Mumbai this week: MVA in a huddle ahead of INDIA meet; storm over export duty on onion

• During the INDIA meeting in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, a logo of the INDIA alliance may be unveiled, According to sources.
• Two convenors of the alliance may also be appointed.
• The source said during the meeting that there is a possibility of formation of a co-ordination committee and the decision on it would be taken by all the parties.

Following are the other important updates from Mumbai and Maharashtra in the past week (August 21-27):

Storm over export duty on onion

Farmers and traders had on Sunday gone on an indefinite strike demanding that onion-carrying containers stuck at various ports, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, should be allowed outside India without the 40 per cent export duty imposed by the Central Government.

After four days, Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in Lasalgaon in Maharashtra’s Nashik district Thursday resumed onion trading and auction following reassurance from the Centre that it will look into their demands over the rollback of the export duty.

NCP MP Supriya Sule, meanwhile, demanded that the state government declare a drought in Maharashtra.

On the political front

NCP: Even as the NCP has been facing questions from many, including its MVA allies, on clearing its position about Sharad Pawar’s several meetings with Ajit Pawar after the split in NCP, Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said that while they will continue to fight the ideological battle, they are “one as a family”. Read Shubhangi Khapre’s analysis on how the NCP under Sharad Pawar has never got close to simple majority in Maharashtra

Shiv Sena (UBT): Party MP Sanjay Raut said that NCP president Sharad Pawar is using guerrilla warfare tactics to fight against Ajit Pawar-led NCP legislators who rebelled against him and joined the state government led by CM Eknath Shinde and BJP.

Congress: On the same day when NCP chief Sharad Pawar indirectly ruled out the return of his rebel nephew and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP’s ally Congress claimed that Ajit may return to the NCP.

Shiv Sena: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLAs, who are facing disqualification pleas, submitted their 6,000-page reply to the notice issued by Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Meanwhile, seven former Congress corporators of the BMC joined the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Other important news this week:

1. Jaipur-Mumbai train shooting: Accused has fundamental right to maintain silence: Court
2. Moderate rain sweeps city, Mumbai records highest August rain this year
3. How a fingerprint and new biometric system helped police crack double murder in 6 hours
4. Coastal Road (South) project: Nearly 80% work done, no changes in design feasible now, BMC tells HC
5. BMC to study ‘Indore model’ of waste management
6. Mumbai gets world’s tallest rehabilitation towers at Dhobi Ghat
7. Coastal Road project: BMC to give Rs 11 cr compensation to 184 fishermen for loss of livelihood
8. With shared responsibility among departments, Maharashtra readies fourth women’s policy
9. Court orders probe to find why FIR against Sambhaji Bhide was delayed
10. Fadnavis visits Japan: All that transpired

Photo of the week

In an age-old shop in Lalbaug, South Central Mumbai, artisans are busy making traditional musical instruments ahead of the upcoming festival season.(Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

News to watch out for next week:

1. Opposition alliance INDIA meeting to hold meeting in Mumbai on August 31
2. State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule tours state to review 28 Lok Sabha seats

News from Mumbai: August 14-20

News from Mumbai: August 7-13

News from Mumbai: July 31 – August 6