BJP announced Navneet Rana as official candidate from Amravati. (File/Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)Mumbai News Highlights: BJP has announced Navneet Rana as official candidate from Amravati. The Shiv Sena lead by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had staked claim for this seat earlier. In 2019, Rana contested as independent candidate supported by then undivided NCP.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday released its first list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, includes former Union ministers Anant Geete and Arvind Sawant for the Raigad and South Mumbai constituencies respectively. The Congress, part of the state-level opposition grouping, has announced candidates where there’s no conflict with alliance partners. Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in five phases beginning April 19.
Meanwhile, The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar, is preparing for the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra on Wednesday. They have convened a meeting of the Central Parliamentary Executive Committee to discuss Lok Sabha candidates, with Sharad Pawar presiding. Key party members such as Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, PC Chacko, Anil Deshmukh, and Jitendra Awhad will be in attendance.
229 nominations filed by 183 candidates for 5 seats in Maharashtra going to polls in first phase
A total of 229 nominations have been filed by 183 candidates for the five constituencies in the east Vidarbha region of Maharashtra which will vote in the first phase of general polls on April 19.
This information was shared by the office of the State Chief Electoral Officer.
Notably, the deadline for filing nominations expired on Wednesday.
Prominent candidates in the fray for the first phase are Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, state Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar (both BJP), and Pratibha Dhanorkar of Congress.
Voting will be held for Nagpur, Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST), Bhandara-Gondiya, Chandrapur, and Ramtek (SC) in the first phase.
In four of the five constituencies, the BJP and Congress are locked in a straight fight while in Ramtek, it is a battle for supremacy between Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the Grand Old Party. (PTI)
Election Commission's surveillance team seizes cash worth Rs 1.76 crore in Goregaon, Gondia
Maratha quota agitators try to block Pankaja Munde's convoy in Beed district, police disperse crowd
A group of Maratha quota agitators on Wednesday tried to block the convoy of BJP's Beed Lok Sabha candidate Pankaj Munde. The police intervened and dispersed the crowd, said a senior police official.
The process to register a case against the agitators was underway, the official.
The incident took place when Munde was on her way to attend a religious event at Kej in Maharashtra's Beed district. The agitators were shouting “Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha”, showed videos of the protest which went viral on social media.
“They were Maratha quota agitators who tried to stop the convoy of Pankaja Munde. She has enough security. The people were moved out of the way and the convoy was sent further as per the scheduled programme,” the police official said. The police dispersed the agitators, he added.
Munde told reporters, “The body language of these agitators was different. I have to find out whether they were really Maratha quota agitators. I could not see much as my supporters were around me.” She said Maratha protesters had earlier shown her black handkerchiefs, calling it routine. “But the body language of these agitators was a little different,” she said. (PTI)
Sentiment of NCP workers in favour of contesting Nashik LS seat: Bhujbal
Workers of NCP led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar feel the party should contest from Nashik Lok Sabha constituency, senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal said on Wednesday.
Bhujbal met Ajit Pawar in Pune to discuss the issue.
Notably, Nashik seat is currently represented by Shiv Sena' Hemant Godse, who owes allegiance to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
"During the meeting with Ajitdada, we discussed whether the NCP should contest the Nashik seat or not. The general sentiment of the party workers is that we should field the party candidate. The testing is being done for the constituency," Bhujbal told reporters.
Queried on whether he will be fielded by the party from Nashik, Bhujbal said the party candidate will contest the election on the clock symbol.
"The candidate will be finalised once NCP makes up its mind to contest elections from Nashik," he added. (PTI)
Sharad Pawar chairs NCP (SP) meeting to finalise candidates for Lok Sabha polls
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the party's parliamentary board to finalise candidates and discuss poll strategy.
Except for Baramati, the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi also comprising Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, hasn't declared candidates for other seats yet.
The NCP (SP), which will face the elections with Pawar as the face post the split last year, is keen to contest at least 10 seats, including Bhiwandi.
Earlier in the day, the Shiv Sena (UBT) released its first list of 17 candidates for Maharashtra.
Baramati constituency in Pune district is currently represented by Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule who has been renominated.
The meeting held at the party office in south Mumbai was attended by the party leaders Jayant Patil, Anil Deshmukh, and Jitendra Awhad. (PTI)
EC withholds Akola West Assembly bypoll in Maharashtra after HC order
The Election Commission (EC) decided on Wednesday to withhold the bypoll to the Akola West Assembly seat in Maharashtra, a day after the Bombay High Court said the by-election will not be held as the new member will get less than a year to represent the constituency.
The gazette notification to commence the nomination process was to be issued on Thursday and the bypoll was to be held on April 26.
In a statement, the EC said following the direction of the high court's Nagpur bench, it has decided to "withhold the notification" for the bypoll to the Akola West Assembly seat.
A bench of justices Anil Killor and M S Jawalkar declared on Tuesday that there shall be no bypoll in the Assembly seat, which fell vacant after the incumbent MLA died late last year, as the new member will get less than a year to represent the constituency.
The seat fell vacant after incumbent MLA Govardhan Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) died on November 3, 2023. (PTI)
BJP fields Navneet Rana from Amravati LS seat in Maharashtra, Govind Karjol from Chitradurga
The BJP on Wednesday fielded independent Lok Sabha member Navneet Rana as its candidate from the Amravati parliamentary seat in Maharashtra.
Rana had defeated Shiv Sena candidate and former Union minister Anandrao Adsul from Amravati in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
Former Karnataka deputy chief minister Govind Karjol has been fielded from the Chitradurga Lok Sabha seat, the BJP said here.
BJP leader A Narayanaswamy had won the Chitradurga parliamentary seat in the 2019 general election.
The party also fielded Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini for the bypoll to the Karnal assembly seat, vacated by former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Saini succeeded Khattar as Haryana's chief minister earlier this month. (PTI)
BJP announces Navneet Rana as official candidate from Amravati
BJP has announced Navneet Rana as official candidate from Amravati. The Shiv Sena lead by Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde had staked claim for this seat earlier. In 2019, Rana contested as independent candidate supported by then undivided NCP.
Shiv Sena announces list of star campaigners; PM Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda feature in list
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday announced the list of star campaigners for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, which includes names of 40 leaders. Among them are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, BJP President JP Nadda, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The Shiv Sena central office stated in a release that these star campaigners will actively engage in campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Mumbai police EOW arrest investment consultant Amber Dalal accused of duping over 1,000 investors
Mumbai police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) officials have arrested Chartered Accountant and investment consultant Amber Dalal from Uttarkhand. Dalal is accused of running a massive Ponzi scheme and duping over 1000 investors in and outside India in hundreds of crores. So far over 600 victim investors have apparocehd police claiming they were duped of more than Rs 380 crore. Police say that this number will increase by many folds as more victims are coming forward.
Who is Amber Dalal? Read here
I hope that he (Sanjay Nirupam) understands that sometime it is essential to compromise in 'alliance dharm': Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi
On Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam's statement on Amol Kirtikar - Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Mumbai North West constituency - party MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "First of all, he didn't speak on behalf of Congress. He gave his personal opinion. As far as the scam (COVID Khichdi scam) is concerned, he is speaking BJP's language while being in Congress. This is unfortunate, I hope that he (Sanjay Nirupam) understands that sometime it is essential to compromise in 'alliance dharm"
We are ready to have frank discussions: NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad on VBA leader Prakash Ambedkar
On Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar announcing the first list of candidates, NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad says, "The two of us have to come together to stop fascism. This is the demand of society, that Prakash Ambedkar and MVA should come together. When you have to do something big, you have to compromise. I urge him to not be angry. We are ready to have frank discussions."
Suspicion saves lawyer from losing Rs 80 lakh to fraudsters
A group of fraudsters posing as representatives of a prominent logistics firm as well as police officials tried to dupe a city-based woman lawyer to the tune of Rs 80 lakh, but her alertness saved her from losing her money, police said.
The fraudsters called the 30-year-old lawyer on Monday and told her that the parcel that she tried to send to Iran contained synthetic drug LSD in it, the police said.
"They told her that they were from a prominent logistics company and they had discovered the incriminating material in the parcel. They said there was an FIR against her and sought her Aadhaar and PAN card details to shut the case," a police official said.
They later pretended to transfer the phone to a person, who claimed to be a senior police official investigating the case, he said.
"In order to get out of the trouble, the caller asked the lawyer to deposit a cheque of Rs 80 lakh from her bank account into an account he mentioned," he said. (PTI)
We are ending toll and there will be a satellite base toll collection system: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
"Now we are ending toll and there will be a satellite base toll collection system. Money will be deducted from your bank account and the amount of road you cover will be charged accordingly. Through this time and money can be saved," said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today. He filed his nomination as a BJP candidate for the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra, and expressed confidence that the NDA government will continue to be in power at the Centre.
Mumbai police seize mephedrone worth Rs 245 crore from factory in Sangli district; six held
The Mumbai police have busted a mephedrone manufacturing factory, surrounded by grape farms, in Maharashtra's Sangli district and seized over a quintal of the narcotic substance worth Rs 245 crore, an official said on Wednesday.
The latest haul, which also saw the arrest of six persons including “mephedrone maker” Pravin Shinde, was the outcome of an investigation after police seized drugs worth Rs 7 crore in Mumbai last month.
Working on leads, the Mumbai Crime Branch on Monday raided a farm at Irali village in Sangli district and seized 122.5 kg of mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant, the official said.
The police have so far seized Rs 252 crore worth of the narcotic substance in connection with the case. (PTI)
Waited for Prakash Ambedkar's VBA till the last moment, still waiting: Raut
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi waited for the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi till the last moment and is still waiting after the latter announced that he will not ally with the opposition camp for the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra.
Talking to reporters, Raut said his party was still of the opinion that talks could be held with the VBA.
“We waited for the VBA till the last moment and are still waiting. We had offered the VBA five seats including Akola. We still are of the opinion that talks can be held with him. This can go beyond five,” Raut said.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) on Wednesday released its first list of 17 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state, and said it will contest a total of 22 seats in the state.
Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, announced the names of eight candidates for the phase of elections, including himself from the Akola constituency.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Ambedkar accused the MVA allies - Congress, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), Shiv Sena (UBT) - of trying to use his outfit to promote dynastic politics. (PTI)
Union minister Gadkari files nomination for Nagpur LS seat; says NDA will retain power
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday filed his nomination as a BJP candidate for the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra, and expressed confidence that the NDA government will continue to be in power at the Centre.
Before filing the nomination paper, Gadkari took out a roadshow in the city, where Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel were present with him.
Addressing a gathering before filing the nomination, Gadkari said, "With people's blessings, the NDA government will retain power under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. Maharashtra will see a huge development under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar." "We have to make India 'vishwa guru' under PM Modi's leadership and turn it into a happy and prosperous nation," he said.
Gadkari has been representing the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat since the last two terms. He fought his first Lok Sabha election in 2014 from the seat against seven-time Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar and defeated him by a margin of 2,85,000 votes. (PTI)
Sangli Congress leader MLA Vishwajeet Kadam meets KC Venugopal
Sangli Congress leader and MLA Vishwajeet Kadam and Congress party's Lok Sabha hopeful Vishal Patil met Congress GS K C Venugopal demanding this seat for the party on which Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced its candidate.
Congress former MP Sanjay Nirupam gives ultimatum to party, says ‘have options open’
Congress former MP Sanjay Nirupam gives an ultimatum to Congress leadership saying he will wait for one week only to hear what the leadership has to say. “I am not a person who is sitting without any option. I have all the options open. Now it will be aar ya paar,” said Nirupam. Nirupam who has lost from Mumbai North West seat for the last two elections, wanted to contest for the third time. Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced Amol Kirtikar as its candidate for this seat.
'We hope that Uddhavji will rethink on this decision': Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar
Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar says that the seat sharing talks between the MVA are still going on and it is not right to declare candidates on seats which are being discussed. "We hope that Uddhavji will rethink on this decision," he said.
Balasaheb Thorat displeased with Shiv Sena's candidate list, urges rethink on contested seats
Congress legislative party leader Balasaheb Thorat expresses unhappiness over the first list of ally Shiv Sena (UBT) saying the party should have avoided declaring candidates on seats like Sangli and Mumbai where discussion is still going on. "We hope that the Sena will rethink its decision," he said.
In Maharashtra, trouble mounts for MVA as VBA decides to go solo in Lok Sabha polls
With weeks to go for the Lok Sabha elections, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar has severed ties with the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), announcing that the party will go solo in the upcoming polls. This comes the day after the party had given an ultimatum on deciding on his on his demands for seats.
ED summons Shiv Sena leader amidst Lok Sabha candidacy announcement
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Amol Kirtikar, to probe him for his alleged involvement in the Khichdi scam. Interestingly, the agency called Kirtikar for questioning on Wednesday, and the same day Shiv Sena (UBT) announced his name as the candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha election from a Mumbai Northwest constituency.
Standup comic Munawar Faruqui, 14 others booked after raid at Mumbai hookah bar
The Mumbai police late Tuesday night detained and later booked standup comedian and Bigg Boss 17 winner Munawar Faruqui and 14 others for allegedly consuming tobacco-based hookah at a hookah bar in south Mumbai.
A police officer said that a team conducted a raid on a hookah bar named Sabalan and found 15 people consuming hookah; Faruqui was among them. After verifying that tobacco was being smoked, an offence was registered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act at the local MRA Marg police station.
A police officer said that since it was a bailable offence, the accused were not imprisoned. Read
In Pics | Union minister Nitin Gadkari offers prayers before filing Lok Sabha nomination
Meet Sadanand Date, a police hero of 26/11 terror attack, the new NIA chief
THE 1990 batch IPS officer Dr Sadanand Date appointed as the head of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is known as a no-nonsense officer with a squeaky-clean image. Date was one of the officers who had taken on the terrorists during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and it was his bravery and presence of mind that had led to rescue of hostages at the Cama and Albless hospital for women and children. The officer was later awarded the President’s police medal for gallantry.
Date, currently serving as the chief of the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), has served in several important postings in the past including being the first Commissioner of the newly formed Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police Commissionerate that came up in 2020, Joint commissioner of police Law and Order and later Jt Commissioner of the crime branch in Mumbai city.
Date who holds a doctorate from Pune university, his home town, is also a qualified cost and management accountant from Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI). Read
Shiv Sena (UBT) releases first list of 16 candidates for Lok Sabha polls
Those in power should stop frequent trips to Delhi, concentrate on issues in the state: Supriya Sule
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule on Tuesday said that while Maharashtra has been facing a drought-like situation, those in power are busy making trips, news agency PTI reported. "Those in power should stop their frequent trips (to Delhi) and concentrate on the issues faced by the common people who voted them to power. You should do something for drought management in the state," PTI quoted the Baramati MP as saying to the reporters. Sule, the daughter of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, also said that she was concerned about the drought-like situation in the state and in Baramati, as well as the need for fodder camps and water tankers.
NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal says party wants to contest Nashik seat, denies demanding ticket for himself
Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday said that the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party has asked to field their candidate from the Nashik constituency, news agency PTI reported. However, he denied demanding a ticket for the seat for himself and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal. The BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are currently in discussions as to who will contest from the Nashik seat.
Bombay HC says no bypoll for Akola West assembly seat, sets aside EC notification
The Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench on Tuesday set aside the Election Commission notification for holding bypoll in the Akola West assembly seat, news agency PTI reported. A division bench of Justices Anil Killor and MS Jawalkar declared that there will be no by-election for the seat, which fell vacant after its sitting MLA died late last year. The HC was hearing a petition filed by Akola resident Anil Dubey for setting aside the EC notification ordering the holding of bypolls, the PTI report said. The petitioner had argued that the term for the new MLA will be less than one year, given that the assembly polls for the state are due in October,
11-year-old boy told to chant religious slogan in Thane, case registered
The Thane police on Tuesday registered a case against five unidentified individuals for allegedly telling an 100-year-old buy to chant a religious slogan, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying. The incident took place in Mira Road on Monday night, when the boy was returning from a shop and greeted his building watchman with a religious slogan. Following this, the five accused asked the boy to chant a slogan associated with another religious faith. The Mira Road police have registered a case against five persons under sections 448 (house trespass), 295A (outraging religious feelings),153A (promoting enmity on grounds of religion, race, etc.) and 143 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code, and Maharashtra Police Act. 1951, the PTI report said.
Maharashtra makes changes in MHT-CET date to avoid clash with NEET, new date to be out soon
Owing to clash of dates with the pre-medical entrance test of NEET-UG, the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has said that the MHT-CET for Physics-Chemistry-Mathematics group will not be held on May 5. The new dates will be announced soon, said CET Cell on March 24 as a significant number of students are likely to attend both the examinations.
“Multiple parents approached the Cell with requests to avoid the clash as there are a considerable number of students appearing for both. Accordingly, it was decided that MHT-CET (PCM Group) will not be held on May 5 and revised dates will be announced soon,” said an official from the CET Cell, adding that no other change has been made in the revised schedule declared by the CET Cell, including dates of MHT-CET Physics, Chemistry, Biology (PCB) group.
MHT-CET, which determines admission to engineering courses in Maharashtra, is among the most sought-after exams conducted by the CET Cell. Continue
In Pics | Fire level-1 at Mulund West
Lok Sabha polls: Shiv Sena (UBT) to release first list of candidates today
In preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena (UBT) announced its first list of candidates, featuring 16 names, with Sanjay Raut confirming the alliance with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).
Discussions on seat sharing took place among the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance members, including a meeting attended by NCP president Sharad Pawar at Uddhav Thackeray's residence.
Additionally, Congress leader Raju Parwe joined Shiv Sena, while the Mahayuti alliance gained RSP chief Mahadev Jankar. Maharashtra will vote in five phases for its 48 constituencies.
In the 2019 elections, BJP and Shiv Sena had significant wins, while NCP secured four seats.
Religious slogan on Beed mosque wall in Mumbai triggers tension, police register case
The police on Monday registered a case in the incident where an unidentified person wrote a religious slogan on the wall of a prominent mosque in Maharashtra’s Beed district, triggering communal tension in the region.
The slogan was scribbled on the wall of the Markazi Masjid mosque in Majalgaon, late in the evening, leading to protests by the local Muslim community who congregated in substantial numbers outside the mosque and local police station seeking action. Read Here
Fire breaks out on sixth floor of commercial building in Mumbai
A fire broke out on the sixth floor of a commercial building in Mulund West, Mumbai on Tuesday.
Fire officials said 5 fire tenders reached the spot shortly after to douse the blaze.
No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.
Fire services are conducting operations to rescue stranded persons.
The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Further details into the matter are awaited. (ANI)
Man held for killing wife during argument in Maharashtra's Palghar district
A 38-year-old man from Maharashtra's Palghar district has been arrested for allegedly clubbing his wife to death during an argument, an official said on Tuesday.
Raghya Dhapsi fatally attacked his wife Bharti Dhapsi (44) at their home in Mudgaon village on March 25 night, he said.
The two were having a heated argument over his drinking habits. In a fit of rage, Raghya picked up a piece of wood and hit Bharti, he said. She was taken to the government hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The Kasa police have registered a case of murder against the husband, said the station house officer. (PTI)
1 dead, 1 missing after falling into sea while taking selfies at Mumbai’s Mahim Chowpatty beach
One person has been killed and another one is missing after five men fell into the sea at Mumbai’s Mahim Chowpatty beach on Sunday.
The incident was reported around 4.40 pm on Sunday, following which a search and rescue operation was initiated. The officials said that the rescue operation was called off around 8 pm owing to low visibility and unfavourable tidal conditions.
“The boys were likely local tourists who had come to the visit during Sunday evening. Locals said that they fell in while taking selfies. While two boys were rescued from close to the shore, two of them were washed into the deep waters,” a Mumbai Fire Brigade official said. Read