Page 2 - Maharashta

Recognition of CM Eknath Shinde-led faction well reasoned: EC tells SC

The Election Commission of India has told the Supreme Court it passed a "well reasoned" order recognising Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and allotting to it the original 'bow and arrow' symbol in its quasi-judicial capacity. The poll panel said it has become a functus officio (a body which has discharged its duty) in the case after the passing of the order. In its affidavit filed on a plea by Uddhav Thackeray challenging its order dated February 17, the Commission said, "It is stated that the answering respondent (EC) had passed the impugned order..in exercise of its quasi-judicial powers provided under paragraph of the Election Symblos (Reservation and Allotment) order, 1968." The poll panel said the apex court in a catena of cases had held where an order passed by a quasi-judicial body is under challenge before an appellate court, such a body need not be arrayed as a party to the appeal. "The answering respondent humbly submits that sin

Discontent in party not sufficient for governor to call for floor test: SC

Calling for a trust vote merely on the ground of differences between MLAs of a ruling party can topple an elected government, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday, adding the governor of a state cannot lend his office to effectuate a particular result. "It will be a sad spectacle for democracy," a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said while taking forward the hearing on the events that unfolded during the June 2022 Maharashtra political crisis triggered by a revolt in the then undivided Shiv Sena by MLAs loyal to Eknath Shinde. The bench made the observations after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Maharashtra governor, narrated the sequence of events and said there were various materials before the governor including a letter signed by 34 Shiv Sena MLAs, a letter from Independent lawmakers withdrawing support to the Uddhav Thackeray government, and another of the Leader of the Opposition that prompted him to order a trust ...

Buffalo milk prices rising in Mumbai from Mar 1, will have cascading effect

Buffalo milk wholesale prices in Mumbai will shoot up by Rs 5/litre from midnight on Tuesday; could trigger a vital cascading effect on entire food industry that depends on it as its raw material

Maha CM assures probe into Sanjay Raut's 'threat to life' allegation

A day after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged threat to his life, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said police will check the claim and act accordingly. Raut on Tuesday wrote to the police alleging "threat to life" from CM Shinde's son Shrikant Shinde. "Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde has given a 'supari' (contract) to kill me to a Thane-based criminal Raja Thakur. I have confirmed information regarding the same. I am informing you as a responsible citizen," Raut said in his letter submitted to the Mumbai police commissioner, copies of which were also sent to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio. Responding to a query on Raut's allegations, CM Shinde said the allegations will be thoroughly investigated. "Investigation will also be done to check if if this (Raut's claim) is based on facts or is a stunt. It is our job to ensure security, law and order in the state," Shinde told reporters after the cabinet meeting here.

Uddhav holds meeting with his camp leaders at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Mumbai

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Monday held an urgent meeting with his close associates at the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Mumbai to decide their future course of action, specially after losing the 'Shiv Sena' name and poll symbol 'bow and arrow' to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Leaders close to Thackeray, including Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, Subhash Desai, Anil Desai and Anil Parab, were present in the meeting held at the Sena Bhavan located in Dadar area. Thackeray has also invited several district level leaders of his camp to discuss the future course of action. The Election Commission on Friday recognised the Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and ordered allocation of the 'bow and arrow' poll symbol to it, in the process delivering a big blow to Uddhav Thackeray, whose father Bal Thackeray founded the outfit in 1966. The EC allowed the Thackeray faction to retain the name Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the flaming tor

Maha: Complaint filed against Raut for objectionable remarks against Shinde

A complaint has been filed against Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut in Nashik in connection with his objectionable remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a press conference in the city.Speaking to the reporters today, Raut reiterated that crores of rupees were spent to "break" Shiv Sena."Hundreds of Crores of Rupees were spent to break Shiv Sena. Shiv Sena is Maharashtra's self-respect & honour. Balasaheb Thackeray formed Shiv Sena for Maharashtra's self-respect," he said while citing the Saamna article which reportedly mentioned that Amit Shah is the biggest enemy of Maharashtra and Marathis.This comes after Raut on Sunday claimed that transactions worth Rs 2000 crore took place to get the Shiv Sena party name and its "bow and arrow" symbol. His statement came days after the Election Commission allotted the 'bow and arrow' symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction."I have informed the nation with my tweet. The way our symbol and Shiv Sena's name ...

LIVE: Delhi LG gives nod to convene House, hold mayoral poll on Feb 22

"Recommended MCD mayor elections to be held on 22 Feb," Kejriwal said in a tweet earlier in the day. Stay tuned for latest updates

After Mhadei diversion, Rs 5,300 cr grant to K'taka raises hackles in Goa

Referring to these remarks, Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai had said, 'Amit Shah's remarks on Mhadei diversion is like a 'bomb explosion' on the people of the state'

Record allocation for railways in M'rashtra will have good impact: Vaishnaw

The record allocation of Rs 13,539 crore for railways in Maharashtra will have a "very good effect", Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday. Addressing a press conference through video link from Delhi, Vaishnaw said that the allocation in the 2023-24 Budget for Maharashtra was 11 times the average allocation between 2009 to 2014. Saying that the union government was getting good cooperation from the Eknath Shinde-led government, Vaishnaw reiterated the charge that when Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister, the bullet train project did not get any clearances from the state government. "The deadline for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project (completion) is August 2026," he added. The production of Vande Bharat Express trains has been ramped up and a train is being manufactured in 7 to 9 days, he said. "We will modernize and redevelop 123 stations in Maharashtra. As for CSMT (in Mumbai), by March end tenders will be opened. Primary pre-work has already begun," Vaishnaw said.

Uddhav Thackeray to visit CM Eknath Shinde's political turf Thane today

Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former CM Uddhav Thackeray will visit Thane, the political turf of Maharashtra Chief Minister and his rival Eknath Shinde, on January 26, his first trip to the city after losing power in June last year. An official spokesman of the Opposition party told the media on Wednesday that Thackeray will inaugurate a medical camp organised by the party at the Shivaji Maidan on the eve of the birthday of late Shiv Sena stalwart Anand Dighe. The former CM will also garland a bust of Dighe in the Tembi Naka area, he said.

MLA Deshmukh seeks removal of Maha Cong chief Patole, writes to Kharge

Deshmukh said under the leadership of Patole, who was appointed MPCC president in February 2021, the party's position in the state has actually weakened

Extortion calls made investor drop Rs 6,000 cr Maha plan last yr: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said a businessman who wanted to invest Rs 6,000 crore in the state shifted his project to Karnataka after receiving threats and extortion calls last year. Fadnavis, who heads the Home Ministry in the Eknath Shinde government which came to power last June, also directed the police to take strict action against those harassing industries. Speaking at an event in Pune on Saturday, the deputy CM appealed to leaders not to bring politics into the industrial sector and warned of strict action against those minting money in the garb of backing labour issues. "I feel bad to say that an investor met me in the afternoon and said he wanted to invest Rs 6,000 crore here (Maharashtra) a year ago, but shifted it to Karnataka after receiving threat and extortion calls," he said. "If this situation prevails, the state's youth will not get jobs. This is why such tendencies (harassment of industries, and business persons) should be crushed. I

India needs to attract investors exiting China, says Maha DyCM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said India should be ready to attract industries exiting China, as global investors have realised they "cannot put all eggs in one basket". Addressing the valedictory session of the Advantage Maharashtra Expo here, Fadnavis said there was an "exodus" of industries from China, which was the "factory of the world", with about 40 per cent of manufacturing globally done there. Fadnavis also said that the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has cleared investment proposals worth Rs 90,000 crore in the last six months. ''Global investors have decided to leave China now, and the only country which has the capacity to digest this exodus is India. We need to attract them, as investors have realised they can't put all their eggs in one basket," the deputy chief minister said. This is an opportune time and "we have to be ready," he said. Despite recession, India is growing at 7 to 8 per cent because of the Rs 20 lakh crore ..

Maha govt on ventilator support, won't last till February: Sanjay Raut

The Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra is on ventilator support and will fall by February, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said here on Saturday. He said if the "judiciary is not pressured, then 16 MLAs (of the Shinde faction, which is also called Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena) will be disqualified". The case pertaining to the split in the Sena into the Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde factions in June last year and demands for disqualification under anti-defection laws is currently underway in the Supreme Court. On January 10, the apex court will hear a batch of petitions, including one seeking the disqualification of 16 MLAs from the Shinde camp. "This illegal government is on ventilator support and it will not see February. If the judiciary is not pressured, then 16 MLAs (of the Shinde faction) will be disqualified soon, said Raut. Accusing the state government, which also includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, of corruption, Raut said the Opposition had sought the resignation of .

Explained: What is the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka?

At the centre of the dispute is a district on the border of the two states, Belagavi

CM avoided replying to main issues raised during winter session: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde did not even touch upon the important issues raised in the legislature, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar said on Friday on the last day of the winter session here. The session of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, which had started on December 19, came to an end on Friday. Pawar said at a press conference that opposition had demanded the resignation of four 'tainted' ministers. The government shielded ministers Abdul Sattar and Sanjay Rathod who have faced strictures from the High Court in separate cases, he said. "The government did not take action or provide satisfactory reply on the issue," the Nationalist Congress Party leader said. "Similarly, we had demanded the removal of Maharashtra Governor (Bhagat Singh Koshyari) over his comments insulting the icons of Maharashtra," he said, claiming that the government did not give a proper reply. Chief minister Shinde's reply on the 'last week's resolution' on ...

Facebook friend spikes drink, steals jewellery and mobile from Thane man

The Naupada police in Thane have registered a case against a woman for stealing jewellery and a mobile worth Rs 1,20,000 from a 45-year-old man after spiking his cold drink. The man and the woman were Facebook friends and had met for the first time. The police said the man lives in Gove village near Bhiwandi and is a real estate agent. An official said on Wednesday that complainant Vijay Patil met one Samruddhi Khadapkar on Facebook and the two became friends. On learning that Patil did not have a steady source of income, the woman told her that she knew a few officials at the Maharashtra state secretariat and she could ensure better business opportunities for him, said the official. The two decided to meet near Thane station on December 2. The woman told Patil that the officials would be reaching at 7.30 pm and they could go for a movie till then. When Patil refused, she took him to a lodge where she offered him a cold drink. After consuming it, Patil felt dizzy and passed out, sa

Maha's active Covid tally reaches 165, with 26 new cases; zero fatality

Maharashtra on Tuesday recorded 26 new cases of coronavirus that raised the tally of infections to 81,36,552, an official from the state health department said. The toll remained unchanged at 1,48,415 and the count of recoveries reached 79,87,972 after 15 patients recovered from the infection during the day, he said. With 9,681 swab samples tested in the last 24 hours, the total number of tests conducted in the state so far rose to 8,58,76,790, the official said. As per the health department's report, Pune logged the highest eight cases, followed by seven cases in Mumbai circle, four each from Nashik and Latur, and one each from Nagpur, Aurangabad and Kolhapur circles. Maharashtra now has 165 active cases, of which Pune accounts for the highest 54 cases, followed by 44 in Mumbai and 11 in Thane district, it said. The recovery rate in Maharashtra is at 98.17 per cent and fatality rate stands at 1.82 per cent, the report said. According to the health department, 44,666 passengers .

NCP asks Maharashtra DGP to withdraw vehicles bought under Nirbhaya Fund

NCP has written to Maharashtra DGP demanding "immediate withdrawal of vehicles procured under Nirbhaya fund" after reports alleged that vehicles were being used for Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction

Maha ex-minister Anil Deshmukh gets bail in corruption case after 13 months

The Bombay High Court is likely to pass an order on Monday on the bail plea of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in a corruption case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A single bench of Justice M S Karnik had reserved the order on the plea last week after both sides completed their arguments. Deshmukh, 74, approached the HC after a special CBI court rejected his bail plea last month. He sought bail on medical grounds as well as on merits. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader has been in jail since November last year after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. In April this year, he was arrested by the CBI in the corruption case. He is in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai. Deshmukh was granted bail by the high court last month in the ED case. His bail plea in the corruption case was, however, rejected by the special CBI court noting there was prima facie evidence a