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Tag: Eknath Shinde

  • Shiv Sena legislative party office at Vidhan Bhavan belongs to us: Shinde faction chief whip

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) took control of the Shiv Sena legislative party office at Vidhan Bhavan. The chief whip Bharat Gogawale with other MLAs had reached Vidhan Bhavan earlier on Monday and gave notice to the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly Rahul Narvekar seeking a handover of the office. 

    Bharat Gogawale had said that the office at Vidhan Bhavan belonged to the Shinde faction after the ECI order. “We have given a notice to the Speaker. We are following the orders of ECI. Since ECI has recognised us as Shiv Sena, so this office belongs to us now,” he said.

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) on February 17 had allotted the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    Both factions of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) have been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde revolted against Thackeray last year.

    Calling the poll panel’s decision a “murder of democracy”, Uddhav Thackeray said he will approach the Supreme Court against ECI’s decision.

    The Uddhav Thackeray faction accused the Election Commission of haste and said the decision shows “it works as BJP agent”.

    The Commission observed in its order that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic and has been “mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all”. It said such party structures fail to inspire confidence.

    Last month, both Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led factions of the Shiv Sena submitted their written statements in support of their claims of control over the party name and symbol to the Election Commission.

    The ECI had frozen the bow and arrow symbol of the Shiv Sena and had allotted the ‘Two Swords and Shield symbol’ to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal) election symbol was allotted to the Uddhav Thackeray faction for the bypoll in Andheri East assembly constituency in November last year.

    Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that the thieves were given the holy “bow and arrow” and that this is their test. “Thieves were given the holy ‘bow and arrow’, similarly the ‘torch’ (mashaal) can be taken away. I challenge them – if they are men, come in front of us even with the stolen ‘bow and arrow’, we will contest the election with the ‘torch’. This is our test, the battle has begun,” Thackeray said.

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) took control of the Shiv Sena legislative party office at Vidhan Bhavan. The chief whip Bharat Gogawale with other MLAs had reached Vidhan Bhavan earlier on Monday and gave notice to the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly Rahul Narvekar seeking a handover of the office. 

    Bharat Gogawale had said that the office at Vidhan Bhavan belonged to the Shinde faction after the ECI order. “We have given a notice to the Speaker. We are following the orders of ECI. Since ECI has recognised us as Shiv Sena, so this office belongs to us now,” he said.

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) on February 17 had allotted the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    Both factions of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) have been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde revolted against Thackeray last year.

    Calling the poll panel’s decision a “murder of democracy”, Uddhav Thackeray said he will approach the Supreme Court against ECI’s decision.

    The Uddhav Thackeray faction accused the Election Commission of haste and said the decision shows “it works as BJP agent”.

    The Commission observed in its order that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party is undemocratic and has been “mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as office bearers without any election at all”. It said such party structures fail to inspire confidence.

    Last month, both Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray-led factions of the Shiv Sena submitted their written statements in support of their claims of control over the party name and symbol to the Election Commission.

    The ECI had frozen the bow and arrow symbol of the Shiv Sena and had allotted the ‘Two Swords and Shield symbol’ to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena and the ‘flaming torch’ (mashaal) election symbol was allotted to the Uddhav Thackeray faction for the bypoll in Andheri East assembly constituency in November last year.

    Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that the thieves were given the holy “bow and arrow” and that this is their test. “Thieves were given the holy ‘bow and arrow’, similarly the ‘torch’ (mashaal) can be taken away. I challenge them – if they are men, come in front of us even with the stolen ‘bow and arrow’, we will contest the election with the ‘torch’. This is our test, the battle has begun,” Thackeray said.

  • Shinde hails Election Commission order ‘victory of democracy’

    Express News Service

    Shortly after the Election Commission on Friday recognized the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered the allocation of the “bow and arrow” poll symbol to it, Chief Minster Shinde described the Commission’s order as “victory of the majority, of democracy, of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe’s Hindutva ideology.”

    “Finally truth has prevailed,” a visibly elated Shinde said.

    Shinde thanked the 40 MLAs, 13 Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena, and party workers who backed him in this big fight.

    “The trust and faith of the people proved to be on our side,” he claimed.

    Shinde’s supporters celebrated the verdict by bursting crackers at Varsha bungalow. 

    Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Shinde and said that the ECI recognized Shinde factions as real Shiv Sena because they had an absolute majority on their side. He said this was going to happen because Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde followed the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray in the true sense.

    Sanjay Raut, leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said that the ECI order is the murder of democracy. “The Ravana has given Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena and its symbol. We will go against the ECI decisions in court,” Raut said.

    Shortly after the Election Commission on Friday recognized the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered the allocation of the “bow and arrow” poll symbol to it, Chief Minster Shinde described the Commission’s order as “victory of the majority, of democracy, of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe’s Hindutva ideology.”

    “Finally truth has prevailed,” a visibly elated Shinde said.

    Shinde thanked the 40 MLAs, 13 Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena, and party workers who backed him in this big fight.

    “The trust and faith of the people proved to be on our side,” he claimed.

    Shinde’s supporters celebrated the verdict by bursting crackers at Varsha bungalow. 

    Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Shinde and said that the ECI recognized Shinde factions as real Shiv Sena because they had an absolute majority on their side. He said this was going to happen because Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde followed the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray in the true sense.

    Sanjay Raut, leader of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said that the ECI order is the murder of democracy. “The Ravana has given Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena and its symbol. We will go against the ECI decisions in court,” Raut said.

  • Eknath Shinde faction real Shiv Sena, says Election Commission

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday recognised the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered allocation of the “bow and arrow” poll symbol to it.

    In a 78-page order on the protracted battle for control of the organisation, the Commission allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the “flaming torch” poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly bypolls in the state.

    The Commission said MLAs backing Eknath Shinde got nearly 76 per cent of votes polled in favour of the 55 winning Shiv Sena candidates in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls.

    The Uddhav Thackeray faction’s MLAs got 23.5 per cent of votes polled in favour of the winning Shiv Sena candidates, the three-member Commission said in a unanimous order.

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday recognised the Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered allocation of the “bow and arrow” poll symbol to it.

    In a 78-page order on the protracted battle for control of the organisation, the Commission allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to keep the “flaming torch” poll symbol allocated to it till the completion of the assembly bypolls in the state.

    The Commission said MLAs backing Eknath Shinde got nearly 76 per cent of votes polled in favour of the 55 winning Shiv Sena candidates in the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls.

    The Uddhav Thackeray faction’s MLAs got 23.5 per cent of votes polled in favour of the winning Shiv Sena candidates, the three-member Commission said in a unanimous order.

  • Maharashtra govt announces new incentive for paddy farmers

    Express News Service

    The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday had offered Rs 15,000 per hectare as an incentive to paddy farmers.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the state government has earmarked Rs 1000 crore to help the farmers. He also said that this decision will benefit five lakh farmers in the state.

    Earlier the Maharashtra government offered Rs 700 per quintal as an incentive for paddy growers, but this scheme was misused.

    “It was found out that to avail the benefit of this incentive scheme, the neighbouring states also started bringing their paddy to sell in Maharashtra. In this scheme, the farmers were allowed to sell upto 50 quintals of paddy. But in most places, farmers availed the benefits for more than 50 quintals. Some of the farmers were deprived of the benefits whereas others misused the scheme,” said a senior government official on the grounds of anonymity.

    He further added, “There were several complaints received against this scheme. Therefore, it was decided that rather than offering the incentive per quintal, the government decided to offer it per hectare. So, only the actual farmers from Maharashtra will be able to avail of the scheme.”

    Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that he had demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare as an incentive for these farmers, but the state government offered only Rs 15,000.

    “Most of the farmers are going after the cash crops and that depleted paddy and food gain growing fields in Maharashtra. If this trend continues, then the state or the country, to a larger extent will face a shortage of foodgrains therefore the state government has to offer as much incentive to attract the farmers who grow paddy or foodgrain crops,” Patole said.

    The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday had offered Rs 15,000 per hectare as an incentive to paddy farmers.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the state government has earmarked Rs 1000 crore to help the farmers. He also said that this decision will benefit five lakh farmers in the state.

    Earlier the Maharashtra government offered Rs 700 per quintal as an incentive for paddy growers, but this scheme was misused.

    “It was found out that to avail the benefit of this incentive scheme, the neighbouring states also started bringing their paddy to sell in Maharashtra. In this scheme, the farmers were allowed to sell upto 50 quintals of paddy. But in most places, farmers availed the benefits for more than 50 quintals. Some of the farmers were deprived of the benefits whereas others misused the scheme,” said a senior government official on the grounds of anonymity.

    He further added, “There were several complaints received against this scheme. Therefore, it was decided that rather than offering the incentive per quintal, the government decided to offer it per hectare. So, only the actual farmers from Maharashtra will be able to avail of the scheme.”

    Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that he had demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare as an incentive for these farmers, but the state government offered only Rs 15,000.

    “Most of the farmers are going after the cash crops and that depleted paddy and food gain growing fields in Maharashtra. If this trend continues, then the state or the country, to a larger extent will face a shortage of foodgrains therefore the state government has to offer as much incentive to attract the farmers who grow paddy or foodgrain crops,” Patole said.

  • Amid Maharashtra CM’s appeal for unopposed contest, NCP announces candidate for Assembly bypoll in Pune

    By PTI

    PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said Nana Kate will be its candidate for the upcoming bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat in Pune district.

    The announcement comes days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he had requested NCP president Sharad Pawar and leaders of the Congress (both constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi along with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) to honour the political tradition in the state to ensure unopposed bypolls to seats falling vacant due to the death of sitting lawmakers.

    The byelections to Pune’s Chinchwad and Kasba Peth constituencies, scheduled for February 26, have been necessitated due to the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak.

    Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil in a tweet on Tuesday said, “NCP’s Nana Kate will be the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate for the Chinchwad constituency bypoll. We are confident that we will definitely win this election by working together with all constituents of the MVA.”

    On Monday, BJP’s Ashwini Jagtap, the wife of late MLA Laxman Jagtap, filed her nomination for the bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat, which represents the Pimpri Chinchwad township in Pune district.

    Besides, BJP’s Hemant Rasne and Congress leader Ravindra Dhangekar have filed their nomination papers for the byelection to Kasba Peth Assembly seat.

    Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday said if the Congress assures that the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll will be unopposed in the event of BJP nominating a member of late MLA Mukta Tilak’s family, then the saffron party will make its official candidate withdraw from the fray.

    Eyebrows were raised over BJP giving a ticket to local leader Rasne, even as Mukta Tilak’s husband said his family members would have completed her work if given a ticket.

    Tuesday is the last day for filing the nominations. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 10. Votes will be counted on March 2.

    PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said Nana Kate will be its candidate for the upcoming bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat in Pune district.

    The announcement comes days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he had requested NCP president Sharad Pawar and leaders of the Congress (both constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi along with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) to honour the political tradition in the state to ensure unopposed bypolls to seats falling vacant due to the death of sitting lawmakers.

    The byelections to Pune’s Chinchwad and Kasba Peth constituencies, scheduled for February 26, have been necessitated due to the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak.

    Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil in a tweet on Tuesday said, “NCP’s Nana Kate will be the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate for the Chinchwad constituency bypoll. We are confident that we will definitely win this election by working together with all constituents of the MVA.”

    On Monday, BJP’s Ashwini Jagtap, the wife of late MLA Laxman Jagtap, filed her nomination for the bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat, which represents the Pimpri Chinchwad township in Pune district.

    Besides, BJP’s Hemant Rasne and Congress leader Ravindra Dhangekar have filed their nomination papers for the byelection to Kasba Peth Assembly seat.

    Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday said if the Congress assures that the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll will be unopposed in the event of BJP nominating a member of late MLA Mukta Tilak’s family, then the saffron party will make its official candidate withdraw from the fray.

    Eyebrows were raised over BJP giving a ticket to local leader Rasne, even as Mukta Tilak’s husband said his family members would have completed her work if given a ticket.

    Tuesday is the last day for filing the nominations. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 10. Votes will be counted on March 2.

  • Maha CM Shinde requests Sharad Pawar not to contest Chinchwad, Kasba Peth bypolls

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde dialled NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders requesting them not to field candidates in the state bypolls in Chinchwad and Kasaba Peth.

    Chinchwad and Kasba Peth assembly bypolls were necessitated after the demise of incumbent BJP MLA Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak respectively. The BJP has announced its candidate for both seats. Ashwini Jagtap, widow of Laxman Jagtap, will contest from Chinchwad, while Hemant Rasane will contest from Kasaba Peth.

    Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said that it is the culture of Maharashtra not to field candidates if byelections are necessitated after the demise of a sitting MLA.

    “We always support the deceased family members to get elected. We expect the same in both constituencies. Therefore, I called NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders urging them to respect state culture and pave the way for BMC candidates,” Shinde said.

    Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, has so far not declared its candidates for the byelections.

    However, Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader, said that while it is true that the ruling party has requested their support, it was already decided in an MVA meeting to contest both byelections. He also said the ruling party should not teach them about morality.

    “In Andheri East elections, how the BJP and the ruling party (Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde) troubled deceased Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke’s widow Rutuja Latke. The BJP tried to block her candidature by all means but they failed. They were forced to withdraw their candidate at the eleventh hours after seeing their defeat,” Raut said.

    In the MVA meeting, it was also decided that the Kasaba Peth seat will be contested by the Congress while NCP will contest the Chinchwad seat.

    Sources said that Ravindra Dhangekar would be announced as the candidate from Congress for the Kasaba Peth seat. “The Brahmins of Kasba Peth are not happy with the BJP for announcing Hemant Rasane’s candidature. We were expecting someone either from the Mukta Tilak family or any Brahmin face but the BJP announced a non-Brahmin person (Hemant Rasane),” a senior BJP leader from Pune said.

    Kasaba Peth is the Brahamin voters’ traditional constituency of the BJP, the leader said. “Earlier, Girish Bapat and then Mukta Tilak was elected. The BJP is not giving justice to our community. We are taken for granted. Earlier, Medha Kulkarni was denied a ticket to accommodate Chandrakant Patil in Kothrud, now Rasane in place of Ms Tilak. This is not a good sign, the party may face the community’s wrath in the byelections,” he added.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde dialled NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders requesting them not to field candidates in the state bypolls in Chinchwad and Kasaba Peth.

    Chinchwad and Kasba Peth assembly bypolls were necessitated after the demise of incumbent BJP MLA Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak respectively. The BJP has announced its candidate for both seats. Ashwini Jagtap, widow of Laxman Jagtap, will contest from Chinchwad, while Hemant Rasane will contest from Kasaba Peth.

    Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said that it is the culture of Maharashtra not to field candidates if byelections are necessitated after the demise of a sitting MLA.

    “We always support the deceased family members to get elected. We expect the same in both constituencies. Therefore, I called NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders urging them to respect state culture and pave the way for BMC candidates,” Shinde said.

    Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), an alliance of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, has so far not declared its candidates for the byelections.

    However, Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader, said that while it is true that the ruling party has requested their support, it was already decided in an MVA meeting to contest both byelections. He also said the ruling party should not teach them about morality.

    “In Andheri East elections, how the BJP and the ruling party (Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde) troubled deceased Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke’s widow Rutuja Latke. The BJP tried to block her candidature by all means but they failed. They were forced to withdraw their candidate at the eleventh hours after seeing their defeat,” Raut said.

    In the MVA meeting, it was also decided that the Kasaba Peth seat will be contested by the Congress while NCP will contest the Chinchwad seat.

    Sources said that Ravindra Dhangekar would be announced as the candidate from Congress for the Kasaba Peth seat. “The Brahmins of Kasba Peth are not happy with the BJP for announcing Hemant Rasane’s candidature. We were expecting someone either from the Mukta Tilak family or any Brahmin face but the BJP announced a non-Brahmin person (Hemant Rasane),” a senior BJP leader from Pune said.

    Kasaba Peth is the Brahamin voters’ traditional constituency of the BJP, the leader said. “Earlier, Girish Bapat and then Mukta Tilak was elected. The BJP is not giving justice to our community. We are taken for granted. Earlier, Medha Kulkarni was denied a ticket to accommodate Chandrakant Patil in Kothrud, now Rasane in place of Ms Tilak. This is not a good sign, the party may face the community’s wrath in the byelections,” he added.

  • Davos 2023: Maharashtra govt inks investment proposals worth Rs 88,500 cr

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has signed MoUs worth  Rs 88,500 crore for various projects with the potential to generate over 55,000 jobs in the state. 

    The MoUs pertain to greenfield projects like data centres, pharmaceuticals, logistics, chemicals, automobiles, electric vehicles, renewable energy and ESDM.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, industrial Minister Uday Samat and a team of state government officials are at the World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos to seek investment opportunities for the state. Dignitaries from across the world have visited the Maharashtra government’s pavilion at the summit to inquire about a potential investment in the state.

    According to the Maharashtra government, US-based New Era Technical Solutions firm will invest Rs 20,000 to set up a coal gasification project at Bhadravati in Chandrapur district and will be provided 1000 acres of land by the state government.

    The UK-based Varad Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd will invest Rs 1,520 crore to develop the steel plant on 100 acres of land at Konsari in the Gadchiroli district.

    The Japan-based Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NITT) has inked an MoU worth Rs 20,414 crore to develop data centres in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur. The project is expected to generate over 1,500 jobs. Besides, GoGoRO Engineering has also signed an MoU worth Rs 20,000 to set up an automobile company at multiple locations in Maharashtra. This investment will generate 30,000 jobs for the youth of the state.

    Mahindra Electric Vehicle Automobile Ltd has also inked an MoU with the plan to invest Rs 10,000 crore for setting up an electrical vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub at Chakan in the Pune district and aims to generate 3,000 jobs.

    Meanwhile, UK-based Rcube-Ark Data centre Ltd will also develop a data centre at Pimpri Chinchwad with a total investment of Rs 12,000 crore and is expected to generate 1200 jobs. Portugal-based Elite Plast AutoSystems Pvt Ltd has signed an MoU worth Rs 400 core to develop a plastic automotive mould in Pune that will generate 2000 jobs.

    These MoU were signed in presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in Davos. Shinde said several international firms are eager to ink MoUs as “there is a conducive atmosphere for the investment and setting up of the industry in Maharashtra.”

    “On the first day of the Summit, we signed over Rs 88,500 crore MoU. Now, the major challenge is to pursue these MoU and bring in reality so that as many as youths will get the jobs,” Shinde added.

    Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said signing the MoU and bringing them, in reality, are two different things. “In the past, we have seen, many firms do sign the MoUs, but the percentage of bringing them, in reality, is tough. In our government, we too signed several MoUs. We hope that this government also focuses on retaining the existing businesses,” Pawar said.

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has signed MoUs worth  Rs 88,500 crore for various projects with the potential to generate over 55,000 jobs in the state. 

    The MoUs pertain to greenfield projects like data centres, pharmaceuticals, logistics, chemicals, automobiles, electric vehicles, renewable energy and ESDM.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, industrial Minister Uday Samat and a team of state government officials are at the World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos to seek investment opportunities for the state. Dignitaries from across the world have visited the Maharashtra government’s pavilion at the summit to inquire about a potential investment in the state.

    According to the Maharashtra government, US-based New Era Technical Solutions firm will invest Rs 20,000 to set up a coal gasification project at Bhadravati in Chandrapur district and will be provided 1000 acres of land by the state government.

    The UK-based Varad Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd will invest Rs 1,520 crore to develop the steel plant on 100 acres of land at Konsari in the Gadchiroli district.

    The Japan-based Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NITT) has inked an MoU worth Rs 20,414 crore to develop data centres in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur. The project is expected to generate over 1,500 jobs. Besides, GoGoRO Engineering has also signed an MoU worth Rs 20,000 to set up an automobile company at multiple locations in Maharashtra. This investment will generate 30,000 jobs for the youth of the state.

    Mahindra Electric Vehicle Automobile Ltd has also inked an MoU with the plan to invest Rs 10,000 crore for setting up an electrical vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub at Chakan in the Pune district and aims to generate 3,000 jobs.

    Meanwhile, UK-based Rcube-Ark Data centre Ltd will also develop a data centre at Pimpri Chinchwad with a total investment of Rs 12,000 crore and is expected to generate 1200 jobs. Portugal-based Elite Plast AutoSystems Pvt Ltd has signed an MoU worth Rs 400 core to develop a plastic automotive mould in Pune that will generate 2000 jobs.

    These MoU were signed in presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in Davos. Shinde said several international firms are eager to ink MoUs as “there is a conducive atmosphere for the investment and setting up of the industry in Maharashtra.”

    “On the first day of the Summit, we signed over Rs 88,500 crore MoU. Now, the major challenge is to pursue these MoU and bring in reality so that as many as youths will get the jobs,” Shinde added.

    Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said signing the MoU and bringing them, in reality, are two different things. “In the past, we have seen, many firms do sign the MoUs, but the percentage of bringing them, in reality, is tough. In our government, we too signed several MoUs. We hope that this government also focuses on retaining the existing businesses,” Pawar said.

  • NCP asks Twitter CEO Elon Musk to help resolve Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: In what could be seen as an amusing turn of events, NCP state president Jayant Patil on Monday requested Twitter CEO Elon Musk to help resolve the ongoing border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka by clarifying whether Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai had tweeted controversial tweets about the border issue from his Twitter account or not.

    Elon Musk on Monday launched a poll on the micro-blogging website asking whether he should stay or down as Twitter’s CEO and added that he would abide by the poll’s results.

    Patil tagged Musk’s tweet and asked the latter to resolve the issue over if Bommai had allegedly tweeted anything that could escalate further tensions at the border.  “But before you step down as Twitter head, you must give the result of who really tweeted from Karnataka CM Basvaraj Bommai’s social media account,” Patil asked Elon Musk.

    The opposition alleged that Bommai had posted a series of tweets over the Maharashtra and Karnataka border leading to a tumultuous situation at the border. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had also complained to Union Home Minister Amit Shah against Karnataka CM, but Shah denied the accusations.

    Bommai in a recent meeting with Amit Shah and Eknath Shinde denied that he had not tweeted anything that can flare up the border dispute. Bommai claimed someone had hacked his social media account and published the tweets in question. Following the meeting, the Home Minister said the authenticity of the tweets will be verified and action will be taken against those involved.

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra state assembly witnessed an uproar over the border dispute. Opposition parties alleged that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had failed to protect the interest of the Maharashtra people.

    Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said that elected representatives like MLAs and MPs have been barred from entering Karnataka. Pawar said the Karnataka CM issued an order to arrest the Maharashtra leaders who entered Karnataka, despite the latter agreeing to cooperate over the border tussle following a recent meeting with Amit Shah.

    MUMBAI: In what could be seen as an amusing turn of events, NCP state president Jayant Patil on Monday requested Twitter CEO Elon Musk to help resolve the ongoing border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka by clarifying whether Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai had tweeted controversial tweets about the border issue from his Twitter account or not.

    Elon Musk on Monday launched a poll on the micro-blogging website asking whether he should stay or down as Twitter’s CEO and added that he would abide by the poll’s results.

    Patil tagged Musk’s tweet and asked the latter to resolve the issue over if Bommai had allegedly tweeted anything that could escalate further tensions at the border.  “But before you step down as Twitter head, you must give the result of who really tweeted from Karnataka CM Basvaraj Bommai’s social media account,” Patil asked Elon Musk.

    The opposition alleged that Bommai had posted a series of tweets over the Maharashtra and Karnataka border leading to a tumultuous situation at the border. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had also complained to Union Home Minister Amit Shah against Karnataka CM, but Shah denied the accusations.

    Bommai in a recent meeting with Amit Shah and Eknath Shinde denied that he had not tweeted anything that can flare up the border dispute. Bommai claimed someone had hacked his social media account and published the tweets in question. Following the meeting, the Home Minister said the authenticity of the tweets will be verified and action will be taken against those involved.

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra state assembly witnessed an uproar over the border dispute. Opposition parties alleged that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had failed to protect the interest of the Maharashtra people.

    Maharashtra’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said that elected representatives like MLAs and MPs have been barred from entering Karnataka. Pawar said the Karnataka CM issued an order to arrest the Maharashtra leaders who entered Karnataka, despite the latter agreeing to cooperate over the border tussle following a recent meeting with Amit Shah.

  • Mumbai: MVA allies take out ‘Halla Bol’ protest march against Maha govt

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) ‘Halla Bol’ protest march against the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over various issues began here on Saturday.

    The foot march, which began from a company near J J Hospital at Byculla around noon, will conclude at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai.

    The protest has been organised to target the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state on issues including the “insult” of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and others through their remarks; the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute and projects from the state being shifted elsewhere.

    The MVA protest is being seen as an attempt to rally the allies after the Uddhav Thackeray-led alliance government was toppled in June this year.

    Leaders and workers of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress had started gathering near the J J Hospital since morning.

    When the march started around noon, they were seen carrying banners, placards and images of Shivaji Maharaj and the Phules.

    Talking to reporters before the march, senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has insulted Maharashtra by staking claim to some parts of the state, even as the Shinde government has chosen not to react.

    To counter the MVA’s march, the BJP is also holding “Maafi Mango” protests in all the six parliamentary constituencies of Mumbai, accusing Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut of creating a controversy over the birthplace of Dr B R Ambedkar, and party leader Sushma Andhare of insulting Hindu deities and saints.

    The BJP has demanded an apology from the MVA leaders, especially Uddhav Thackeray.

    State Congress president Nana Patole said, “People’s anger against the government will be expressed through the protest march, which is why BJP is indulging in gimmicks to divert the attention.”

    The Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena is locked in a legal battle to claim the bow and arrow election symbol of the party.

    MUMBAI: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) ‘Halla Bol’ protest march against the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over various issues began here on Saturday.

    The foot march, which began from a company near J J Hospital at Byculla around noon, will conclude at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai.

    The protest has been organised to target the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state on issues including the “insult” of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and others through their remarks; the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute and projects from the state being shifted elsewhere.

    The MVA protest is being seen as an attempt to rally the allies after the Uddhav Thackeray-led alliance government was toppled in June this year.

    Leaders and workers of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress had started gathering near the J J Hospital since morning.

    When the march started around noon, they were seen carrying banners, placards and images of Shivaji Maharaj and the Phules.

    Talking to reporters before the march, senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare said Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has insulted Maharashtra by staking claim to some parts of the state, even as the Shinde government has chosen not to react.

    To counter the MVA’s march, the BJP is also holding “Maafi Mango” protests in all the six parliamentary constituencies of Mumbai, accusing Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut of creating a controversy over the birthplace of Dr B R Ambedkar, and party leader Sushma Andhare of insulting Hindu deities and saints.

    The BJP has demanded an apology from the MVA leaders, especially Uddhav Thackeray.

    State Congress president Nana Patole said, “People’s anger against the government will be expressed through the protest march, which is why BJP is indulging in gimmicks to divert the attention.”

    The Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena is locked in a legal battle to claim the bow and arrow election symbol of the party.

  • Border row: Meeting in Delhi achieved nothing, favoured Karnataka, claims Uddhav

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said that nothing came out of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka over the border dispute.

    Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with his Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and NCP, he also said it was difficult to believe that some tweets from the verified handle of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the issue were not actually posted by him.

    “What was achieved by yesterday’s meeting of Union home minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka? It was rubbing of salt into our wounds. As always, the deliberations favoured Karnataka,” Thackeray said.

    The former chief minister demanded to know why Karnataka holds legislature sessions in Belagavi (the north Karnataka city which is the main bone of contention between the two states) and accorded it the status of second capital when the border dispute was before the Supreme Court.

    ”Belagavi, Karwar, Nipani and other surrounding areas (of northern Karnataka) want to join Maharashtra. Why are there no answers to this demand,” he asked.

    He also sought to know why the Karnataka chief minister waited till Wednesday’s meeting in Delhi to clarify that some ‘fake’ Twitter handles were posting tweets in his name that fuelled tensions.

    “What action has been taken till now? Is it believable?” he asked.

    The MVA meeting was attended by NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan.

    On a protest march organised by the MVA on Saturday in Mumbai, Thackeray said “all those who love Maharashtra should join it.”

    READ HERE | Karnataka, Maharashtra arm-wrestle over border areas

    Issues such as the border dispute with Karnataka, `insult’ of Maharashtrian icons and industrial projects going to other states would be highlighted during the march which will start from J J Flyover and end at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, Pawar and Thackeray said.

    Union minister Shah met the chief ministers of the two states on Wednesday after violence flared up in the border region where Maharashtra has staked claim on 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka besides Belagavi.

    Of late, Karnataka too has staked claims to south Solapur and Akkalkote regions of Maharashtra, that have a sizeable Kannada speaking population.

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said that nothing came out of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka over the border dispute.

    Speaking at a press conference after a meeting with his Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and NCP, he also said it was difficult to believe that some tweets from the verified handle of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the issue were not actually posted by him.

    “What was achieved by yesterday’s meeting of Union home minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka? It was rubbing of salt into our wounds. As always, the deliberations favoured Karnataka,” Thackeray said.

    The former chief minister demanded to know why Karnataka holds legislature sessions in Belagavi (the north Karnataka city which is the main bone of contention between the two states) and accorded it the status of second capital when the border dispute was before the Supreme Court.

    ”Belagavi, Karwar, Nipani and other surrounding areas (of northern Karnataka) want to join Maharashtra. Why are there no answers to this demand,” he asked.

    He also sought to know why the Karnataka chief minister waited till Wednesday’s meeting in Delhi to clarify that some ‘fake’ Twitter handles were posting tweets in his name that fuelled tensions.

    “What action has been taken till now? Is it believable?” he asked.

    The MVA meeting was attended by NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan.

    On a protest march organised by the MVA on Saturday in Mumbai, Thackeray said “all those who love Maharashtra should join it.”

    READ HERE | Karnataka, Maharashtra arm-wrestle over border areas

    Issues such as the border dispute with Karnataka, `insult’ of Maharashtrian icons and industrial projects going to other states would be highlighted during the march which will start from J J Flyover and end at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai, Pawar and Thackeray said.

    Union minister Shah met the chief ministers of the two states on Wednesday after violence flared up in the border region where Maharashtra has staked claim on 865 Marathi-speaking villages in Karnataka besides Belagavi.

    Of late, Karnataka too has staked claims to south Solapur and Akkalkote regions of Maharashtra, that have a sizeable Kannada speaking population.