So what happened to last time’s political defectors who joined the Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)? Were they shelved by the electorate or accepted? The winning trends of the results show that most of them have been re-elected and managed to retain their seats. A few seats on which candidates were replaced were also retained by both the factions. Though a few others lost, most of the Sena and NCP defectors managed to keep their hold. Shinde and Ajit Pawar themselves fared well. The latter won with a margin of 1,00,899 votes against nephew Yugendra Pawar while the former retained his Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat with a margin of 1,20,717 votes against Sena (UBT) candidate Kedar Dighe. Shinde Sena in MMR While a number of candidates in the Shinde Sena won by a good margin, the party lost its bastion at Mahim with Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Mahesh Sawant defeating Sada Sarvankar by a margin of 1,316 votes. The other key constituency that the Shinde Sena lost to Sena (UBT) was Byculla, where Yamini Jadhav lost to Manoj Jamsutkar by 31,361 votes. Others with Shinde Sena in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region include Balaji Kinikar, Ambernath (Thane), Mangesh Kudalkar (Kurla), Vishwanath Bhoir (Kalyan West), Shantaram More (Bhiwandi Rural), Dilip Lande (Chandivli), Shrinivas Vanga (Palghar), Pratap Sarnaik (Owala Majiwada) and Prakash Surve (Magathane). Of these, Shrinivas Vanga was not given a ticket this time. Instead, the party fielded Rajendra Gavit who won with a margin of more than 40,000 votes. Replacements who won In two constituencies, close kin of former candidates got elected. In Erandol (Jalgaon), the son of 2019 candidate Chimanrao Patil, Amol won by a margin of 56,332 votes. Also, Chandrakant Sonawane, taking over from his wife and 2019 MLA Latabai Sonawane from Chopda, won by over 33,599 votes. Shinde Sena leaders who lost The three candidates who lost include Dnyanraj Chowgule (Umarga, Osmanabad) who lost by 3,965 votes; Shahaji Patil (Sangola, Solapur), who lost by 25,386 votes; and Sanjay Raymulkar (Mehkar, Buldhana) who was defeated by 4,819 votes. The key leaders who defected with Ajit Pawar’s NCP include Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Dhananjay Munde, Aditi Tatkare, Dharmarao Atram, Anil Patil and Sanjay Bansode. While Bhujbal won from Yeola constituency by a margin of 26,400 votes, Dilip Walse Patil won from Ambegaon by a margin of 1,523 votes, Hasan Mushrif won from Kagal by a margin of 11,581 votes and Dhananjay Munde secured a win in Parli with a 1,40,224-vote margin. Aditi Tatkare from Shrivardhan won with a margin of 82,798 votes, Dharmarao Atram from Aheri was victorious with a 16,814-vote lead, Anil Patil from Amalner won by 33,435 votes and Sanjay Bansode of Udgir constituency won by 1,52,038 votes.
25 November,2024 08:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarAfter securing a big win, the Mahayuti’s next target is forming the government. Having no worries at all about numbers because collectively they have much more than needed, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP were still engaged in hectic activities on Sunday amidst speculations about the new chief minister. The state leaders of all three parties were on the same page, saying that the senior leaders (read the BJP high command) would take a final call on the most-sought job. They were correct because it is the BJP’s say that would matter most in resolving the issue that appeared complicated to most given the Shinde’s camp’s demand that he continue to be in the CMO and the state BJP leaders’ strong wish that their representative, Devendra Fadnavis, be put in charge of the new government. People in the know said that they were waiting for the BJP to hold its legislative party meeting of 136 MLAs in the presence of a Delhi headquarters-appointed observer, who might carry a message of the high command about the next CM. Fadnavis is a popular choice for the leader of BJP’s legislative party. Most of the BJP legislators had arrived in the city and the rest were expected by Sunday night. For alliance partners, choosing the leader was an easy job as there were no contenders other than Shiv Sena’s incumbent CM Eknath Shinde and NCP’s Ajit Pawar. The CM and DyCM were chosen as their respective party leaders at meetings held on Sunday. It is said that Pawar’s party is likely to support Fadnavis as the CM in the meeting with BJP’s representatives from Delhi. The day did not go without speculations over the venue for the swearing-in. The toss was between the Wankhede Stadium or Shivaji Park for a bigger show, but the authorities said nothing was decided about these venues yet. Raj Bhavan’s name, too, cropped up for a brief ceremony for only three—the CM and his two deputies. Another talk of the town was that the swearing-in has to be held before November 26, the day the term of the 14th Vidhan Sabha ends. But it wasn’t supported by the people in the know. Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Deepak Kesarkar told reporters on Sunday that the new government has to be sworn in by November 25 as the term of the outgoing assembly ends on November 26. “It looks like the swearing-in may be held at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai,” he said. Meanwhile, the Deputy Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India, Hirdesh Kumar and Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra, S Chockalingam called on Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan and presented copies of the gazette containing names of members elected to the Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra and ECI’s notification at Raj Bhavan Mumbai on Sunday. Following the results Saturday, the names of elected candidates of the election were published in the Maharashtra Government State Gazette as per the provisions of Section 73 of the Representation of People Act, 1951.
25 November,2024 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray ran a vigorous campaign in the state Assembly elections, specifically targeting the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and, more significantly, his cousin Uddhav Thackeray. Despite this, the MNS has not won a single seat in Maharashtra. Political analysts feel that the future of the party is now at stake. MNS had fielded candidates in a total of 125 seats for the Assembly elections in Maharashtra. In Mumbai, the party had not put up any candidates in 10 of the 36 constituencies and because of this, there were speculations that the MNS chief was trying to help Mahayuti candidates contesting from these seats. At the start of the election campaign, the MNS chief had also said that the Bharatiya Janata Party-Mahayuti would return to power. A few hours after it became apparent that the alliance was heading for victory, Thackeray posted his reaction on X, stating, “Unbelievable...That’s it for now.” Many responses to the tweet by Raj Thackeray suggested a Raj-Uddhav Thackeray alliance for the future of Maharashtra. In 2009, MNS had contested the Assembly elections and won 13 seats with a vote share of 5.71 per cent but after that, the political graph of the party has only seen a decline. In the 2014 and 2019 Assembly elections, the MNS vote share in Maharashtra was 3.15 per cent and 2.25 per cent, respectively. In 2014, Sharad Sonavane from Junnar constituency won on an MNS ticket, becoming the lone legislator from the party. Similarly, in 2019, Raju Patil from Kalyan Rural constituency was the sole MLA to win the Assembly poll on an MNS ticket. The vote share of MNS in the 2024 Assembly elections is 1.55 per cent, its lowest so far. ‘Future looks uncertain’ Political analyst and Senior Assistant Editor at Lokmat, Sandip Pradhan, said, “The future of MNS looks uncertain as Raj Thackeray, despite vigorous campaigning, has failed to secure any seats. In the past, political parties within the Maha Vikas Aghadi have used him for their own advantage, and now the Mahayuti alliance seems to be following the same strategy. With the BMC [Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ]elections approaching, MNS’s situation could worsen. Both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray have yet to realise that ‘batenge toh katenge’ is not just a political slogan. Rather than coming together for shared objectives, they have continued to attack one another, while their respective party workers are eager for collaboration and a unified approach.” A political expert who has been following the Shiv Sena and MNS closely and who did not wish to be named, said, “Not winning a single seat in the Assembly elections is a major setback for the party and this also raises questions over its survival. The other big defeat for Raj Thackeray in this election was also the fact that he couldn’t even get his son elected from the Mahim Assembly constituency, which is also the area he had been staying in for decades. The BJP-Mahayuti has done exceptionally well and will use the results to win in the BMC polls, making it extremely difficult for MNS to win seats there too.” 137No. of seats in state MNS fielded candidates for MNS’s performance in key constituencies Mahim: Amit, son of Raj Thackeray, secured 33,062 votes, coming in third position and losing by 17,151 votes.Worli: Sandeep Deshpande secured 19,367 votes to come in third, losing by 43,957 votes.Bandra East: Trupti Bala Sawant secured 16,074 votes and was in third position, losing by 41,634 votes.Dindoshi: Advocate Bhaskar Parab secured 20,309 votes. He came in third, losing by 56,128 votes.Bhandup: Shirish Sawant came in third with 2,555 votes and lost by 54,419 votes.Thane: Avinash Jadhav secured 42,592 votes and was in third position. He lost by a whopping 77,781 votes.
25 November,2024 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavWith the Mahayuti comfortably crossing the halfway mark, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray now face significant challenges ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) faces an existential crisis with the threat of losing its electoral symbol looming while the Uddhav Sena, whose fortunes have declined, has to retain its cadre, which will now slowly move towards the Shinde Sena. In total, the Sena (UBT) won 10 seats in Mumbai, four in Vidarbha, three in Marathwada, two in Western Maharashtra and only one in Konkan, and Uddhav now needs to ensure that his party leaders and cadre do not switch over to Shinde camp, which won 57 out of the 85 seats it contested in the state. The MNS, which won none of the 125 seats it contested in the Assembly election, faces the threat of losing its railway engine electoral symbol as the party struggles to meet the Election Commission’s basic recognition criteria of six per cent of valid votes in four or more states in elections to the Lok Sabha or state Assemblies and four MPs in the Lok Sabha. The party’s sole sitting MLA Pramod (Raju) Patil from Kalyan Rural lost to Shinde Sena’s Rajesh More by 66,396 votes. Even the debut of the MNS chief’s son Amit Thackeray was a failure with the youth coming third in Mahim, where he was fighting against MLA Sada Sarvankar of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Shinde Sena’s Mahesh Sawant. Sawant won by a margin of 1,316 votes, garnering 50,213 votes. In its first Maharashtra Assembly election in 2009, the MNS contested 143 seats, winning 13. In 2014 and 2019, it contested 219 and 101 seats respectively, winning just one in each poll. The party’s vote share declined from 5.71 per cent in 2009 to 3.15 per cent in 2014 to 2.25 per cent in 2019 to 1.55 per cent at present. ‘Huge setbacks’ Political analyst Sanjay Patil said. “The election results have thrown a big challenge to Raj and Uddhav Thackeray. This will be a huge setback for the MNS and Raj Thackeray but more so for Amit Thackeray, who lost his debut election by coming third. Launching Amit without doing much preparation or groundwork was a mistake and this first political loss will remain in the records forever.” He added, “As far as Uddhav is concerned, he had always been saying that he only believed in the court of the janata [people]. But with the people having rejected him wholeheartedly, he now needs to introspect. Always playing the victim card does not help. People do not like it. He needs to build his party and cadre and work on it. People can identify with Eknath Shinde’s ground-level politics, which had always been the style of the Shiv Sena. Most importantly, all this will now affect both Thackerays in the upcoming municipal and local body elections. The BMC elections will be a tough walk for the Thackerays and their Senas. It will prove to be a very big challenge.” 20No. of Assembly seats won by Sena (UBT)
25 November,2024 07:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarHitting the BUll’s-Eye With the elections behind them, people enjoy the Konkan fair at Borivli Link Road. It’s all adding up A moment from the performance In what we’d like to call a well calculated move, theatremaker Quasar Thakore Padamsee and his troupe have charted out a theatrical journey across 12 cities in India with their mathematical play, The Axiom Of Choice. “It’s rather rare for mathematics and arts to be put on the same stage. It all started when British writer-director Marcus du Sautoy told me about his unique idea. It has evolved into a mammoth production from there,” Padamsee revealed following a show in Boro Bhatarmari village in Kokrajhar, Assam. The troupe, accompanied by du Sautoy, is now looking forward to performing in Pune, Delhi, and Jaipur soon. Quasar Thakore Padamsee Pastry paradise A view of the pâtisserie’s façade; (right) Isha Shetty After five years of operating from their Saki Naka-based cloud kitchen, Vanilla Meil pâtisserie is gearing up to open its first brick-and-mortar space in Bandra. “We initially wanted to start a cake shop, but we fell in love with a gorgeous house on Pali Hill Road and thought of making the space experiential with savoury and sweet items,” said co-founder and head chef Isha Shetty (right). Following a soft launch earlier this week featuring coffee, bakes, and pastries, their savoury menu will debut by next week and the cafe aims to be fully operational in two weeks. “We will be serving our signatures and have also added new items, and experiential desserts including a DIY Danish bar,” Shetty revealed. Next halt, Venice Biennale A scene from the past Punjab Village, Prasanna Kumar The world of art is a privileged space, they say. Not any longer, declared Revati Sharma, founder, Barkhatbeej Foundation. In association with Vineet Saraiwala’s Atypical Advantage, a livelihood platform for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), they are set to exhibit the works of over 150 differently-abled artists at the Nehru Center in London. “The exhibition, Art Through My Eyes, will open on December 3 — World Disability Day,” she said. Over a period of one year, the artists from across India were mentored through workshops in Delhi, Bengaluru and Goa by Sharma, Saraiwala and Strangers House Gallery owner Sumesh Sharma. The London exhibition is only the beginning. The curators are already exploring talks with the Venice Biennale to create a differently-abled exhibition section where they could showcase such work. Colaba gallerist Sumesh also shared that several works were made on manjarpat — cotton linen fabric manufactured in Bhiwandi, and hopes to bring the show to Colaba post its international tour. Vineet Saraiwala; Revati Sharma Kathak moves with Korean sounds Yudong Gu and Aditi Bhagwat perform How does a Kathak iteration of a traditional Korean ceremony look? Those in attendance at the ongoing Duo Dance Festival at the Sungkyun Theatre in Seoul will witness city-based Kathak exponent Aditi Bhagwat giving a demonstration alongside gayageum performer Yudong Gu. “The gayageum is a stringed instrument that is plucked to create rhythms,” shared Bhagwat. Having participated in a residency programme with the theatre company in the past, she revealed that she was invited as the international artiste this year. The Seoul trip concluded on Sunday with their last performance. “I also composed a poetry performance with Korean terms to put across the emotions while expressing them through the mudras,” she noted. A gaegyum Big break in Tokyo BBoy Tornado at an earlier event It is destination Tokyo for Mumbai-based Bboyer Ramesh Yadav AKA BBoy Tornado. The freestyle performer joined Arif Chaudhary AKA Flying Machine and Ishwar Tiwari AKA Wild Child, as the three Indians on the line-up of the Super Break Japan festival in Kawasaki, Tokyo. “We just landed in Tokyo,” shared Yadav over a phone call, adding, “We were invited to join the tournament that begins tomorrow. There will be over 150 teams from across the world participating in the competition.” As for the challenges, Yadav pointed out that as invitees, they have been inducted straight into the top 16. “The key thing is to take it one battle at a time. Since the entire tournament is a day-long event, it can be physically challenging. We hope to make it to the end,” he signed off.
25 November,2024 07:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayThere is unrest in the Maha Vikas Aghadi camp. Five to six of its MLAs might join the ruling Mahayuti in the next few months, claimed NCP (Ajit Pawar) chief whip Anil Patil, who has retained his Amalner assembly seat, on Sunday. “There is tremendous unrest among some NCP (SP), Congress and Sena (UBT) MLAs who have been re-elected. Those who have good relations with us have expressed concerns over MVA’s massive defeat,” Patil told a Marathi news channel. If one wants developmental works in his constituency, it is good to be in power, said the legislator from Ajit Pawar’s party. “The MVA MLAs feel their future is uncertain. It shouldn’t be a surprise if five to six MLAs cross over to the Mahayuti in the next four months,” he said. In the results of the Maharashtra polls declared on Saturday, BJP won in 132 constituencies, while its partners Shiv Sena and NCP walked away with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. From the MVA camp, Shiv Sena (UBT) bagged 20 seats followed by Congress’s 16 and 10 by NCP (SP). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 November,2024 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesThe Bandra Government Railway Police (GRP) have arrested a man for allegedly throwing a 15-foot iron pipe on the railway track, thereby posing a major accident risk and endangering the lives of passengers. Police said that the accused, Abdul Qadir Samad Sheikh, 20, was in an inebriated condition at the time of the incident. He was arrested based on a complaint filed by the Railway Police Force (RPF). The pipe was spotted by a motorman who informed about it the Khar station master. The station master then approached the RPF. Acting on the complaint, RPF officials reached the site for inspection, where they found a thick 15-foot-long iron pipe placed between Khar and Santacruz station, Harbour Line. Senior inspector Nandakumar Khadkikar of the Bandra GRP said that with the help of CCTV footage, they traced the accused and arrested him on Saturday from Bandra. Sheikh admitted to leaving the iron pipe along the track which he allegedly stole. Police said that Sheikh was produced before the Bandra court on Sunday and was remanded to judicial custody. He has been charged under Section 152 of the Railways Act, and Section 125 (a) 126 (2), and Section 329 (3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), said the police. Nov 23Day Abdul Shaikh placed the pipe on the tracks
25 November,2024 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanWith the BJP and Mahayuti getting a majority and a political push, the plan to convert Mumbai’s local trains into a completely AC fleet may gather momentum. The plan had been stuck and delayed since August 2022 due to political opposition from the NCP (SP). Party president Sharad Pawar had called for the complete withdrawal of AC local trains from the city and the restoration of regular services for working-class commuters. Subsequently, the Central Railway discontinued 10 of its new services, citing law and order issues. The plan to convert all local trains to AC locals was then put on the backburner. Sources said that most of the pending infrastructure and transport projects will now get a major push and will be taken up in fast-track mode. “The political mandate has given more power and validity to the planned projects, and they would now be taken ahead at full steam,” a BJP leader said. Tenders put on hold On May 19, 2023, the Ministry of Railways issued a one-sheet, five-point note to the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC)—the rail upgrade body—directing it to improve Mumbai local trains into the classy Vande Metro (suburban) trains. The note stated that MRVC should place orders for the “procurement of 238 trains of Vande Metro (suburban) under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3 and 3A.” The projects are jointly funded by the state and the central governments to upgrade the city’s rail network with new corridors and trains. A Vande Metro train which connects Bhuj and Ahmedabad, in Gujarat. File pic The note stated that the trains will not be manufactured as regularly done by railway factories but by the technology partners, ensuring ‘Make in India’ guidelines. The ministry had further directed the MRVC to go ahead and invite tenders for the project with stringent maintenance requirements for the next 35 years. The MRVC has been asked to consult Western and Central Railway for the requirement of 12/15 car trains as per their needs and then decide. In addition to this, the two car depots already approved under MUTP 3 and 3A at Vangaon on Western Railway and Bhivpuri on Central Railway will be set up by the technology partner. In June 2023, the MRVC began the process for the procurement of 238 trains of Vande Metro (suburban) under MUTP 3 and 3A, but abruptly scrapped the tender in July 2023. A small note stated, “The mega-multi-crore international tender had been deferred,” without giving any explanation. Railway Board officials said it had been stuck at the political level and that issues would soon be sorted out. Mumbaikars need to unite In September 2024, when questioned about AC local trains, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw had told mid-day that the plan had been stranded as NCP leader Sharad Pawar had opposed it and Mumbaikars needed to come together, form an opinion, and get the AC locals that they want. The same month, NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the opposition of party chief Sharad Pawar was to the higher fare structure, not to AC trains per se. The fare of AC local trains is comparatively higher than that of the regular local trains. “The issue of AC locals needs to be resolved fast as it is about safety as well. It is not just about having a cool ride but also about people falling from tracks. With closed doors, the number of people dying on Mumbai’s tracks will drastically come down in one go,” Rajeshwar Mehendale, a commuter from Dombivli, said. “Mumbaikars need to pay if they want a better quality train. There has been no fare hike in the past decade and the commute remains the cheapest at 11 paise per km. When it comes to speed and cost-effectiveness, no other mode of transport comes close to local trains. It is an example of affordability and speed,” said a senior rail official. 238No. of Vande Metro trains to be procured under MUTP) 3 and 3A
25 November,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for November 25. Aries March 21 – April 20Follow intuition if unable to trust someone for some unfathomable reason. Accepting a person’s point of view doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with the opinion.Cosmic tip: Enjoy this slightly slow moving day. Taurus April 21 – May 20Accepting the first job offer if seeking employment, opens a new chapter. Sharing time with a family friend is a pleasant time spent together. Cosmic tip: Stay away from making an impulsively unwise decision. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Keeping a low profile, not getting into any controversies or long term issues makes vibes at work pleasant and conducive to work. Do get enough sleep.Cosmic tip: Be careful while driving a vehicle. Cancer June 22 – July 23Unintentionally being pulled into a controversy is to be avoided at all cost, since you aren’t interested in the issue. Cosmic tip: Don’t allow friendships hanging by a thread to break with a tug. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Some Leos may be considering a change of residence sometime. Cosmic tip: Consider various angles to a situation since there are always two sides to it and a third angle which is the truth. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23A project you were supposed to work on by yourself, now has to be completed with another colleague. Take care of general health. Cosmic tip: Don’t discuss personal life of anyone in the office. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Waiting for developments to evolve can be a nail biting experience, or one filled with peace. You decide. Drink enough water.Cosmic tip: Prepare planned celebrations for family in micro-detail, leaving nothing to chance. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Take care while driving, especially during long distance highway trips. Family responsibilities keep you busy in the evening.Cosmic tip: Don’t think emotionally, but be practical instead, not being in a hurry for closure. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Remain very focused about work since an auspicious karmic cycle begins for career/ business. A trip overseas manifests.Cosmic tip: Step back if feeling forced into giving a commitment when not ready for it. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Paying attention to what you say goes a long way in keeping away misunderstandings. Keep long term goals in mind before investing.Cosmic tip: Be willing to go along with a change of mind/ attitude. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Take delays and karmic go-slows in your stride with equanimity and a patient mind-set. Focus on easy to complete jobs.Cosmic tip: Stay away from unnecessary arguments that make no sense, to begin with. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Use advantages you have at the right time and in the right manner. Cosmic tip: Don’t allow anyone to impose on your time or good nature that wants to help as far as possible.
25 November,2024 12:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseShiv Sena MLAs feel Eknath Shinde should continue to work as the chief minister of Maharashtra, state minister and party leader Deepak Kesarkar said on Sunday, reported the PTI. A day after the Mahayuti coalition of which Shiv Sena is a constituent scored a stupendous victory after the announcement of Maharashtra Assembly election results, Deepak Kesarkar met Eknath Shinde at the latter's residence in Mumbai. "Shiv Sena MLAs feel Shinde should continue in the post because under his leadership the Mahayuti worked very well and performed spectacularly in polls," Kesarkar told reporters, according to the PTI. He, however, added that the Mahayuti leaders including Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) and Ajit Pawar (NCP) will take a unanimous decision on the CM issue. The Mahayuti comprises of the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). "Whatever may be the decision, it will be in the interest of Maharashtra," said Kesarkar, who won another term from the Sawantwadi constituency. Speculation regarding the chief minister's post started doing rounds after the BJP led by Fadnavis won the highest 132 out of 288 seats in the state elections. Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 57 seats. Senior Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday denied any dispute over the chief minister's post, saying leaders of Mahayuti will decide on the issue together. On Sunday, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule echoed Fadnavis. "Leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the BJP leadership will decide who will be the next chief minister of the state," he said. Earlier, Devendra Fadnavis had on Saturday said that the leaders of the Mahayuti alliance will make the final decision on Maharashtra CM. Fadnavis had dismissed any claims of a dispute over the Chief Minister's position as the Maharashtra Assembly election results 2024 showed Mahayuti getting majority. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Devendra Fadnavis said the election results show strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanked women voters. He said that the opposition's attempts to spread false narratives and divide voters based on religion had been defeated by the people. (with PTI inputs)
24 November,2024 09:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leader Supriya Sule on Sunday said vowed to rebuild the party with renewed commitment. The NCP (SP), which won 10 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024, respects people's mandate and pledged to work towards a capable, inclusive and progressive state, Sule said. In a statement on X, the Supriya Sule promised to rebuild their party and said it would move forward with determination despite its dismal show. Her party and its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) collectively bagged only 46 of the state's 288 assembly seats. "We respect and humbly accept the verdict of the people in the assembly elections. This result is a moment for deep reflection and renewal. We will introspect, learn, and rebuild with honesty, hard work, and an unshakable commitment to the values we stand for," Sule stated in a social media post. She stressed that her party was committed to creating a capable, inclusive, and progressive Maharashtra. ¿Our vision of a capable, inclusive, and progressive Maharashtra remains unchanged. We reaffirm our pledge to fight for the rights, dignity, and self-respect of farmers, workers, women, youth, and every marginalised section of society,¿ Sule stated. विधानसभा निवडणुकीत मायबाप जनतेने जो कौल दिला तो अतिशय नम्रपणे आम्ही स्वीकारत आहोत. या निकालातून बोध घेऊन नक्कीच आत्मपरीक्षण करू आणि भविष्यातील सक्षम महाराष्ट्र उभा करण्यासाठी प्रामाणिकपणे लढत राहू. शेतकरी, कष्टकरी,महिला, तरुण व समाजातील प्रत्येक घटकांच्या हक्काची व स्वाभिमानाची… — Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 24, 2024 Sule said that her party will continue to carry forward the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule. "We are determined to carry forward the timeless ideals of Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar with renewed energy and purpose," she wrote on X. Supriya Sule congratulated those who had won in the elections. "We hope you will serve Maharashtra with dedication and prioritise the welfare of every citizen," she said. The MP, the daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, expressed gratitude to the voters, party workers, their MVA allies and the authorities for facilitating the elections. "A heartfelt thank you to all voters, the diligent workers and leaders of NCP (SP), our Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, the Election Commission, police, administration, media, and everyone who contributed to making this election a vibrant celebration of democracy," Sule added, according to the PTI. Sule said the party would remain focused on its goals and continue its efforts to serve the people of Maharashtra. "We remain steadfast. Our fight continues with humility, with courage, and with the hope of building a Maharashtra that fulfils the dreams of its people," she added, as per the PTI. Sharad Pawar suffered the worst-ever defeat in his political career in Maharashtra polls with the NCP faction led by him winning only 10 seats in the 288-member House. His MVA partners Congress and Sena (UBT) got 16 and 20 seats, respectively, the news agency reported. The ruling Mahayuti scored a massive victory with the BJP winning 132 seats, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde emerging victorious in 57, and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar grabbing 41 seats. (with PTI inputs)
24 November,2024 09:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
