed that the Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP is having a major internal fight. There are no issues among us. We are ready to fight the Assembly election even today. We have given equal treatment to all alliance partners, Mr Chennithala said. Taking a dig at the Mahayuti, the Congress leader said that it was the BJP fighting all seats in Maharashtra. He pointed out that several BJP leaders, including ministers and lawmakers, have joined either the Shiv Sena or the NCP and they have been declared the official candidates of the two parties. Former BJP MP from Sangli, Sanjaykaka Patil and the partys Sangli district president Nishikant Bhosale Patil will be contesting the Assembly election as NCP candidates from the Tasgaon and Islampur seats, respectively. The Ajit Pawar-led party has also fielded former BJP MP Pratap Patil-Chikhalikar, who lost the 2024 election from the Nanded Lok Sabha seat, from the Loha Assembly seat. Former BJP minister Rajkumar Badole is the NCP candidate from the Arjuni-Morgaon seat. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded former BJP spokesperson N.C. Shaina from the Mumbadevi seat and former BJP MP Rajendra Gavit from the Palghar Assembly constituency. Mahayuti members are fighting amongst themselves. They are fighting from each other's quotas. The BJP leaders are fighting under the Shiv Sena and the NCP symbols. Actually, it is the BJP that is fighting alone. Mr Shinde and Mr Pawar are finished, Mr Chennithala said.
Ajit blames RR Patil over Rs 70K cr irrigation scam
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday opened the decade-old irrigation scam projected at Rs 70,000 crore and claimed that his colleague and former home minister late RR Patil was responsible for initiating an open inquiry involving him. Ajit said he was surprised when he learnt that his cabinet colleague and friend Patil signed on the file initiating the inquiry. The deputy CM was campaigning for his party candidate Sanjaya Kaka Patil, who is contesting against late RR Patils son Rohit Patil in Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal in Sangli district. This happened when the Congress-NCP government in 2014 was on its last legs. Then, we withdrew support to the Congress CM Prithviraj Chavan-led government and later Presidents rule was imposed. The file then went to the governor who refused to sign it, saying the next elected government will take a decision. When the BJP government came to power, then CM Fadnavis called me at his residence and showed me the file that was signed by Patil, which I think Patil did purely to defame me, Ajit said. Fadnavis told me that your party leader RR Patil signed the file to carry out an investigation against you. He said he had to sign it as the CM, Ajit said. The entire budget of the irrigation department is Rs 42,000 crore. How come can it be Rs 70,000 cr scam? The issue forced me to quit, Ajit said. Meanwhile, as the Assembly poll temperature shot up in the state, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar sought to remind his nephew Ajit of his six-month-old speech during the Lok Sabha polls a few months ago. In an aside, He told his nephew not to shed tears over political differences in the family. Sharad was referring to Ajits speech a couple of days ago. Sharad was in Baramati to campaign for his grand-nephew Yugnedra Pawar who is contesting against his deputy CM uncle Ajit Pawar in Baramati. Citing Ajit, Pawar said: Sharad will come to Baramati and try to make you emotional; he will bring tears to your eyes and urge you to cast your vote for Supriya Sule, but do not get emotional.
Congress announces third list of 39 candidates, gains two more in its share of 85 seats in MVA
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Congress on Saturday released a list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. The party has announced 87 candidates so far. Though the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) announced that they would contest 85 seats each, the Congress has got two more seats to contest. The third list, released late Saturday evening, has 16 candidates, while the second list had 23 candidates in the afternoon. The party has fielded Sachin Sawant from Andheri West and Mohanrao Marotrao Ambade from Nanded South. In Kolhapur North, Rajesh Bharat Latkar has been fielded while Prithviraj Gulabrao Patil will contest from Sangli. In the ST reserved seat Gadchiroli, the party has fielded Manohar Tulshiram Poreti and Manikrao Thakare contest from Digras. While Rana Dalipkumar Sanada will contest from Khamgaon, Dr Hemant Nanda Chimote will be in ST seat Melghat. In Nagpur South a disputed seat between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), the party has fielded Girish Pandav from that seat. While Kalu Badheliya has been fielded from Kandivali East, Yashwant Singh will contest from Charkop against BJPs Yogesh Sagar. The party has fielded Ganesh Yadav from Sion Koliwada. The party has fielded Suresh Bhoyar against BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi. Shekhar Shende will contest from Wardha. The party released the first list of 48 candidates on Thursday. The names of candidates were finalised at a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired by party chief Malllikarjun Kharge on Friday evening. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal, and state leaders attended the meeting. AICC in-charge Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala, said all constituents will be given representation as part of the MVA alliance. Samajwadi Party, CPM, CPI and AAP are part of MVA. We are giving representation to all the parties, but seats are limited, he said. In its first list, the party retained several sitting MLAs and fielded senior leaders including Nana Patole and former CM Prithviraj Chavan. The party also fielded former ministers Nitin Raut and Balasaheb Thorat from Nagpur North and Sangamner.
Ajit Pawars Candidates Have BJPs Stamp of Approval
Mumbai: It appears that apart from selecting its own candidates, the BJP is also providing candidates to its alliance partner NCP for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election. Ajit Pawars party on Friday inducted five leaders and gave them Assembly tickets. The new entrants included two former BJP MPs and a district president. The other two were Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique and former minister Nawab Maliks daughter Sana Malik. Former BJP MP from Sangli, Sanjaykaka Patil and partys Sangli district president Nishikant Bhosale Patil joined the NCP in the presence of NCP national president Ajit Pawar and state president Sunil Tatkare in Mumbai. As soon as they joined the party, NCP announced their candidature. Nishikant Patil will contest against NCP (SP)s heavyweight Jayant Patil from Islampur and Sanjaykaka Patil will contest from Tasgaon assembly constituency, where he will be up against late R.R. Patils 25-year-old son Rohit Patil. The NCP also gave tickets to former BJP MP Pratap Patil-Chikhalikar who lost the 2024 election from the Nanded Lok Sabha seat. Now he will contest the Assembly election from the Loha seat as NCP candidate. Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of former state minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique, also joined the NCP. He will be the NCP candidate from Vandre East against Uddhav Thackerays relative Varun Sardesai. Zeshan had won the seat in 2019 as the Congress candidate. However, the Congress recently expelled him for the alleged anti-party activities. After joining the NCP, Zeeshan Siddiqui said, This is an emotional day for me and my family. NCP has expressed trust in me and I thank them for it. I will always be with the one who supported me in these difficult times. Sana Malik, the daughter of former minister Nawab Malik, will contest from her fathers constituency Anushaktinagar. This decision was also taken under the BJPs pressure. The saffron party had strongly objected to Nawab Maliks candidature as he is facing a case related to his alleged links with the Dawood Ibrahim gang. Malik is expected to contest the Assembly election as an independent from the Muslim-dominated Mankhurd-Shivajinagar seat, where he will challenge Samajwadi Partys state chief Abu Azmi. Former BJP minister Rajkumar Badole joined the Ajit Pawar-led party earlier this week and is contesting the Assembly election as the NCP candidate from the Arjuni-Morgaon seat. On Thursday, a crucial meeting was held in Delhi between Union home minister Amit Shah and leaders of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance to discuss the strategy for the Assembly elections. Speaking about the meeting with Shah, Ajit Pawar said, Our discussion is still. We are moving in a phased manner. Till we say something dont get to the conclusion that someone has been given a ticket and another one is ignored. Yesterday our whole day was spent in Delhi for the discussion. Out of 288 seats, only 11 seats are remaining for us to decide. We are trying to take the best decision for the alliance. The Assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20 and results will be declared on November 23.
Maharashtra polls: Baba Siddique's son Zeeshan, two former BJP MPs on Ajit-led NCP's second list
MUMBAI: The Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Friday released its second list, comprising seven candidates, including MLA Zeeshan Siddique and two former BJP MPs, for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Zeeshan Siddique, whose father and NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead earlier this month, will contest from Bandra East, which he had won in 2019 on a Congress ticket. He also joined the NCP. The legislator on Thursday criticised the decision of the Shiv Sena (UBT), a partner of Congress in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), to field Varun Sardesai in his constituency for the November 20 polls, saying staying together was never in their nature. Zeeshan had been suspended from Congress for cross-voting in the recent legislative council elections. His father and Congress veteran Baba Siddique had crossed over to the NCP, a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti coalition, earlier this year. Former BJP MP Pratap Chikhalikar, who lost the Lok Sabha polls from Nanded, has been nominated from Loha. BJP ex-MP Sanjay Kaka Patil, who unsuccessfully contested from Sangli in the general elections, has been given an NCP ticket. He also joined the party on Friday. Sanjay Kaka Patil will face off with NCP (SP) candidate Rohit Patil, son of late NCP leader R R Patil, in Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal constituency in Sangli district. Nishikant Patil will take on NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil in Islampur, while Sana Malik, daughter of former minister Nawab Malik, has been nominated from Anushakti Nagar in Mumbai. NCP has given the ticket to Sunil Tingre from Wadgaon Sheri in Pune. It has picked Dnyaneshwar Katke from Shrirur. Until recently, Katke was the Pune district chief of the Uddhav Thackeray-led NCP (SP). Earlier, NCP had released its first list featuring 38 candidates. NCP, BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are the constituents of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra. Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.
All in the family: Parties give chance to kin of leaders in Maharashtra polls
Mumbai: While political parties often accuse rivals of dynastic politics, during elections, they do not shy away from fielding relatives of their established leaders - as the lists of candidates for the next month's Maharashtra assembly polls show. Most of the prominent political parties in the state have so far declared at least the first list of their candidates for the November 20 elections to 288 assembly seats. From the ruling side, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party have declared the first list of candidates, while from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has come out with the first list so far. Their lists show that a significant number of contenders are closely related to the current ministers, legislators or MPs, including their sons or daughters, wives and brothers or sisters. Sreejaya Chavan, the daughter of former chief minister and Congress turncoat Ashok Chavan who joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, is among the kin of a political heavyweight picked by the saffron party for the November 20 contest. She will contest from the family's traditional constituency of Bhokar in Nanded district. Vinod Shelar, the brother of Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, has been fielded by the party from the Malad West constituency, while Ashish himself has been re-nominated from the Bandra West seat in Mumbai. The BJP has replaced its sitting MLA Babanrao Pachpute from the Shrigonda assembly constituency (in Ahilyanagar district) with his wife, Pratibha Pachpute, due to his health issues. The saffron party has dropped the name of Ganpat Gaikwad, its MLA from Kalyan East constituency in Thane district, and instead nominated his wife, Sulabha, to contest from the same constituency. Gaikwad is currently in jail for opening fire on a Shiv Sena worker inside a police station a few months ago. Former Union minister and Lok Sabha member Narayan Rane's son, Nitesh, currently represents the Kankavli assembly segment. His elder brother, Nilesh, a former Lok Sabha member, has now joined the ruling Shiv Sena and is set to contest from the Kudal constituency, which falls under the family's home district of Sindhudurg. In Chinchwad constituency in Pune district, the BJP replaced sitting MLA Ashwini Jagtap, the wife of late party leader Laxman Jagtap, but gave ticket to his brother Shankar Jagtap. This is his first election. Shinde-led Sena has nominated Kiran Samant, the brother of state minister Uday Samant, from the Rajapur seat in Ratnagiri district. The family members of Shiv Sena leaders Sandipan Bhumare and Ravindra Waikar, who became members of the Lok Sabha after this year's general elections, have also been given a chance by the party from the respective constituencies that the two former MLAs represented. While Bhumare's son Vilas will contest from the Paithan in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Waikar's wife Manisha will test electoral waters from the Jogeshwari East assembly seat. The ruling NCP already nominated Pankaj Bhujbal as the party MLC earlier this month. He is the son of senior party leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is contesting from the Yeola assembly segment in Nashik district. But since Bhujbal's nephew Sameer is keen on contesting the election, he will fight as an independent candidate against Sena's incumbent MLA Suhas Kande from Nandgaon constituency in Nashik. Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) has renominated sitting MLA Aaditya Thackeray from the Worli seat in Mumbai, while his cousin Varun Sardesai will contest his maiden election from Bandra East. The Sena (UBT) also decided to given ticket to sitting MLA Sunil Raut, brother of the party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut from Vikroli seat in Mumbai. Although the NCP (SP) has not announced its list of candidates so far, Rohit Patil, son of former home minister late R R Patil, filed his nomination as an NCP (SP) candidate from Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal constituency in Sangli district on Thursday. According to party insiders, Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar and sitting MLA from Karjat Jamkhed assembly seat in Ahilyanagar, is most likely to be renominated from the constituency. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who never contested election, has fielded his son Amit from Mahim assembly seat in Mumbai. It will be his maiden election. When asked about parties fielding relatives, political observer Abhay Deshpande said, The established leaders want to retain their control over their constituency, and as a part of that, they develop their network and connections with the voters. In order to continue the hold, their traditional constituency becomes safer for that particular family and hence handed over to a son or daughter as political inheritance. But in some cases, a party chooses someone from the family of an established leader due to reasons like the death of the leader. For instance, Shiv Sena has fielded Suhas Babar from the Khanapur seat (in Sangli) because his MLA father Anil Babar passed away a few months back. One factor is seeking political gains from the sympathy that voters will have for the family. At the same time, it is also considered as token of gratitude from the political party to a particular family that has served it for a long time, he said.
The Shiv Sena has released the first list of 45 candidates which saw the party renominating almost all MLAs who backed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde against Uddhav Thackeray when the Shiv Sena split. This is also the first Assembly election to be contested under Shinde's leadership. Shiv Sena has given tickets to 45 candidates in the first list, which includes over half a dozen Cabinet members. Most of them have been retained in their respective seats. Many see this as a reward for their loyalty when they sided with Shinde while breaking away from Uddhav Thackeray during the June 2022 revolt. No sitting MLA has been dropped, except those who became MPs. Family members of deceased MLAs have been given tickets. The party has fielded ministers Gulabrao Patil, Deepak Kesarkar, Abdul Sattar and Shamburaj Desai from Jalgaon Rural, Sawantwadi, Sillod and Patan, respectively. Dada Bhuse, will contest from the Malegaon Outer assembly constituency in Nashik district. Ministers Uday Samant and Tanaji Sawant have been fielded from Ratnagiri and Paranda, respectively. Interestingly, the kin of many ministers, including Uday Samant's brother, have been given tickets. Kiran Samant will contest from Rajapur whilelate MLA Anil Babar's son Suhas Babar will contest from Khanapur in Sangli. Manisha Waikar, wife of Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North-West Ravindra Waikar, has been fielded from Jogeshwari (East), while Abhijit Adsul, son of Sena leader and former Union minister Anand Adsul, will contest from Daryapur in Amravati district. Vilas Bhumre, son of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Lok Sabha MP Sandipan Bhumre, will contest from Paithan.
Maharashtra polls: Shiv Sena releases first list of 45 candidates
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on late Tuesday night released its first list of 45 candidates for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, nominating Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from Kopri -Panchpakhadi in Thane city and over half a dozen Cabinet members from their respective seats.The ruling party has re-nominated almost all the MLAs who backed Shinde when he led a revolt against the then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022. Shinde will seek re-election from Kopri -Panchpakhadi in adjoining Thane city. The party has fielded ministers Gulabrao Patil, Deepak Kesarkar, Abdul Sattar and Shamburaj Desai from Jalgaon Rural, Sawantwadi, Sillod and Patan, respectively. Another cabinet member, Dada Bhuse, will contest from the Malegaon Outer assembly constituency in Nashik district. Ministers Uday Samant and Tanaji Sawant have been fielded from Ratnagiri and Paranda, respectively. Another prominent leader Sada Sarvankar will fight the polls from Mahim in Mumbai. The party has also fielded kin of several MLAs. From Rajapur, it has given ticket to Kiran Samant, brother of minister Uday Samant. Suhas Babar, son of the late legislator Anil Babar, will contest from Khanapur in Sangli district. Manisha Waikar, wife of Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North-West Ravindra Waikar, has been fielded from Jogeshwari (East), while Abhijit Adsul, son of Sena leader and former Union minister Anand Adsul, will contest from Daryapur in Amravati district. Vilas Bhumre, son of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Lok Sabha MP Sandipan Bhumre, will contest from Paithan. With this, the Shiv Sena has become the second major political party to release its list of candidates. Its ally BJP had released a list of 99 candidates on Sunday last. The ruling Mahayuti, which consists of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, is yet to announce its seat-sharing deal for polls to the 288-member assembly.
Maharashtra assembly polls: Shiv Sena releases first list of 45 candidates
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on late Tuesday night released its first list of 45 candidates for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, nominating Chief Minister Eknath Shinde from Kopri -Panchpakhadi in Thane city and over half a dozen Cabinet members from their respective seats. The ruling party has re-nominated almost all the MLAs who backed Shinde when he led a revolt against the then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022. Shinde will seek re-election from Kopri-Panchpakhadi in adjoining Thane city. The party has fielded ministers Gulabrao Patil, Deepak Kesarkar, Abdul Sattar and Shamburaj Desai from Jalgaon Rural, Sawantwadi, Sillod and Patan, respectively. Another cabinet member, Dada Bhuse, will contest from the Malegaon Outer assembly constituency in Nashik district. Ministers Uday Samant and Tanaji Sawant have been fielded from Ratnagiri and Paranda, respectively. Another prominent leader Sada Sarvankar will fight the polls from Mahim in Mumbai. The party has also fielded kin of several MLAs. From Rajapur, it has given ticket to Kiran Samant, brother of minister Uday Samant. Suhas Babar, son of the late legislator Anil Babar, will contest from Khanapur in Sangli district. Manisha Waikar, wife of Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North-West Ravindra Waikar, has been fielded from Jogeshwari (East), while Abhijit Adsul, son of Sena leader and former Union minister Anand Adsul, will contest from Daryapur in Amravati district. Vilas Bhumre, son of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) Lok Sabha MP Sandipan Bhumre, will contest from Paithan. With this, the Shiv Sena has become the second major political party to release its list of candidates. Its ally BJP had released a list of 99 candidates on Sunday last. The ruling Mahayuti, which consists of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, is yet to announce its seat-sharing deal for polls to the 288-member assembly.
VBA fields 10 Muslims for Maha polls in second list of candidates
Mumbai: The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) has named 10 Muslim candidates to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections in different parts of the state, including some who quit the Congress and joined the party. The nominees: Ayaz Gulzar Molvi (Kalyan West in Thane), Mohammed Jaweed Ishaq (Aurangabad Central in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Alauddin Hyatchand Kazi (Sangli), 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 .
Maharashtra's Sangli, Satara to get better connectivity as work on NH 160 begins: Nitin Gadkari
Sangli and Satara will see better infrastructure with the development of National Highway 160. The road will connect Baramati, Phaltan, Vita, Tasgaon, and Sangli, enhancing the transport of agricultural goods. The project will also boost tourism to religious sites like Shirdi and Shani Shingnapur, and create employment opportunities in the region.
Remove 50 per cent cap on reservation: Sharad Pawar to Centre
SANGLI: NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar urged the BJP-led Centre on Friday to bring a constitutional amendment to increase reservation in education and government jobs beyond the existing cap of 50 per cent. Speaking to reporters here, Pawar said that while granting reservation to Marathas, who have been agitating for quota, care should be taken to ensure that such limits meant for other communities are not disturbed. Currently, the cap on reservation is 50 per cent. But if Tamil Nadu can have 78 per cent (quota for various communities), why can't Maharashtra have 75 per cent reservation,he asked. The Centre should take the lead and bring a constitutional amendment to raise the quota cap. We will support the amendment,he said. Pawar said the seat-sharing talks among the leaders of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will continue next week. I would only advise the leaders to conclude the talks as early as possible so that we can go to the people, who are looking for a change,he said. MVA partners NCP (SP), Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress fought the recent Lok Sabha polls as one unit and performed impressively, winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state. The Maharashtra assembly polls are due in November. MVA seat-sharing talks to wrap up in 10 days; we must form govt at any cost: Sharad Pawar Pawar said people are positive towards bringing a change in the government and the MVA should respect their sentiments. The NCP (SP) chief also welcomed the decision to accord the 'classical language'tag to Marathi and congratulated the central government for it. However, Pawar said the Maharashtra government must be concerned about the dwindling number of students opting to learn Marathi and the closure of Marathi language schools in the state. Discussions on these aspects are needed and a way to resolve the issue needs to be found,he said. He also alleged that while the state government has been showering populist schemes, it was diverting funds meant for other programmes. The arrears of government aid to the Sangli cancer hospital is over Rs 4 crore. Across the state, the arrears of aid to cancer hospitals are Rs 700 crore. I was told that since funds needed to be diverted to the populist schemes, the administration was helpless. If this is the situation in the medical field, what can be said about other areas. There are many government-aided hospitals that are not just dedicated to cancer,Pawar said. He said there is anger in the state over incidents like the Badlapur case, wherein a contractual sweeper, who later died in an alleged shootout with police, allegedly sexually assaulted two kindergarten girls on their school premises. People feel that though financial aid is given to women, their safety and security are being ignored, he said. Asked about Union minister Nitin Gadkari's comment that the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme to provide financial assistance to women could affect the timely payment of subsidies in other sectors, Pawar said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had termed such schemes 'revdi culture' which need to stop. Gadkari has a constructive and non-political approach to development, he said, adding that roads have improved during the tenure of the BJP leader, who is also the Union minister of road transport and highways. To a question about Gadkari's claim that he had been offered the PM's chair by the opposition multiple times, Pawar said, We did not make any such offer. If we don't have the required number of MPs, how can we make such an offer.. Asked about the 'secrets'behind his energy, Pawar, who will turn 84 in December, said it increases with his age. About Modi's likely visits to Maharashtra ahead of assembly polls, he said the PM addressed 18 rallies before the Lok Sabha elections and lost in 14 constituencies. For assembly elections too, he should address many rallies,he equipped.
After 3 Years, Telangana Govt Forms Nizamabad Market Panel
Tumeric relieve everything from cold to your liver problem to stomach issues and is also used in many alternative therapies.(Photo: Representative image) Tumeric relieve everything from cold to your liver problem to stomach issues and is also used in many alternative therapies.(Photo: Representative image) Nizamabad :After a gap of three years, a new committee was nominated for Nizamabad agriculture market yard. Nizamabad is the biggest turmeric market in the country after Sangli in Maharashtra and Erode in Tamil Nadu. Farmers hope that the new market committee will regulate the administration of the market yard benefitting them. Turmeric, maize, paddy, amchur and other agriculture produces were brought to the market yard for sales. Farmers from Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Jagtial, Nirmal and Medak districts brought their produces for better prices to Nizamabad market yard. The government nominated Muppa Ganga Reddy will be the chairman of the Nizamabad market committee. Nizamabad mayor, agriculture and marketing department officials will also be in the market committee. Turmeric from Nizamabad market reaches nook and corner of the country and is also exported to Gulf countries. Farmers are hopeful that the new committee will improve the basic amenities for them in the market yard. During the BRS government, the revenue of Nizamabad market yard shifted to other market committees in the state. As a result, the developmental works and welfare programmes were adversely affected. The newly-appointed Nizamabad market committee chairman Muppa Ganga Reddy met TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud and thanked him for the appointment.
Quality Power files draft papers with Sebi to raise funds via IPO
Quality Power Electrical Equipments, an energy transmission equipment and power technologies company, has filed preliminary papers with capital market regulator Sebi to raise funds through a initial public offering. The initial public offering (IPO) comprises a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 225 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 1.2 crore equity shares, according to the draft red herring prospectus filed on Monday. As part of the OFS, promoter Chitra Pandyan will offload the shares of the IPO-bound company. The Pandyan family holds 100 per cent stake in Sangli-based Quality Power. Proceeds from the fresh issue are proposed to be utilised for the acquisition of Mehru Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Pvt Ltd, funding capital expenditure requirements for purchasing plant and machinery. Besides, the company will also use the funds for inorganic growth through unidentified acquisitions and other strategic initiatives and general corporate purposes. Quali
PM Modi Launches Pune-Hubballi Vande Bharat Express, Karnatakas 10th
HUBBALI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Pune-Hubballi Vande Bharat Express on Monday, marking the launch of Karnatakas 10th Vande Bharat train. The service is expected to significantly reduce travel time and boost connectivity between North Karnataka and Maharashtra. Covering 557 km in just 8.5 hours, the high-speed train cuts the travel time between Pune and Hubballi by three hours. According to officials the train runs with 530-seat, 8-coach chair car configuration. The Pune-Hubballi Vande Bharat Express will run tri-weekly, departing from Pune at 2.15 pm on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays, reaching Hubballi at 10.45 pm. The return service from Hubballi will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, leaving at 5.00 am and arriving in Pune at 1.30 pm. The train will halt at key stations such as Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi, and Dharwad.
PM Modi to Inaugurate New Vande Bharat Express from Pune to Hubballi
HUBBALI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the tri-weekly Vande Bharat Express connecting Hubballi and Pune on September 16. To commemorate the launch, a special service (Train No. 02003) will operate from Pune to SSS Hubballi on the same day. The train will depart from Pune at 4.15 pm and arrive at SSS Hubballi at 11.40 pm. En route, the train will halt at Miraj, Belagavi, and Dharwad. The inaugural train will consist of eight coaches in total. Regular operations for Train No. 20669/20670 will commence on September 18 from SSS Hubballi and on September 19 from Pune. Train No. 20669 (SSS Hubballi to Pune): Operating on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, this train will depart SSS Hubballi at 5 am and arrive in Pune at 1.30 pm. Key en-route stops include Dharwad, Belagavi, Miraj, Sangli and Satara. Train No. 20670 (Pune to SSS Hubballi): Operating on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays, this train will depart Pune at 2.15 pm and arrive at SSS Hubballi at 10.45 pm. Stops include Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belagavi and Dharwad. Vande Bharat Express will comprise eight coaches, including 52 Executive Class seats and 478 Chair Car seats.
21 Cities Under NCAP Cut PM10 Pollution by Over 40 pc Since 2017-18, Shows CPCB Data
New Delhi: Ninety-five of the 131 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme have shown an improvement in air quality, with 21 reducing PM10 pollution by more than 40 per cent compared to 2017-18 levels, CPCB data shows.The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) also said that only 18 of the 131 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) cities adhered to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10, set at 60 micrograms per cubic metre. The 21 cities and urban agglomerations that achieved more than 40 per cent reduction in PM10 pollution are Varanasi, Dhanbad, Byrnihat, Bareilly, Firozabad, Dehradun, Tuticorin, Nalagarh, Moradabad, Khurja, Trichy, Kohima, Lucknow, Kanpur, Kadapa, Sivasagar, Sunder Nagar, Agra, Greater Mumbai, Rishikesh and Parwanoo. Fourteen cities, -- Ahmedabad, Ghaziabad, Rajkot, Jalandhar, Raebareli, Amritsar, Kolkata, Jammu, Silchar, Vijayawada, Naya Nangal, Dimapur, Baddi and Jodhpur -- reduced PM10 pollution by 30-40 per cent, compared to 2017-18 levels. Khanna, Durgapur, Kurnool, Dera Baba Nanak, Vadodara, Allahabad, Asansol, Hyderabad, Gorakhpur, Ranchi, Bengaluru, Akola, Ananthapur, Durg Bhilainagar, Surat and Noida recorded a 20-30 per cent reduction in PM10 levels during the same period, the data showed. A 10-20 per cent reduction in PM10 pollution was recorded in 21 cities -- Delhi, Howrah, Thane, Latur, Nellore, Gajraula, Alwar, Chittur, Kala Amb, Mandi Gobindgarh, Amravati, Patiala, Jaipur, Ongole, Chandrapur, Nashik, Jhansi, Sangli, Kota, Devanagere and Rajahmundry. India launched the NCAP in 2019 with a target to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30 per cent by 2024, using 2017 as the base year. The target was later revised to a 40 per cent reduction by 2026, using 2019-20 as the base year. In practice, only PM10 concentration is being considered for performance assessment. Surat was on Saturday ranked as the top major city in India for air quality improvements, followed by Jabalpur and Agra. The Union environment ministry presented the National Clean Air City Awards during the Swachh Vayu Survekshan - 2024, held at a national workshop celebrating the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in Jaipur. While Surat, Jabalpur and Agra secured the top three positions among cities with populations of more than 10 lakh, Firozabad (Uttar Pradesh), Amravati (Maharashtra) and Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) were recognised as the best among cities with populations between three and 10 lakh. Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Nalgonda (Telangana) and Nalagarh (Himachal Pradesh) topped the list among cities with populations under three lakh. Swachh Vayu Survekshan is an initiative by the environment ministry to rank cities based on the implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in cities covered under NCAP. These cities were awarded for significant improvements in air quality through various best practices to reduce air pollution. Key activities included paving roads, promoting mechanical sweeping, bioremediation of legacy waste, solid waste management, converting reclaimed land from dump sites into green spaces, greenbelt development, intelligent traffic management systems, and Miyawaki afforestation.
Rahul Gandhi Slams Modi Over Shivaji Statue Collapse
Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha leader of opposition, on Thursday lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs statue in Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra. Calling the incident an insult to the legendary Maratha King, Gandhi demanded that PM Modi should apologise to every Maharashtrian people. The statue collapsed just a few months after it was constructed. This is an insult to Shivaji Maharaj, Gandhi said. On the apology tendered by Modi over the collapse of the statue, Gandhi said that Maharashtra and the country want to know why the Prime Minister apologized. He alleged that the contract to construct the statue was given to an RSS worker. One who does wrong, apologies. If you havent done anything wrong, why would you apologise? I want to ask the prime minister what he is sorry for? Is it because the contract to make the Shivaji statue was given to an RSS person who had no merit or for the corruption in the construction of the statue, he added. The Prime Minister should apologize to every resident of Maharashtra for what happened. You (PM) built the statue to commemorate Shivaji Maharajs legacy, but could not make sure that it stands firm, the Congress MP said. A 35-feet giant statue of the Maratha empire founder Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister barely eight months ago on the occasion of Navy Day celebrations, collapsed at Rajkot Fort in Malvan on August 26. With the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra coming under severe fire over the collapse of the statue, the prime minister during his subsequent visit to the state said he apologised to the iconic king, calling him his deity, and also the people whose sentiments were hurt. Gandhi was in Maharashtra to inaugurate a statue of late party leader Patangrao Kadam in Sangli. I give you a guarantee that Kadam ji's statue installed here will stand even after 5070 years, he said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar attended the function in Sangli. But ally Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was conspicuous by his absence on this occasion.
Collapse of Chhatrapatis statue an insult to India and Maharashtra: Kharge
Sangli: Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg is not only an insult to the legendary Maratha warrior-king but also to India and Maharashtra. Addressing a rally in Sangli, Kharge held the RSS-linked persons for 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 .
PM apology on statue collapse proves he erred: Rahul
Sangli (Maharashtra), Sep 5: Leader and Opposition leader in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in Maharashtra and said the PM's apology for the incident was a testimony of his mistakes. Alleging corruption in the construction of the statute at Rajkot Fort [] The post PM apology on statue collapse proves he erred: Rahul appeared first on Northlines .
At Sangli Rally, Rahul Gandhi questions PM Modis apology for Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse
Rahul Gandhi said Modi should apologise not only to Shivaji Maharaj but also to every person in Maharashtra for the statues collapse
Rahul Gandhi has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologize for multiple issues, including the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue, demonetisation, anti-farmer bills, and GST. Speaking at a public meeting in Sangli, Gandhi criticized Modi for allegedly favoring certain business groups and demanded accountability for various policies.
Uddhav skips Rahul Gandhi's public events in Sangli
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday did not attend the public meeting addressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra's Sangli district, where the latter also unveiled the statue of late Maharashtra minister Patangrao Kadam.
Rahul Gandhi unveils statue of late Patangrao Kadam in Sangli
Sangli, Sep 5 : Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday unveiled a life-size statue of late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam, who held several ministerial positions in Maharashtra, in Sangli district. The statue of Kadam, who represented the Palus-Kadegaon assembly seat for several years, has been erected at Wangi in the district. Gandhi also visited a museum dedicated to the late leader at Wangi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Kolhapur [] The post Rahul Gandhi unveils statue of late Patangrao Kadam in Sangli appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Kharge, Rahul Gandhi leave for Maharashtra's Sangli
Paris Paralympics 2024: World champion Sachin Khilari wins silver in men's shot put F46 event
Paris: World champion Sachin Sarjerao Khilari clinched a silver in men's shot put F46 event with an Asian record distance of 16.32m as the country's track-and-field athletes continued their unprecedented medal-winning run in the Paralympic Games here on Wednesday.The 34-year-old Khilari achieved his best throw of the day in his second attempt to better his own Asian record of 16.30m which he set while winning gold in the World Para-Athletics Championships in Japan in May. However, the effort, which was also his personal best, was not enough for the top honour as Greg Stewart of Canada defended his Tokyo Paralympics gold with a throw of 16.38m. Luka Bakovic of Croatia took the bronze with 16.27m. Khilari's silver is the 11th medal from para-athletics in the ongoing Games and took India's overall tally to 21, including three gold. Stewart had finished second to Khilari in the World Para-Athletics Championships in Kobe in May, and the tables were turned at Stade de France on Wednesday. F46 classification is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in arms, with athletes competing in a standing position. I had wanted to win the gold medal, but it did not happen. It's my best distance but I am not satisfied. I feel I could have done better. It was not my day, Khilari said after winning the silver medal. It was a tough competition and Greg Stewart is a great player. I made small mistakes in my technique. I will work harder and I hope to beat him next time. Late on Tuesday night, Indians won silver and bronze in both men's high jump T63 and javelin throw F46 after Deepthi Jeevanji's bronze in the women's 400m T20 category. Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu won silver and bronze respectively in the men's high jump T63 while Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar took the second and third sports in the javelin throw F46 final. On Wednesday, Khilari was leading at the end of the second round but Stewart surged ahead with his third throw of 16.34m before improving further in his fifth and penultimate attempt of 16.38m. Other Indians in the fray, Mohd Yasser (14.21m) and Rohit Kumar (14.10m) finished eighth and ninth respectively. American Joshua Cinnamo, who holds the world record of 16.80m, was fourth with 15.66m. A mechanical engineering degree holder, Khilari, who had also won a gold in last year's Asian Para Games in China, has an impaired left hand. Hailing from a farming family at Karagani village in Maharashtra's Sangli district, Khilari met with an accident during his school days. The injury resulted in gangrene of the skin on his elbow and muscle atrophy. Even after several surgeries, his arm never recovered. He also lost his mother when he was young. Despite all these setbacks, he took up javelin while he was studying to become an engineer. A shoulder injury during competition forced him to switch to shot put. Khilari was introduced to para sports in 2015 and later met well-known coach Satayanarayana who supported him in improving his game. He also worked as a visiting faculty member at various institutions, assisting students in their UPSC and Maharashtra Public Service examination preparations. The previous best show by India's track and field contingent in a single Paralympics was in Tokyo when it won one gold, five silver and two bronze medals. With 11 medals, including a gold from star javelin thrower Sumit Antil, the para athletes have bagged more than half of the country's total medals. The number of gold is, however, set to be lower than what the officials had hoped to win this time.
Rahul Gandhi, Kharge to unveil Sangli leader Patangrao Kadam's statue on Sep 5
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and party President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, shall visit Sangli on September 5, giving a booster to the state unit ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections
Kharge, Rahul Gandhi to unveil statue of Patangrao Kadam in Sangli on Teachers Day
Patangrao Kadam, known for his contributions to education, founded the Bharati Vidyapeeth deemed university
5 sugar mills linked to leaders of ruling parties to get Rs 487 cr funds from Maharashtra govt
The Maharashtra cooperation department has revised its list of beneficiaries for margin funds, dropping five cooperative sugar mills linked to opposition leaders and replacing them with mills associated with BJP and NCP politicians. This decision, made after the Lok Sabha elections, allocates Rs 487 crore in funds to the new mills, including those in Latur, Sangli, Ahmednagar, and Solapur districts.
Murder Accused On Parole Rapes 15-Year-Old Girl In Maharashtra: Cops
A murder accused out on parole allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Sangli city, police said on Saturday.
AICTE, apna.co conclude youth empowering Silicon Valley Immersion Programme
Jobs and professional networking platform apna.co in partnership with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has concluded the Silicon Valley Immersion Programme, which enables Indian youth to connect with global technology leaders. This programme is designed to connect Indian youth with global tech giants and equip them with the skills needed to seize international opportunities, foster creativity, and enhance problem-solving abilities for a future-ready India, according to a release. The Silicon Valley Immersion Programme (SVIP), a national competition aimed at nurturing creativity and problem-solving skills, has culminated with Teena Chhatria, Aradhya Pitlawar, Kabir Arora, and Chaitanya Sai Krishna as its distinguished winners, it added. These talented individuals, hailing from institutions such as XLRI Jamshedpur, WCE Sangli, and PEC Chandigarh, have earned a fully-funded trip to Silicon Valley in the US. This initiative, developed in collaboration with apna.co
33% E-Commerce Shoppers Under 25 Years, Says Meesho
More than 80% of Indian online shoppers come from Tier II and beyond cities such as Ambur, Rourkela, Sangli and Zirakpur, the report said.
Ask MVA partners if I am okay as CM face: Uddhav tells reporters after meeting Congress top brass
NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena-UBT supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday dropped hints that he was ready to be projected as the chief ministerial face in the Maharashtra Assembly elections likely to be held in October. Thackeray's comments came on a day when he met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, and other INDIA bloc leaders here. Thackeray was accompanied by his son Aditya and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut. The farmers and youngsters of Maharashtra are fed up with the opportunistic BJP-led alliance. The 13 crore people of Maharashtra are looking towards change, Kharge said on X after the meeting. @kharge @RahulGandhi @ShivSenaUBT_ @OfficeofUT @AUThackeray 10 , pic.twitter.com/w3NzKrWvA4 Congress (@INCIndia) August 7, 2024 Gandhi said the meeting with Thackeray was held in the context of the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. The Maha Vikas Aghadi will contest the elections together and win, he said on his WhatsApp channel. Thackeray served as the chief minister of Maharashtra for two and a-half years as head of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance before his government was pulled down by the BJP after dissent in the Sena ranks. If my colleagues (in MVA) feel that I have done excellent work, then ask them whether they want me as the chief minister. People will decide, Thackeray told reporters here before meeting the Congress leadership. Thackeray also met NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar, who had played a key role in stitching together the MVA coalition after the 2019 assembly elections. Thackeray, who steered Maharashtra during the COVID-19 pandemic, said he had never dreamt of becoming the state's chief minister. Ask them if they want me as the chief minister, he said to questions about being projected as the chief ministerial face of the MVA alliance. I had not dreamt of being a chief minister, nor did I want to. But I am also not the one who runs away from responsibility. I took up the responsibility and tried to deliver to the best of my abilities, Thackeray said. If my colleagues feel that I have done excellent work, then ask them whether they want me as chief minister. People will decide, he said. Thackeray also met Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, and Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha member Aditya Yadav, among others. He was also scheduled to meet former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday. The Shiv Sena-UBT chief said that he was in the national capital to meet the INDIA bloc leaders, as there was no formal meeting of the opposition alliance leaders after the Lok Sabha elections. The elections are due in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand later this year and the INDIA bloc should contest the polls as a united force. Independent Lok Sabha member from Sangli, Vishal Patil, who had defeated Shiv Sena-UBT nominee Chandrahar Patil, also met Thackeray here. Vishal quit the Congress to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent after the Sangli parliamentary seat was given to Shiv Sena-UBT as part of the seat-sharing arrangement of the MVA coalition. If a mistake is committed, I am not the one who will continue to hold a grudge, Thackeray said. He said that he was hurt as the Shiv Sena-UBT candidate lost the Sangli seat, but was happy that the BJP was defeated. Vishal Patil has aligned with the MVA and assured that the same old mistakes will not be repeated in the upcoming elections, Thackeray said. Vishal is the grandson of former Maharashtra chief minister Vasantdada Patil.
200 soldiers from Kannur DSC centre deployed for relief ops in Wayanad
Hyderabad: As many as 200 soldiers from Defence Security Corps (DSC) Centre at Kannur along with medical team from Military Hospital Kannur and troops from territorial army from Kozhikode has been deployed to rescue 250 persons stranded in Meppadi Panchayath, Vyithiri Taluk in Wayanad district of Kerala after a major landslide, according to a statement. Based on a requisition received from Kerala Government this morning for rescue of approximately 250 persons, two rescue teams of Indian Army with a strength of approximately 200 soldiers from Defence Security Corps (DSC) Centre, Kannur along with medical team from Military Hospital Kannur and troops from Territorial Army from Kozhikode has been deployed. Early this morning, a massive landslide struck hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad resulting in hundreds of people suspected to be strapped. Assistance was sought from the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. Two helicopters from Air Force Station Sulurhas been despatched for rescue operations. In Sangli district of Maharashtra, relief operations are currently in progress with damage assessment conducted along a 20-km stretch of the Krishna River, involving local Disaster Management Authority (DMA), Superintendent of Police and the Municipal Commissioner. A medical camp has also been set up by the Indian Army to assist persons evacuated by district administration. At Varsova Bridge in Thane, an Engineer Task Force team was deployed since June 14 At Ankola landslide spot in Karnataka, an army team along with Indian navy drivers and Engineer Task Force was deployed for rescue operations on July 21. Based on de-requisition by civil administration, the team set to return today.
Ongoing agitations over Maratha quota sponsored by BJP's Darekar, Fadnavis claims Jarange
CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday said the Maratha community was not staging any agitations at present, claiming the protests seen in the state were sponsored by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar. Talking to reporters in Jalna, Jarange accused Darekar of trying to break the Maratha agitation and fooling the youth. The Maratha community is not staging any protest in the state. If any agitation is taking place, it is sponsored by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar and Devendra Fadnavis. Protestors should stay with the community, or else they will be defamed, the activist said. Jarange has been demanding the implementation of the draft notification that recognises Kunbis as 'sage soyare' (blood relatives) of Maratha community members and reservation to the latter under the OBC category. Kunbis enjoy quota benefits as OBCs. However, OBC members have stressed that their quota should not be diluted. The Maratha community is capable of questioning anyone. They can even go to Mumbai. Protestors who are agitating now should decide who they wish to support, Jarange said, while appealing to people to attend his rallies in western Maharashtra from August 7. People from the Maratha community agitated outside former chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's residence, Matoshree, on Tuesday, demanding that he clarify his stand on the quota issue. Starting August 7, Jarange will hold rallies in Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune, Ahmednagar and Nashik.
Maha Rains: Over 5,000 persons shifted in Kolhapur; rivers rise in Sangli
More than 5800 people were relocated after the Panchganga river started flowing above the danger mark in western Maharashtra's Kolhapur district, an official said on Friday.The water level of Panchaganga river at Rajaram Wier was 46.4 feet at noon, well above the danger mark of 43 feet, he said. Talking to PTI, Kolhapur collector Amol Yedge said the district administration has started relocating people from the affected areas of Sutarwada and Kumbharwada in the city. The administration has relocated people from Chikhli and Ambewadi in Karveer tehsil and some villages in Hatkalangane, Shirol and Ichalkarangi tehsils, he said. As per the details shared by the district administration, more than 5800 people (around 1379 families ) have been relocated to safety from Karveer, Panhala, Hatkalangane, Bhudargad, Gadhinglaj, Chandgad, Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur city, Shahuwadi and Kagal. Though the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for the district, the rains have ...
Maharashtra govt asks K'taka to release more water from Almatti dam
In view of heavy rainfall in parts of western Maharashtra, the state government has urged Karnataka to release more water from Almatti dam to avoid flooding in Sangli and Kolhapur districts, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday. Almatti dam, officially known as Lal Bahadur Shastri dam, is a hydroelectric project on the Krishna river in north Karnataka. Speaking to reporters, he said, The Maharashtra government has asked Karnataka to increase the water discharge from Almatti dam to three lakh cusec from the current outflow of 2.5 lakh cusec. The water storage of Koyna dam in Maharashtra's Satara district increased by six thousand million cubic feet (TMC) in a very short period, and it is already 75 per cent filled, he said. It means, we need to discharge water from Koyna dam, which will increase the water levels of Krishna river, he said. Koyna dam is built on the Koyna river and its storage capacity is 105 TMC. The Koyna river is the biggest tributary of the ...
IMD issues heavy rain alert for Mumbai, neighbouring areas
Mumbai: Several districts in Maharashtra are reeling under floods due to incessant rains. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued an orange alert for Mumbai and Thane districts and a red alert for the Palghar district. The IMD stated that heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places were very likely in Mumbai and Thane on Thursday. Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places were very likely in Palghar, said the IMDs latest weather bulletin. Life in the eastern Vidarbha region has been heavily affected as districts like Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Yawatmal, Vardha, Nagpur received heavy rainfall. In Bhandara district, Wainganga River is flowing above the danger mark and the district administration has issued an alert to the people living along the riverside. The Kardha bridge and several other small bridges went under water and closed for vehicular traffic. All 33 gates of the Gosekhurd dam project in Bhandara have been opened, which threatened the villages on the river banks of flooding. Several villages in the district have been cut off by the floods. Life in Gadchiroli has come to a standstill as many villages have been isolated. Major four national highways on Gadchiroli-Chamorshi, Gadchiroli-Nagpur, Ashti-Alapalli, and Alapalli-Bhamragad have been closed. Besides 12 roads in the district have also been closed for vehicular traffic. The district is facing a shortage of essential commodities like milk, vegetables, bread etc as the supply has been cut off. In Chandrapur, all seven gates of the Irai dam have been opened, whereas all 13 gates of Pujaritola dam and seven gates of Sirpur dam have been opened in Gondia district. Gates of Kalisarar dam are also expected to be opened soon, raising the possibility of Bagh river getting flooded. In Western Maharashtra, the Panchganga River is flowing just four meters below the danger mark of 43 feet in Kolhapur district. Traffic on Kolhapur-Ratnagiri, Kolhapur-Gaganbawda Highway has been closed. The highway towards Pune and Bengaluru has also been closed for vehicular traffic. The water level of the Radhanagari dam in the district has gone up to 92 per cent. The water level in Krishna River in Sangli is also rising due to which the district administration is on alert mode. Heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Krishna river have also increased the inflow into the Almatti dam (in north Karnataka). In Pune district, water is being released at the rate of 9,400 cusec from the Khadakwasla dam following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas. The district administration has cautioned people living in the low-lying areas to remain alert. In Raigad district of the Konkan region, the Kundalika River is flowing above the danger mark and the villagers on the banks of the river have been shifted to safer locations.
IMD predicts rain, thunderstorms in Maharashtra; holiday for schools in parts of Vidarbha and Raigad
NDRF teams have been deployed in Vasai (Palghar), Thane, Ghatkopar, Powai (Kurla), Mahad (Raigad), Khed and Chiplun (Ratnagiri), Kudal (Sindhudurg), Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara
Heavy rain cripples Mumbai, IMD issues alert for Tuesday as well
Mumbai: Life in Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, came to a standstill on Monday as heavy rains lashed the city in the last 24 hours leading to widespread waterlogging and disruption of suburban train services. The ongoing monsoon session of the State Legislature was also affected as proceedings of both the Houses were cancelled with several ministers and legislators returning to Mumbai, finding it difficult to reach the Vidhan Bhavan complex due to the downpour. State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Anil Patil and MLA Amol Mitkari had to walk on the railway track near Sion station as their express train got stuck due to waterlogging. The incessant rains also trapped several MLAs travelling to Mumbai by the Mahalakshmi Express, which got stuck near Ambernath station on the Central Railway due to waterlogged tracks. Both Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad proceedings were adjourned due to several MLAs and officials unable to attend the session. When the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha assembled at 11 am, speaker Rahul Narwekar adjourned the proceedings till 1 pm due to lack of quorum. There is no quorum as well. I am adjourning the House till 1 pm, he said. He noted that Mumbai recorded 300 mm of rainfall overnight and that many members of the Vidhan Sabha and ministers had not yet arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan. When the Vidhan Sabha reconvened, Narwekar observed that the legislature staff needed to return home and several MLAs and ministers were still unable to attend the session. He finally officially adjourned the Vidhan Sabha for the day. The Vidhan Parishad was also adjourned by the deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe. Due to heavy rains in various parts of the state as well as in Mumbai, several legislators and state officials could not reach Mumbai to attend the session, she said. Mumbai recorded over 300 mm of rain at various places in six hours from 1 am to 7 am. Incessant rains severely disrupted the suburban railway services, considered as the lifeline of the city which are crucial to daily commuting. Water accumulation at various points on the Central Railway line caused the schedule of local trains to collapse. Over 30 lakh commuters use the suburban local train services in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, Palghar and Raigad every day. Over 50 flights were cancelled and 27 were diverted to the other cities from the Mumbai airports due to the downpour. Several airlines took to X (formerly Twitter) to warn passengers and urged them to check flight status before leaving for the airport. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport said that authorities have been deployed across all terminals to support passengers and provide them with necessary assistance. The airport is also in close contact with local authorities. We request passengers to connect with their respective airlines and check the schedule before arrival at the Airport. The safety and well-being of our passengers, employees, and partners remains our top priority, it said in the statement. Visuals from across the city showed people wading through waist-deep waters and traffic jams on Mumbai roads. Several areas including Andheri, Kurla, Bhandup, Kings Circle, Vile Parle and Dadar, among other locations, reported significant water logging. More than 300 millimeters of rain has been recorded at different places in the six-hour period from midnight yesterday to 7 am today. Heavy rains have caused waterlogging in some low-lying areas and suburban rail services have also been disrupted, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde chaired a cabinet meeting to take stock of the situation and also visited the control room of the BMC. The civic body announced a holiday for government and private schools and colleges under its jurisdiction. Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force were deployed in Thane, Vasai ( Palghar), Mahad (Raigad), Chiplun (Ratnagiri), Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara Ghatkopar, Kurla and Sindhudurg. The NDRF rescued 49 people from a water-logged resort in Thane and 16 villagers in Palghar. They used boats and life jackets to rescue people stranded at the resort due to flooding.
Heavy rains lash Mumbai, NDRF deploys teams to 'avert' flood-like situation
The teams have been deployed in Thane, Vasai ( Palghar), Mahad (Raigad), Chiplun (Ratnagiri), Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara Ghatkopar, Kurla and Sindhudurg
Maharashtra rains: 49 rescued, train traffic affected
MUMBAI: At least 49 people were rescued on Sunday from a waterlogged Thane resort in Maharashtra being lashed by heavy rains. According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), their team with boats and life jackets rescued the people who were stranded at the resort due to flooding in the Shahpur area of Thane district on Sunday. In another rescue operation, 16 villagers were rescued by the NDRF and firefighters in Palghar district of Maharashtra. A group of villagers from Chalispada of Saiwan in Vasai, who were working on their farms, got stranded when the area was flooded after water levels rose in the nearby Tansa Lake. The catchment area that supplies drinking water to Mumbai received very heavy rains on Saturday and Sunday mornings. In another location in Thane district, the NDRF and local firefighters were mobilised in the afternoon, and 16 people were brought to safety. As part of the monsoon preparedness, NDRF teams are deployed in parts of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts, an NDRF official said. There are 13 teams with around 32 personnel each in different parts of the state, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur. After the heavy downpour, local and long-distance train services passing through Thane district have been suspended. The officials said local train services between Kasara and Titwala stations in Maharashtras Thane district adjoining Mumbai were suspended on Sunday morning following heavy rains in Mumbai. According to the officials, soil came on tracks between Atgaon and Thansit stations due to heavy rains and a fallen tree blocked tracks near Vasind station, disrupting rail traffic on the busy Kalyan-Kasara route.
NDRF rescues 49 people stranded in resort amid rains in Thane
MUMBAI: As many as 49 people were rescued from a water-logged resort amid rains in Maharashtra's Thane district on Sunday, an official from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said. A team from the NDRF used boats and life jackets to rescue people stranded at the resort due to flooding in the Shahpur area, the official said. As part of the monsoon preparedness, NDRF teams were deployed in parts of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts, he said. The official said there are 13 teams with 32 to 35 personnel each in different parts of the state, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, etc. Five teams are at the NDRF head office in Pune, he added.
