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Shiv Sena MP Waikar demands funds from central govt for Koliwadas, Mumbai Police

Lok Sabha MP Ravindra Waikar from Mumbai North West presented a series of critical development demands during the Supplementary Demands for Grants discussion for 2024-2025 on Tuesday. Waikar’s proposal focused on multiple aspects of infrastructure, community welfare, and security enhancement for Mumbai and Maharashtra. The MP emphasised several key infrastructure development needs, including repairing and renovating Konkan Railway stations, expanding Mumbai airport's runway, completing the Mumbai-Goa highway, and establishing comprehensive telecom network connectivity across Maharashtra's villages.  Additionally, he advocated for developing ports along the Konkan coast under the Sagarmala scheme. Waikar's demands included providing grants to the Koli fishing community for construction purposes and requesting modern weapons for the Mumbai Police force.  The Shiv Sena MP also proposed establishing a special court in Mumbai and securing funding for maintaining both new and old hospitals in the city. Mumbai North West MP Ravindra Waikar calls for cancer research centre, hospital on the lines of AIIMS in suburbs Shiv Sena's Ravindra Waikar, while addressing the Lok Sabha on Monday, stressed on the need for the setting up a cancer hospital and research centre on the lines of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in suburban Mumbai.   The Member of Parliament (MP) from the Mumbai North West constituency said with the increase in the population of Mumbai, the number of cancer patients are also surging. This is adding to pressure on the existing hospitals, and leading to delay in treatment for patients. "Effective measures should be taken to provide relief to patients and their relatives. Priority should be given to set up a hospital and a research centre on cancer on the lines of AIIMS in the suburbs of Mumbai," he said. Waikar added that as Mumbai is the financial capital of India, people from all over the country visit the city seeking treatment for various diseases. "The population of Mumbai is increasing by the day. The number of cancer patients is increasing in the country. There are very few hospitals such as Tata Memorial that treat cancer patients but they inadequate. As a result, patients are suffering as they are unable to get timely treatment," he said, adding that the treatment in private hospitals is very expensive.  The winter session of the Parliament is currently in progress.

17 December,2024 05:01 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday

Uddhav Thackeray meets CM Devendra Fadnavis in Nagpur

Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the latter's chamber in the Vidhan Bhawan in Nagpur district of Maharashtra on Tuesday, reported the PTI. The former state CM was accompanied by Sena (UBT) legislators Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab and Varun Sardesai during the meeting with senior BJP leader and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Uddhav Thackeray, who is a member of the state legislative council, arrived in Nagpur on Tuesday to attend the ongoing winter session of the state legislature. He will also take part in the Shiv Sena (UBT) legislature party meeting in the evening. After the 2019 Maharashtra assembly polls, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (then undivided) snapped ties with long-term ally BJP over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post. Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that the Centre's move to introduce a bill on simultaneous polls in the Lok Sabha was an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country. Addressing reporters in Nagpur, Thackeray demanded a transparent election process before implementation of the 'One Nation One Election' proposal, according to the PTI. He also said the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government should pay Rs 2,100 per month to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme as promised before the state assembly polls held last month. Currently, women in the state get Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme. On Tuesday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure. "The One Nation One Election (proposal) is an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country," Uddhav Thackeray said. The Sena (UBT) leader also slammed the BJP- led centre over shifting of the iconic painting depicting signing of documents after Pakistan army's surrender in 1971 war from the Army chief's annexe in South Block to the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The former state chief minister asked why was the painting shifted as it was a symbol of bravery of Indian soldiers. (with PTI inputs)

17 December,2024 04:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil. File Pic

Maratha quota: Manoj Jarange to launch indefinite fast from January 25

Activist Manoj Jarange said that he would launch an indefinite fast on January 25, 2025, to call for the Maratha community's demands, including reservation in jobs and education under the OBC category, reported news agency PTI. Jarange urged members of the Maratha community to gather in large numbers at the protest site. Jarange was addressing the media at Antarwali Sarthi village in Jalna. "No one should stay at home. Come to Antarwali Sarthi, and let us show our collective strength," he said. The 42-year-old activist has been demanding the implementation of a draft notification that recognises Kunbis as 'sage soyare' (those related by birth or marriage) of Marathas and granting reservation in jobs and education to the latter under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, stated PTI. Kunbi, which is an agrarian community already gets quota benefits under the OBC category. Jarange accused the government of failing to fulfil its promises, he said, "The government has cheated us. We will not spare them if they don't meet our demands during the ongoing winter session." Jarange stressed that the hunger strike would be a voluntary affair and any member of the Maratha community could participate. In the last one year, he has launched six hunger strikes. "Anyone willing to join is welcome. There will be no compulsion or pressure on anyone," he clarified. Apart from the 'sage soyare' notification, Jarange has also demanded speeding up the work of the Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde Committee set up by the Maharashtra government to expedite the process of granting Kunbi certificates to members of the Maratha community, making them eligible for quota, stated PTI. The state legislature unanimously passed a bill providing 10 per cent reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs under a separate category, in February this year, stated PTI. Jarange, however, has been insisting on a quota to be under the OBC head for the agrarian community.  Maharashtra: Sarpanch killed, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange join protest in Beed Recently, a village head (Sarpanch) was allegedly abducted and murdered by some persons, after which angry villagers blocked roads in Beed district of Maharashtra, police said, reported the PTI. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange too joined the protesters at Massajog village in Beed. He demanded stringent action against the culprits. According to the PTI, Manoj Jarange warned that Maratha community members - the slain sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was a Maratha and 'will take law into their hands if the killers were let off'. Two persons have been arrested for allegedly killing Deshmukh, who was in his mid-30s, police said. Protesters in Kej torched a state transport bus while staging a rasta rook and clashed with police, an official said, as per the PTI. (With inputs from PTI) 

17 December,2024 04:25 PM IST | Jalna (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

One Nation One Election proposal a bid to divert attention: Uddhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that the Centre's move to introduce a bill on simultaneous polls in the Lok Sabha was an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country, reported the PTI. Addressing reporters in Maharashtra's Nagpur, Uddhav Thackeray demanded a transparent election process before implementation of the 'One Nation One Election' proposal. Uddhav also said that the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government should pay Rs 2,100 per month to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme as promised before the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 held last month. Currently, women in the state get Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme. On Tuesday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure. Arjun Ram Meghwal moved for introduction the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on "one nation, one election" and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi, according to the PTI. "The One Nation One Election (proposal) is an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country," Uddhav Thackeray said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also slammed the Centre over shifting of the iconic painting depicting signing of documents after Pakistan army's surrender in 1971 war from the Army chief's annexe in South Block to the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The former state chief minister asked why was the painting shifted as it was a symbol of bravery of Indian soldiers, the news agency reported. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party MPs on expressed their full support for the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, which aims to synchronise national and state elections, calling it a "very important bill." 'One Nation, One Election' bill, which provides for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies is slated to be introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The listed agenda of Lok Sabha for Tuesday includes the Constitution Amendment Bill concerning simultaneous elections. (with PTI inputs)

17 December,2024 03:57 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
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Name change not implemented at station, banks in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council Ambadas Danve on Tuesday claimed that the railway station, airport, district cooperative banks and other institutions in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were still using the district's old name, PTI reported. Raising the issue in the council, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader stated that Aurangabad was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar by the state government with approval from the Centre. He said that the name change had not been implemented at the railway station, airport, district cooperative banks, market committees, and other institutions in the district, PTI reported. He highlighted that the case was similar in Dharashiv and Ahilya Nagar. Darve requested the government to take action against these institutions and order them to implement the name change, PTI cited. Maharashtra council passes resolution to rename seven Mumbai local train stations The Maharashtra legislative council on July 9, unanimously passed a resolution to rename seven Mumbai local train stations, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, the Mahayuti government were expected to submit the new names to the Union government for approval. The resolution, moved by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil, was adopted unanimously. The names of most of the stations on the Mumbai local train network are in English, and it has been argued that they carry a colonial legacy. As per the resolution, Currey Road station will be renamed Lalbaug, Sandhurst Road as Dongri, Marine Lines as Mumbadevi, and Charni Road will be named as Girgaon, the news agency reported. The renaming of Sandhurst Road will be effective on the Central Line as well as the Harbour Line. Among other stations, Cotton Green station will be renamed Kalachowki, Dockyard Road as Mazgaon, and King's Circle as Tirthankar Parswanath. Notably, Mumbai had witnessed such changes before, with iconic stations like Victoria Terminus (VT) renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Elphinstone Road to Prabhadevi, which adding to the momentum of embracing culturally resonant nomenclature for public spaces. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the council, Ambadas Danve, raised a question regarding renaming the airport in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, currently called Aurangabad airport. However, Danve's demand for discussion was rejected by deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe, stating the concerned minister could respond to his query later. The Maharashtra government had previously changed the names of Aurangabad and Osmanabad districts in Marathwada region to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv, respectively. Earlier, the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved renaming some of the Mumbai local train railway stations that currently carry names from the British colonial era. (With inputs from PTI)  

17 December,2024 02:53 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
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NEET exam mode under review: decision expected soon, says Pradhan

The Education and Health Ministries are currently in discussions about whether the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) should continue to be conducted in pen-and-paper format or transition to an online format. A final decision on this matter is expected shortly, according to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As per PTI, the Education Ministry has already held two rounds of talks with the Health Ministry, which is led by Union Minister JP Nadda, to assess the most suitable mode of conducting the exam. Currently, NEET-UG is administered offline, with students answering multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on an OMR sheet. NEET-UG is one of the largest entrance exams in the country, with a record 24 lakh candidates expected to appear for the 2024 examination. The exam is primarily used for admissions into medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate programmes in fields like Dentistry, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. In total, there are approximately 1,08,000 seats available for the MBBS course, with roughly 56,000 in government medical colleges and 52,000 in private institutions. Pradhan explained that since the Health Ministry administers NEET, the Education Ministry is working closely with them to determine the best mode of conducting the examination. "We have had two rounds of discussions with the Health Ministry, led by JP Nadda. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is ready to carry out the exam in whatever mode is decided," he stated. The Education Minister further confirmed that a final decision is expected soon, and any reforms regarding the examination format would be implemented starting with the 2025 edition. The idea of transitioning NEET to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) has been considered several times in the past but gained significant momentum this year following the controversy over a paper leak. As per PTI, the Centre responded by forming a high-level committee to ensure the transparent and fair conduct of examinations by the NTA. The panel, led by former ISRO chief R. Radhakrishnan, recommended the possibility of multi-stage testing for NEET-UG as a viable option. The panel also suggested that a new framework should be established, outlining thresholds, scoring systems, and ranking at each stage of the exam, in addition to guidelines on the number of attempts candidates may be allowed. In the wake of alleged irregularities surrounding NEET and other entrance exams, including the UGC-NET, the Ministry had also taken swift action to cancel exams where the integrity of the process was compromised. These include NEET PG, CSIR-UGC NET, and others, which were cancelled either during or just before their scheduled dates as a precautionary measure. The committee tasked with examining and strengthening the security protocols surrounding the exam process also includes several prominent academicians and experts, such as former AIIMS Delhi Director Randeep Guleria, IIT Madras’ Professor K. Ramamurthy, and People Strong co-founder Pankaj Bansal, along with members from IIT Kanpur, as per PTI reports. (With inputs from PTI) 

17 December,2024 02:44 PM IST | New Delhi
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Mid-Day Top News: Bhujbal rejects RS seat, Meghwal moves polls bills and more

Welcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Rejected RS seat offer week before Maharashtra cabinet expansion: Bhujbal Nagpur: Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who is disappointed at not being included in the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra, has claimed he was offered a Rajya Sabha berth eight days ago but he rejected it. Meghwal moves to introduce bills on simultaneous polls; opposition says attack on basic structure New Delhi: Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure. Markets dip in early trade, led by Reliance and HDFC Bank, amid caution ahead of US Fed decision Indian equity markets saw early losses as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the US Fed’s interest rate decision, with major stocks like Reliance and HDFC Bank witnessing selling pressure. Mrunal Thakur to star opposite Adivi Sesh in Dacoit, see first look Get Ready for a tale of Love, Betrayal and Revenge! Adivi Sesh's passion project, Dacoit, a mega pan-India action drama has been mounted to be an adrenaline pumping experience at the cinema. On his birthday today, the actor announced his leading lady welcoming her to be part of this high octane face off! The stunning actress Mrunal Thakur joins the film as the female lead, ready to dive into a story filled with action, emotion, and drama - between two former lovers. Gloves in the air, retirement in the air? Rohit Sharma's Gabba moment stirs speculation Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul began India's fightback on Day 4 of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, aiming to close in on the hosts' daunting total of 445. While Rahul regained his form from Day 3 after surviving a first-ball reprieve, Rohit fell cheaply for just 10 runs.

17 December,2024 02:04 PM IST | Mumbai
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Delhi schools receive fifth bomb threat in nine days, searches ongoing

A fresh wave of bomb threats was reported across multiple schools in Delhi on Tuesday, marking the second such incident within the week and the fifth in just nine days, officials confirmed. This recurring pattern of threats has created alarm among students, parents, and school authorities in the national capital. According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), a call regarding a bomb threat was received from Crescent Public School, located in Saraswati Vihar, northwest Delhi. DFS officials said personnel from the fire department, local police, bomb detection squads, and dog teams swiftly responded to the alert. After a thorough search of the premises, no suspicious items were found, officials reported. Several other schools across the city also received similar threat emails, as per PTI. Security teams were promptly dispatched, and search operations are ongoing to ensure the safety of students and staff. Authorities have yet to confirm the origin of the threats or any connections between the recent incidents. This development comes a day after approximately 20 schools, including the prominent Delhi Public School (DPS) in RK Puram, received bomb threat emails on Monday. Similar threats have repeatedly targeted educational institutions over the past week, triggering a multi-agency response and extensive safety inspections. On December 14, eight schools, including DPS RK Puram, received emails containing threats to detonate "bomb vests," according to officials. A day earlier, on December 13, at least 30 schools had reported receiving similar emails, prompting large-scale searches. Earlier this month, on December 9, as many as 44 schools in Delhi received threat emails, leading to widespread panic and disruptions in academic schedules. As per PTI, the Delhi Police Special Cell has taken cognisance of the recurring incidents and registered an FIR following the December 9 threats. Investigations have been launched to identify the source and motive behind the emails. Officials remain on high alert, working in coordination with various agencies to address the issue. In a separate development, schools in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday shifted to a hybrid mode of conducting classes due to anti-pollution measures imposed under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Under these measures, physical attendance for students in classes 6 to 9 and 11 has been made optional, while hybrid (physical and online) learning remains in place. However, students in grades 10 and 12 are required to attend classes in person. (With inputs from PTI) 

17 December,2024 01:26 PM IST | New Delhi
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Priyanka Chaturvedi slams One Nation, One Election bill as unconstitutional

Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday voiced strong opposition to the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, describing it as an unconstitutional move that seeks to centralise power while undermining the federal structure of the nation. Speaking to ANI, Chaturvedi criticised the bill, stating, "The One Nation, One Election is being brought in the guise of centralising power again." She emphasised that the bill has been a matter of extensive deliberation in Parliament, with the Lok Sabha having already spent two days discussing the Constitution in detail. The debate, she noted, is expected to continue in the Rajya Sabha in the coming days. According to ANI, Chaturvedi expressed concern over the implications of the bill on India's federal system, labelling it a veiled attempt by the central government to consolidate power. She stated, "Attacking the Constitution in this manner is very unfortunate. Tampering with the process of elections and working against federalism is one such way of centralising power." The MP also raised doubts about the purported cost-effectiveness of simultaneous elections, remarking that the government has yet to provide clarity on the financial feasibility of the proposal. “I believe it is wrong and against the Constitution,” Chaturvedi asserted. She further predicted that the opposition would strongly resist the bill's introduction in the Lok Sabha, pushing for it to be referred to either the Select Committee or a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny. According to ANI reports, opposition leaders across party lines have also condemned the bill. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh categorically rejected the proposal, terming it "unconstitutional and a threat to democracy." Ramesh remarked, "The Congress party firmly, totally, and comprehensively rejects the One Nation, One Election Bill. We will oppose its introduction and demand that it be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee." Ramesh went on to allege that the bill is part of a broader agenda aimed at replacing India's Constitution. "Amending the Constitution is one thing, but bringing a new Constitution is the real objective of the RSS and PM Modi," he claimed, further accusing the RSS of historically rejecting the Constitution for not aligning with Manusmriti. ANI further reports that Congress MP Pramod Tiwari criticised the government's approach, arguing that no all-party consultation had been held before presenting the bill. "The government brought this issue to divert attention from other important matters," he claimed, adding that the ruling party lacks the necessary majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to enact constitutional changes. NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule also echoed the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to deliberate the matter thoroughly, while Congress MP K Suresh accused the bill of undermining democracy and India's federal system. He said, "The Congress party is strongly opposing this bill as it goes against the interests of our democracy and federal structure." According to ANI, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also criticised the proposal, declaring that his party would oppose it on constitutional grounds. Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted a formal notice in the Lok Sabha, outlining his objections based on "serious concerns regarding constitutionalism and constitutionality." (With inputs from ANI) 

17 December,2024 12:44 PM IST | New Delhi
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. Pic/X

Upset about exclusion from new Mahayuti cabinet, says Chhagan Bhujbal

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday expressed his disappointment at not being included in the new Mahayuti government and said he would decide his future course after talking to people from his constituency, reported news agency PTI. Thirty-nine legislators from Mahayuti allies, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, were sworn in on Sunday in the first cabinet expansion of the Devendra Fadnavis-led government. Ten former ministers were dropped from the cabinet, and 16 new faces have been introduced. Former ministers Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil of NCP and Mungantiwar and Vijaykumar Gavit of BJP were some of the prominent leaders excluded from the new cabinet, reported PTI. Talking to reporters, Bhujbal said he was upset at not being included in the new cabinet. Asked about his future course, the legislator from the Yeola constituency in Nashik district said, "Let me see. Let me think it over. I will talk to my constituency and discuss with the Samata Parishad," reported PTI. After the cabinet expansion on Sunday, Fadnavis said Mahayuti allies have agreed to conduct a "performance audit" of ministers during their tenure. Bhujbal declined to comment on the performance audit of ministers. Former minister Deepak Kesarkar, who was also dropped, said he wasn't upset. "When we authorised our party leader to make a decision, we have to abide by it and share the happiness of the newly sworn-in ministers. There are political compulsions as the party leader has to give representation to all regions and communities," the Shiv Sena leader said, reported PTI. Congress leader Bhai Jagtap said the performance audit of ministers has no meaning. "If a minister doesn't perform, why wait for two and half years? The duration cannot be a parameter for the performance audit. In the next two and half years, a people's movement will come up against electronic voting machines," he said., reported PTI. Opposition stages protest on Vidhan Bhawan steps against EVMs Opposition members staged a demonstration on the steps of the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhawan on Monday and raised slogans against the use of EVMs in elections. The protest was held on the opening day of the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur. Leader of opposition in the state legislative council Ambadas Danve led the demonstration of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, who called for "saving" the Constitution and democracy and opposed the use of EVMs. Danve was joined by Congress legislators Vijay Wadettiwar, Nitin Raut, Bhai Jagtap and Vikas Thakre, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Bhaskar Jadhav, Varun Desai and Sachin Ahir, and NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad. (With inputs from PTI)

17 December,2024 10:11 AM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
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No delay, says Uday Samant on cabinet portfolio distribution

After the Mahayuti leaders in Maharashtra took oath as ministers, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant on Monday assured that the allocation of cabinet portfolios will be distributed within two days. He asserted that there was no delay, reported news agency ANI. "There is no delay. You will get to know about the portfolios ministers have received within two days," Samant told reporters. Speaking on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal's resentment for being denied a ministerial berth, Shiv Sena leader Samant said, "We are all family and such things keep happening in a family. Our leaders including Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis will figure a way out." The Shiv Sena MLA said that the Maharashtra Assembly winter session was focused on the development of the Vidarbha region and the entire state, reported ANI. "Today is the first day (of Maharashtra assembly winter session). The newly appointed ministers will be introduced in the assembly and bills will be tabled. The session is in Vidarbha (region) and it is meant for the development of the region and (the entire) Maharashtra," Samant said, reported ANI. Earlier, as the cabinet expansion of the Maharashtra government concluded, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the government was planning to table 20 bills during the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly. The Maharashtra Assembly winter session started on December 16 and is scheduled to end on December 21 in Nagpur. Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur's Ramgiri on Sunday, CM Fadnavis emphasised that "dynamic governance" has begun in Maharashtra. According to a statement by the CM's office, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde outlined the government's commitment to "Mission Prosperous Maharashtra," while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar assured balanced development across the state, reported ANI. Fadnavis on Sunday also announced that 39 leaders have taken the oath as cabinet ministers, including six as state ministers, and that portfolio allocation is expected to be finalised within two days. The cabinet expansion comes after a delay of over two weeks following the swearing-in of CM Fadnavis and his deputies on December 5. The Mahayuti alliance had faced criticism from the opposition for delaying the announcement of its cabinet despite having a significant majority. In the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance achieved a landslide victory, securing 235 seats. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (With inputs from ANI)

17 December,2024 10:08 AM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
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