News Analysis India

Tag: NCP

  • 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: NCP slams Maha govt, Centre for ‘eerie silence’ amid Karnataka CM’s remarks 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party on Saturday questioned the “eerie silence” of the Maharashtra government, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Centre on the “uncalled for” statements made by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the border dispute between the two states, which it claimed brought the differences to the fore again.

    Bommai had recently sought a merger of “Kannada-speaking” areas in Maharashtra’s Akkalkot and Solapur and had also said some villages in Jat taluka in Sangli district wanted to join the southern state.

    A day earlier, he said the visit of Maharashtra ministers Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai to Belgaum was not good in the given situation.

    Maharashtra and Karnataka have been involved in a long-standing border dispute, with the former seeking administrative control of Marathi-speaking Belgaum and some other villages of the neighbouring state.

    “‘Why is an eerie silence being maintained by the Central government, BJP and CM of Maharashtra on the uncalled for statements made and issues raised on the border row by Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai,” NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto asked in a statement.

    “Firstly, he (Bommai) made statements on the sub-judice border issue, which led to disturbance of peace in both the states. Now, he says ministers from Maharashtra should not come to Belagavi as the situation is not conducive, given the differences over the border,” Crasto added.

    ALSO READ | Border dispute: Karnataka ready for Maharashtra fight in SC, says CM Bommai

    He said it was Bommai’s statements that started giving rise to differences on the ground again, adding Maharashtra ministers Patil and Desai were going to Belgaum to liaise with the legal team and other stakeholders of the dispute.

    “Talking will always help in getting a solution to the border issue, so why is Karnataka CM not permitting dialogue? Bommai should not be allowed to dictate terms. Therefore, it is important for the Centre to intervene and stop him in his tracks and make sure peace is maintained in both the states,” Crasto added.

    Ministers Patil and Desai were appointed by the Eknath Shinde government recently to coordinate with the state’s legal team on the border issue.

    They were likely to meet leaders of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), which has been spearheading the movement to merge Belagavi with Maharashtra for decades.

    Speaking to reporters in Belgaum on Friday, Bommai said, “Already our chief secretary has written to the chief secretary of Maharashtra through fax. In the given situation it is not good for them (Patil and Desai) to visit here and hence, they should not come here.”

    MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party on Saturday questioned the “eerie silence” of the Maharashtra government, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Centre on the “uncalled for” statements made by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the border dispute between the two states, which it claimed brought the differences to the fore again.

    Bommai had recently sought a merger of “Kannada-speaking” areas in Maharashtra’s Akkalkot and Solapur and had also said some villages in Jat taluka in Sangli district wanted to join the southern state.

    A day earlier, he said the visit of Maharashtra ministers Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai to Belgaum was not good in the given situation.

    Maharashtra and Karnataka have been involved in a long-standing border dispute, with the former seeking administrative control of Marathi-speaking Belgaum and some other villages of the neighbouring state.

    “‘Why is an eerie silence being maintained by the Central government, BJP and CM of Maharashtra on the uncalled for statements made and issues raised on the border row by Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai,” NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto asked in a statement.

    “Firstly, he (Bommai) made statements on the sub-judice border issue, which led to disturbance of peace in both the states. Now, he says ministers from Maharashtra should not come to Belagavi as the situation is not conducive, given the differences over the border,” Crasto added.

    ALSO READ | Border dispute: Karnataka ready for Maharashtra fight in SC, says CM Bommai

    He said it was Bommai’s statements that started giving rise to differences on the ground again, adding Maharashtra ministers Patil and Desai were going to Belgaum to liaise with the legal team and other stakeholders of the dispute.

    “Talking will always help in getting a solution to the border issue, so why is Karnataka CM not permitting dialogue? Bommai should not be allowed to dictate terms. Therefore, it is important for the Centre to intervene and stop him in his tracks and make sure peace is maintained in both the states,” Crasto added.

    Ministers Patil and Desai were appointed by the Eknath Shinde government recently to coordinate with the state’s legal team on the border issue.

    They were likely to meet leaders of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), which has been spearheading the movement to merge Belagavi with Maharashtra for decades.

    Speaking to reporters in Belgaum on Friday, Bommai said, “Already our chief secretary has written to the chief secretary of Maharashtra through fax. In the given situation it is not good for them (Patil and Desai) to visit here and hence, they should not come here.”

  • Bail denied to NCP leader Nawab Malik

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court refused bail to former Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik in an alleged money laundering case linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

    Pronouncing the order, the special judge said the two conditions laid down under section 45 of the PMLA were not satisfied. Section 45 says that a court can grant bail in PMLA cases if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accused is not prima facie guilty of the offence, and he or she shall not commit any offense if released.

    The court also relied on the statements of witnesses and said there was continued possession of the tainted property. The court had reserved his order on the bail plea on November 14 after hearing lengthy arguments.

    MUMBAI: A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court refused bail to former Maharashtra minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik in an alleged money laundering case linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

    Pronouncing the order, the special judge said the two conditions laid down under section 45 of the PMLA were not satisfied. Section 45 says that a court can grant bail in PMLA cases if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accused is not prima facie guilty of the offence, and he or she shall not commit any offense if released.

    The court also relied on the statements of witnesses and said there was continued possession of the tainted property. The court had reserved his order on the bail plea on November 14 after hearing lengthy arguments.

  • NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad gets anticipatory bail in molestation case

    By PTI

    THANE: A court here on Tuesday granted pre-arrest bail to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA and former Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad in a molestation case registered against him.

    Sessions court judge PM Gupta granted the anticipatory bail on a bond of Rs 15,000 with certain conditions, the lawyer representing Awhad told reporters.

    The prosecution opposed the plea saying it is a sensitive case.

    Awhad’s lawyer said the charge against his client was politically motivated.

    The Mumbra police registered a case after midnight on Monday against Awhad under Indian Penal Code section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) on the complaint of a woman.

    The complainant alleged the Mumbra-Kalwa MLA pushed her while making way for himself during the dispersal of the crowd after an event of chief minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbra on Sunday evening, as per the First Information Report (FIR).

    Awhad on Monday denied the charge and announced he would resign in view of “fake” cases being registered against him.

    THANE: A court here on Tuesday granted pre-arrest bail to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA and former Maharashtra minister Jitendra Awhad in a molestation case registered against him.

    Sessions court judge PM Gupta granted the anticipatory bail on a bond of Rs 15,000 with certain conditions, the lawyer representing Awhad told reporters.

    The prosecution opposed the plea saying it is a sensitive case.

    Awhad’s lawyer said the charge against his client was politically motivated.

    The Mumbra police registered a case after midnight on Monday against Awhad under Indian Penal Code section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) on the complaint of a woman.

    The complainant alleged the Mumbra-Kalwa MLA pushed her while making way for himself during the dispersal of the crowd after an event of chief minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbra on Sunday evening, as per the First Information Report (FIR).

    Awhad on Monday denied the charge and announced he would resign in view of “fake” cases being registered against him.

  • Maharashtra govt not taking concrete steps to help rain-hit farmers, says Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has failed to take concrete measures to help cultivators who have incurred heavy losses due to rains in parts of the state.

    The former Union agriculture minister interacted with farmers in his home district of Pune to understand their grievances and losses faced by them due to heavy rainfall.

    Talking to farmers in Purandar tehsil, Pawar rued the state government was not ready to take concrete measures for cultivators who incurred heavy losses due to downpour.

    Pune has received unusually high amount of rains in October. During the interaction, the NCP leader empathized with farmers and told them he understood their pains and problems, and assured to make efforts to get relief.

    “Farmers have incurred losses because of heavy rains. The government should take some concrete steps to steer them out of this situation. However, the present government is not ready to take these kinds of measures. The Centre has also been apprised of the situation on ground, but no concrete decision has been taken,” Pawar said.

    He further said the state government recently announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank, but sought to know how many agriculturists have availed of credit from the lender.

    The state government has announced a loan waiver of Rs 964 crore from Bhuvikas Bank among other measures taken for development of the agriculture sector.

    “Two to three days ago, the state government announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank.

    Tell me in the last 10 years, has anyone here (referring to farmers present at interaction) taken a loan from Bhuvikas Bank? Do you even know whether Bhuvikas Bank exists?” Pawar said.

    “The bank used to be there, but its loans had been defaulted for the last 25 to 30 years. Nobody goes for recovery of loans. So, after realising that loans cannot be recovered, they have waived them,” he said.

    The NCP chief further said if help needs to be given to farmers who are in crisis, the rules must be kept aside and people in power should prioritise cultivators who have lost their crops due to heavy showers.

    “While the groundwater levels have increased because of heavy rainfall and it will remain so for another two years, the state government should pay for the current losses. We will take efforts for the same and if needed, we will agitate,” Pawar said.

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Monday said the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra has failed to take concrete measures to help cultivators who have incurred heavy losses due to rains in parts of the state.

    The former Union agriculture minister interacted with farmers in his home district of Pune to understand their grievances and losses faced by them due to heavy rainfall.

    Talking to farmers in Purandar tehsil, Pawar rued the state government was not ready to take concrete measures for cultivators who incurred heavy losses due to downpour.

    Pune has received unusually high amount of rains in October. During the interaction, the NCP leader empathized with farmers and told them he understood their pains and problems, and assured to make efforts to get relief.

    “Farmers have incurred losses because of heavy rains. The government should take some concrete steps to steer them out of this situation. However, the present government is not ready to take these kinds of measures. The Centre has also been apprised of the situation on ground, but no concrete decision has been taken,” Pawar said.

    He further said the state government recently announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank, but sought to know how many agriculturists have availed of credit from the lender.

    The state government has announced a loan waiver of Rs 964 crore from Bhuvikas Bank among other measures taken for development of the agriculture sector.

    “Two to three days ago, the state government announced a complete waiver for farmers who have taken loans from Bhuvikas Bank.

    Tell me in the last 10 years, has anyone here (referring to farmers present at interaction) taken a loan from Bhuvikas Bank? Do you even know whether Bhuvikas Bank exists?” Pawar said.

    “The bank used to be there, but its loans had been defaulted for the last 25 to 30 years. Nobody goes for recovery of loans. So, after realising that loans cannot be recovered, they have waived them,” he said.

    The NCP chief further said if help needs to be given to farmers who are in crisis, the rules must be kept aside and people in power should prioritise cultivators who have lost their crops due to heavy showers.

    “While the groundwater levels have increased because of heavy rainfall and it will remain so for another two years, the state government should pay for the current losses. We will take efforts for the same and if needed, we will agitate,” Pawar said.

  • Special court likely to pass order on ex-Maha minister Anil Deshmukh’s bail plea in corruption case

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A special court here is likely to pass an order on Friday on the bail application of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in alleged corruption and misuse of official position case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

    Deshmukh (71) had sought bail in the case as soon as the Bombay High Court granted him bail on October 4 in a money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

    Special CBI court judge S H Gwalani on Thursday concluded hearing in the arguments on the bail plea and closed it for orders.

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was arrested on November 2, 2021 and has been in judicial custody. He was admitted to a private hospital last week for coronary angiography.

    Deshmukh, who was a minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government comprising Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, is currently lodged in Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.

    In March 2021, senior IPS officer Param Bir Singh had alleged that Deshmukh, the then-home minister, had given a target to police officers to collect Rs 100 crore per month from restaurants and bars in Mumbai.

    Former assistant police inspector Sachin Waze, arrested in the ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case in March 2021, had levelled similar allegations against him.

    The high court in April 2021 directed the CBI to carry out a preliminary inquiry.

    The CBI, based on this inquiry, registered a first information report (FIR) against Deshmukh and his associates for alleged corruption and misuse of official power.

    Deshmukh had resigned as the home minister in April 2021 after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe into the corruption charges levelled against him by Singh, former Mumbai police commissioner.

    MUMBAI: A special court here is likely to pass an order on Friday on the bail application of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in alleged corruption and misuse of official position case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

    Deshmukh (71) had sought bail in the case as soon as the Bombay High Court granted him bail on October 4 in a money laundering case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

    Special CBI court judge S H Gwalani on Thursday concluded hearing in the arguments on the bail plea and closed it for orders.

    The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was arrested on November 2, 2021 and has been in judicial custody. He was admitted to a private hospital last week for coronary angiography.

    Deshmukh, who was a minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government comprising Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, is currently lodged in Arthur Road jail in Mumbai.

    In March 2021, senior IPS officer Param Bir Singh had alleged that Deshmukh, the then-home minister, had given a target to police officers to collect Rs 100 crore per month from restaurants and bars in Mumbai.

    Former assistant police inspector Sachin Waze, arrested in the ‘Antilia’ bomb scare case in March 2021, had levelled similar allegations against him.

    The high court in April 2021 directed the CBI to carry out a preliminary inquiry.

    The CBI, based on this inquiry, registered a first information report (FIR) against Deshmukh and his associates for alleged corruption and misuse of official power.

    Deshmukh had resigned as the home minister in April 2021 after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe into the corruption charges levelled against him by Singh, former Mumbai police commissioner.

  • Mumbai Diary: BJP to field giant-killer Irani in Pawar bastion?   

    Express News Service

    BJP to field giant-killer Irani in Pawar bastion?   BJP is leaving no stone unturned to better its chances for the 2024 Baramati Lok Sabha seat by planning to field a strong candidate against NCP’s Supriya Sule in party patriarch Sharad Pawar’s bastion. There is strong buzz in the Pune and Baramati political circles that Union Minister Smriti Irani could be the possible pick. After defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, the giant killer may be chosen by the party to contest against NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s daughter. For the BJP, MLA Rahul Kul – who won in Daud assembly seat in 2019 by a 6,000-vote majority against NCP’s Ramesh Thorat – will prove instrumental in furthering BJP’s reach in Baramati.

    NCP hopes for swing in 40 assembly seatsPoll momentum is gaining traction within a demoralised NCP for the upcoming state assembly elections in 2024. With 54 MLAs presently, the NCP is hoping to get 30 more legislators as per its internal survey. With the aim of 85-MLA strong NCP in the state assembly, the party looks for a swing in 40 seats ruled by Eknath Shinde-backed Shiv Sena MLAs. These MLAs had won against NCP candidates with victory margins vary between 500 to 5,000 votes. The split in Shiv Sena votes between Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidates and Eknath Shinde camp candidates will pave the way for the NCP candidates, the latter party believes.

    For BJP, roads to BMC not too smoothBJP toppled the Uddhav Thackeray regime ahead of the BMC polls. Close to striking power in the BMC in 2017, BJP was outsmarted by Shiv Sena in the last leg. Chasing BMC power, BJP began by toppling the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena in BMC. The saffron camp also poached MLAs and cadre from Shiv Sena as well as from the formations of Eknath Shinde – hoping it will help them get closer to winning BMC. But the scene is different. A BJP insider says that there are 55 Sena strongholds where no party including the BJP can beat them. Many Shiv Sena leaders may have defected to BJP, but its cadre is intact under Uddhav.

    Sudhir Suryawanshi Our correspondent in [email protected]

    BJP to field giant-killer Irani in Pawar bastion?   
    BJP is leaving no stone unturned to better its chances for the 2024 Baramati Lok Sabha seat by planning to field a strong candidate against NCP’s Supriya Sule in party patriarch Sharad Pawar’s bastion. There is strong buzz in the Pune and Baramati political circles that Union Minister Smriti Irani could be the possible pick. After defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, the giant killer may be chosen by the party to contest against NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s daughter. For the BJP, MLA Rahul Kul – who won in Daud assembly seat in 2019 by a 6,000-vote majority against NCP’s Ramesh Thorat – will prove instrumental in furthering BJP’s reach in Baramati.

    NCP hopes for swing in 40 assembly seats
    Poll momentum is gaining traction within a demoralised NCP for the upcoming state assembly elections in 2024. With 54 MLAs presently, the NCP is hoping to get 30 more legislators as per its internal survey. With the aim of 85-MLA strong NCP in the state assembly, the party looks for a swing in 40 seats ruled by Eknath Shinde-backed Shiv Sena MLAs. These MLAs had won against NCP candidates with victory margins vary between 500 to 5,000 votes. The split in Shiv Sena votes between Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidates and Eknath Shinde camp candidates will pave the way for the NCP candidates, the latter party believes.

    For BJP, roads to BMC not too smooth
    BJP toppled the Uddhav Thackeray regime ahead of the BMC polls. Close to striking power in the BMC in 2017, BJP was outsmarted by Shiv Sena in the last leg. Chasing BMC power, BJP began by toppling the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena in BMC. The saffron camp also poached MLAs and cadre from Shiv Sena as well as from the formations of Eknath Shinde – hoping it will help them get closer to winning BMC. But the scene is different. A BJP insider says that there are 55 Sena strongholds where no party including the BJP can beat them. Many Shiv Sena leaders may have defected to BJP, but its cadre is intact under Uddhav.

    Sudhir Suryawanshi 
    Our correspondent in Maharashtra
    [email protected]

  • Our rebellion was not ‘betrayal’, we are true inheritors of Bal Thackeray legacy: Maharashtra CM

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asserted his rebellion was not an act of “betrayal”, but a “revolt” and asked Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to kneel down at party founder Bal Thackeray’s memorial here and apologise for going against his ideals and aligning with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

    Addressing a mega rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex’s MMRDA ground on the occasion of Dussehra, Shinde said voters in the state elected the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the 2019 Assembly elections, but Thackeray “betrayed” people by joining hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    He said massive crowds at his Dussehra rally was proof enough to show who are true inheritors of Bal Thackeray’s legacy.

    Slamming Thackeray, Shinde, who heads the rebel faction of the party, said the Shiv Sena was not a “private limited company” and maintained the 56-year-old outfit was built through hard work of common Sena workers.

    The chief minister stoutly defended his rebellion against Thackeray’s leadership in June that brought down the MVA government. Shinde asserted his rebellion was not an act of “betrayal” (gaddari), but a revolt (gadar).

    The Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena has often targeted rebels as “traitors”.

    The rally was attended by Jaidev Thackeray, brother of Uddhav Thackeray, and his estranged wife Smita Thackeray.

    Nihar Thackeray, grandson of late Bal Thackeray, also attended the rally besides Champa Singh Thapa, a long-time personal aide of the Sena founder.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asserted his rebellion was not an act of “betrayal”, but a “revolt” and asked Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray to kneel down at party founder Bal Thackeray’s memorial here and apologise for going against his ideals and aligning with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

    Addressing a mega rally at the Bandra Kurla Complex’s MMRDA ground on the occasion of Dussehra, Shinde said voters in the state elected the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the 2019 Assembly elections, but Thackeray “betrayed” people by joining hands with the Congress and the NCP to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    He said massive crowds at his Dussehra rally was proof enough to show who are true inheritors of Bal Thackeray’s legacy.

    Slamming Thackeray, Shinde, who heads the rebel faction of the party, said the Shiv Sena was not a “private limited company” and maintained the 56-year-old outfit was built through hard work of common Sena workers.

    The chief minister stoutly defended his rebellion against Thackeray’s leadership in June that brought down the MVA government. Shinde asserted his rebellion was not an act of “betrayal” (gaddari), but a revolt (gadar).

    The Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena has often targeted rebels as “traitors”.

    The rally was attended by Jaidev Thackeray, brother of Uddhav Thackeray, and his estranged wife Smita Thackeray.

    Nihar Thackeray, grandson of late Bal Thackeray, also attended the rally besides Champa Singh Thapa, a long-time personal aide of the Sena founder.

  • BJP makes gain in Maharashtra local body elections

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  In the local body elections of gram panchayat, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party. While the NCP bagged second most seats, the Maha Vikas Aghadi as an alliance together, got the highest numbers of gram panchayats in Maharashtra.

    After the change of power in the state, for the first time there were local elections. The local body elections shows that the BJP still has a stronghold in Maharashtra with its bagging the highest numbers of gram panchayats that is 125, while the NCP continues to dominate its influence in the rural part of  the state with winning the second largest gram panchayats that is 118. 

    The performance of Congress, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led factions and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s performance in local elections turned out to be poor. Interestingly, if all three parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi won gram panchayats, that is 181, while the BJP and Shinde camp has won 153-gram panchayats in the state. It shows that the Maha Vikas Aghadi together can still outperform the new political alignment in the state.

    In Pune district, the NCP continued its dominance in local body elections. Out of 61 gram panchayats, the NCP won the highest 30 while BJP won three, Shinde camp won the three and Shiv Sena won the two while the remaining gram panchayat were won by the local alliances. Interestingly, in Yavatmal district, Congress party bagged the highest 33 gram panchayats out of 71 while NCP won the nine, BJP won the two, Shiv Sena won the three gram panchayat and remained by local alliances.

    In Jalgaon district, the NCP won four while BJP, Shinde camp and Shiv Sena won the three seats in local body elections. On the other hand, in Dhule district, BJP out of 32 gram panchayats out of total 33 gram panchayats. It shows the BJP’s dominance in Dhule district in local body elections. 

    MUMBAI:  In the local body elections of gram panchayat, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party. While the NCP bagged second most seats, the Maha Vikas Aghadi as an alliance together, got the highest numbers of gram panchayats in Maharashtra.

    After the change of power in the state, for the first time there were local elections. The local body elections shows that the BJP still has a stronghold in Maharashtra with its bagging the highest numbers of gram panchayats that is 125, while the NCP continues to dominate its influence in the rural part of  the state with winning the second largest gram panchayats that is 118. 

    The performance of Congress, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led factions and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s performance in local elections turned out to be poor. Interestingly, if all three parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi won gram panchayats, that is 181, while the BJP and Shinde camp has won 153-gram panchayats in the state. It shows that the Maha Vikas Aghadi together can still outperform the new political alignment in the state.

    In Pune district, the NCP continued its dominance in local body elections. Out of 61 gram panchayats, the NCP won the highest 30 while BJP won three, Shinde camp won the three and Shiv Sena won the two while the remaining gram panchayat were won by the local alliances. Interestingly, in Yavatmal district, Congress party bagged the highest 33 gram panchayats out of 71 while NCP won the nine, BJP won the two, Shiv Sena won the three gram panchayat and remained by local alliances.

    In Jalgaon district, the NCP won four while BJP, Shinde camp and Shiv Sena won the three seats in local body elections. On the other hand, in Dhule district, BJP out of 32 gram panchayats out of total 33 gram panchayats. It shows the BJP’s dominance in Dhule district in local body elections.
     

  • ‘Mentality of north India and Parliament still not conducive for women’s quota’: Sharad Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the “mentality” of north India and Parliament seems not conducive yet to giving reservations to women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.

    He made the remarks at a programme organised by the Pune Doctors’ Association where he and his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule were interviewed.

    Replying to a question on the Women’s Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve 33 per cent seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women which is yet to be passed, and whether this shows the country is still not mentally ready to accept the women leadership, Pawar said he has been speaking on this issue in Parliament since he was Congress MP in Lok Sabha.

    “The ‘mansikta’ (mentality) of Parliament, especially of North India, has not been conducive (on this issue). I can recall that when I was Lok Sabha MP in Congress, I used to talk about the issue of reservations for women in Parliament. Once after completing my speech, I turned back and saw that majority of MPs from my party got up and left. This means even for people from my party, it was not digestible,” he added.

    The former Union minister said all (parties) should keep trying to get the bill passed.

    “When I was the chief minister of Maharashtra, reservations for women in local bodies like ZP and Panchayat Samiti were introduced. It was opposed initially but later people accepted it,” he added.

    PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the “mentality” of north India and Parliament seems not conducive yet to giving reservations to women in the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.

    He made the remarks at a programme organised by the Pune Doctors’ Association where he and his daughter and Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule were interviewed.

    Replying to a question on the Women’s Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve 33 per cent seats in Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies for women which is yet to be passed, and whether this shows the country is still not mentally ready to accept the women leadership, Pawar said he has been speaking on this issue in Parliament since he was Congress MP in Lok Sabha.

    “The ‘mansikta’ (mentality) of Parliament, especially of North India, has not been conducive (on this issue). I can recall that when I was Lok Sabha MP in Congress, I used to talk about the issue of reservations for women in Parliament. Once after completing my speech, I turned back and saw that majority of MPs from my party got up and left. This means even for people from my party, it was not digestible,” he added.

    The former Union minister said all (parties) should keep trying to get the bill passed.

    “When I was the chief minister of Maharashtra, reservations for women in local bodies like ZP and Panchayat Samiti were introduced. It was opposed initially but later people accepted it,” he added.