Maharashtra Jharkhand Election 2024: ‘JMM-led govt looted natural resources and Centre’s funds, bulldozer on standby to reclaim them,’ says Yogi Adityanath in Jamtara

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday questioned where the Mahayuti parties had "asked Hindus to unite and fight against the Muslims". In an interview with news agency PTI, Shinde said, "What has Prime Minister Narendra Modi said? Be united and be safe. Come together and vote to take Maharashtra on the path of development and progress. What is wrong in this?"

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a press conference in Ranchi, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to give Rs 1 lakh cr-worth Dharavi land to an industrialist, adding that the PM had handed over the country's wealth to billionaires, news agency PTI reported. "We want to run govt for poor, not billionaires,' Rahul said, while adding that the BJP had given mines and forest land in Jharkhand to industrialists.

Addressing a press conference in Ranchi, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that the Assembly election is "a battle of ideologies". ".... on one hand is the INDIA bloc and Congress who are protecting the Constitution and want to run a govt of poor, Dalits, backwards and Adivasis. On the other hand are those powers who want to crush the Constitution, finish it," Gandhi said, claiming that this is what the senior BJP and RSS leaders have said, news agency PTI reported.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi that he had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a caste census and increase reservations, adding that the PM did not respond. Gandhi further said that PM Modi "lies that I am against reservations", stating that the INDIA bloc wants to increase it and remove the 50 per cent cap.

Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Jamtara, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath alleged that the JMM-led state government was playing with lives of the people in the state "through their divisive politics", news agency PTI reported. The UP CM accused the Jharkhand government of supporting infiltrators involved in "land jihad" and "love jihad". Adityanath said that the JMM government had "encouraged infiltration by Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingyas, posing a serious threat to 'beti, mati, roti'".

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Saraikela constituency on Monday, while speaking to reporters, said, "We will win in Jharkhand with a majority... Bangladeshi infiltration is the biggest issue in Santhal Pargana, we have to uproot the infiltrators," news agency ANI reported.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate from Gandey constituency Kalpana Soren, speaking to reporters on Monday, claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) never stands with them in their fight over issues that matter to the public.

"BJP never stands with us in our fight over public issues. Be it the 27% reservation for the backward, Sarna-Adivasi Dharam Code or the 1932 Local Resident Policy. We get it passed by the Assembly but nobody from BJP fights our fight for issues of Jharkhand. Today, if we are felicitating Maiya in Jharkhand then BJP's 'PIL gang' rushes to the fore. Our intentions are clear, we want to raise our issues if Jharkhand and issues of social justice. We will be at it...," she told the ANI reporters.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde shared a video message on X (formerly Twitter) hailing the work of his government in the state on Monday.

"There's a good report, good perception. I am happy that in the last 2.5 years, we have carried out so many development works. The people are also happy by the work we have done. The Maha Vikas Aghadi had put speed breakers on the path of development, we have removed those. All projects in Mumbai, Nagpur or other cities were stalled, we ensured that the work is restarted. We have given several welfare schemes such as 'Ladli Behna', 'Ladli Beti', 'Ladli Beta'," he said.

Assam Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) co-incharge Himanta Biswa Sarma for Jharkhand, speaking to reporters, said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form the government in Jharkhand with majority.

"Today is the last day for the election campaign...The mood of Jharkhand is in support of PM Modi...They want change... NDA will form a government with the majority," Sarma told the reporters, ANI news reported.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Monday, in a verbal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his slogan 'Ek hai toh safe hai'', brought out a treasury box at the press conference along with the photo of the PM and billionaire Gautam Adani, alongside the Dharavi Redevelopment map.

"This is the real safe he is worried about," Gandhi said.

"The real issue of this election is about employment. There is unemployment. Businesses are going out of Maharashtra. Agri products are falling. There are attempts to distract by using the words of Dharmayuddh. They have no option but to do so," Gandhi added at the press conference.

On the last day of campaigning for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference in Mumbai, where he claimed the election in the state to be that of “ideologies.”

He said that it is “an election between 1-2 billionaires and the poor. The billionaires want the land of Mumbai to go into their hands… Our thinking is that Maharashtra, the farmers of the state, the poor, the unemployed, the youth need help.”

"The estimate is that Rs 1 lakh crores will be given to 1 billionaire. Our thinking is that Maharashtra, the farmers of Maharashtra, the poor, the unemployed, the youth need help...We will deposit ₹3000 in every woman's bank account for free, there will be bus travel for women and farmers, loans up to Rs 3 lakh will be waived, Rs 7,000 rupees per quintal for soybean...," he continued.

- with ANI inputs

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference in Maharashtra's capital, Mumbai on Monday.

(Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will address press conferences in Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand. He is also likely to address a press meet in Maharashtra's Mumbai.

On the last day of campaigning for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda will address a rally each in Thane, Solapur and Raigad.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will also address a public meeting in Vasai.

All 288 seats of Maharashtra will go to polls on November 20.

Addressing an election rally in Solapur district's Madha, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said that those who had betrayed the party should be shown their place, news agency PTI reported. "Don't just defeat them, defeat them big," Pawar said. He further warned his detractors to mess with anyone but him.

The NCP (SP) has fielded Sharad Pawar's grandnephew, Yugendra Pawar, against Ajit Pawar in Baramati.

Janasena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, while campaigning for the Mahayuti candidate in Maharashtra's Ballarpur, said that the followers of Sanatan Dharma "will respond to those who disrespect it", news agency PTI reported.

"The people of Old City (Hyderabad) have always criticised the Indian culture and the festivals of India. However, followers of Sanatan Dharma have always respected everyone irrespective of their religion. Followers of Sanatan Dharma, however, will respond to those who disrespect it,” the actor-turned-politician said.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while paying his tributes to the late Bal Thackeray, said that he would be "extremely sad to see his son deviate from his ideology for the sake of power", news agency PTI reported. Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Katol ahead of the November 20 elections in the state, Chouhan claimed that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was serving the nation during the Covid pandemic, Uddhav had not even stepped out of his bungalow. " “I was also a chief minister (of MP) at that time but was always in the field for the people,” he said.

Ahead of the second phase of the Assembly elections in Jharkhand, JMM leader Kalpana Soren said that senior BJP leaders were "wandering" in the state, but had no time to visit Manipur, news agency PTI reported. "Senior BJP leaders have been hovering around the state, which reflects their anxiety of being away from power. They are wandering in the state but they did not visit Manipur to see the atrocities being committed against tribal women there," Kalpana said.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday said that caste should not be a factor when giving tickets to candidates in elections, while accusing the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra of politicising caste and religion, news agency PTI reported.

“The ruling party will use ‘saam' (persuasion), ‘daam' (reward) and ‘dand' (punishment) to win the elections in the state. Multiple members from some political parties are deliberately asked to contest the polls to split votes and help the ruling party,” she claimed.

BJP National President J P Nadda on Sunday said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who gave constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes, news agency PTI reported. While addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Jamtara, Nadda further added that the "corrupt" JMM-led coalition had betrayed the people of Jharkhand, who had decided to teach the incumbent state government a lesson.

Addressing a poll rally in Bokaro, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said that unemployment and inflation was on the rise due the "wrong policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre", news agency PTI reported. "The BJP failed to check the price rise of essential commodities and increase employment opportunities," Yadav added.

He further alleged that the BJP was misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax Department to topple non-BJP governments in other states. Tejashwi said that the BJP had sent his father Lalu Yadav, and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to jail. "... they also tried to put me behind bars. We are not going to be scared in the name of jail," he added.

BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday claimed that Chief Minister Hemant Soren looted Jal, Jungle, Jameen of the state, while adding that infiltration was rampant under the JMM government. "I have received an intelligence report just now. It says that Bangladeshi infiltrators are given shelter in madrasas here. Their Aadhaar, voter ID, gas connection and ration card are facilitated and then the Hemant Soren government ensures land for them," news agency PTI quoted Nadda as saying.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, B R Ambedkar not restricted to any particular community, says Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Umred, Nagpur

An MVA rally attended by NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray and Congress state president Nana Patole will be held today evening in Mumbai’s BKC ground.

The present state of Maharashtra was built by the Congress Party. Since May 1, 1960, when the state was carved out of the State of Bombay, there have been 20 chief ministers (some repeated). All but five of them belonged to the Indian National Congress. (I count Shri Sharad Pawar who once represented a breakaway group, the INC (Socialist), as a Congress chief minister). The five who were from a party opposed to the Congress were Mr Manohar Joshi, Mr Narayan Rane, Mr Devendra Fadnavis, Mr Uddhav Thackeray and Mr Eknath Shinde. Between the five, they occupied the seat for about 15 years out of the 64 years, 6 months and 17 days. A chief minister from the Congress party was at the helm during the other years.

The last elections to the State Assembly were held in November 2019. In the last five years, there have been three chief ministers. Of them, Mr Fadnavis and Mr Shinde are with the MAHAYUTI and Mr Thackeray is with the MVA. The BJP has been in power since October 31, 2014 except for 2 years and 214 days between November 2019 and June 2022 when a coalition of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP (MVA) was in office. The BJP engineered defections in the Shiv Sena and the NCP, toppled the MVA government and installed its own coalition government (MAHAYUTI). Read more

The Indian Express travelled to Maharashtra's Nandurbar and Sindhudurg, districts separated by nearly 800 km, to see the impact of the Ladki Bajin scheme on its intended beneficiaries. Nandurbar, a tribal district, is among Maharashtra’s poorest, while the relatively prosperous Sindhudurg, along the Konkan coast, is among four districts in the state with more women voters than men. While Nandurbar has traditionally been a Congress bastion, the BJP has been making inroads, winning two of the four Assembly seats in the last election. Sindhudurg is considered a Narayan Rane turf, but this time, is likely to witness a contest between the two Shiv Sena factions.

The Ladki Bahin scheme has taken off in both the districts, with an overwhelming number of the applicants — 97% in Nandurbar and 96% in Sindhudurg — getting the money in their accounts. Read more

In a swipe at the BJP, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the party’s ‘Mati, Beti and Roti’ slogan was aimed to mislead people for political gain. During a rally held in Karkatdih, Soren claimed that BJP’s slogan was aimed at disrupting the state’s prevailing peace and harmony, asserting that it was a misleading attempt by the party to stir up tensions.

With merely two more days to go for Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the ruling and Opposition alliances have been trading barbs over welfare schemes. The campaigns in the states are set to conclude on Monday.

Taking potshots at the Congress, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday claimed that the party's leader Rahul Gandhi believes in flying abroad after making promises, while it is only the BJP that fulfils what its guarantees.

Addressing a rally at Madhupur in Deoghar district, the Union Home Minister said that while terrorists not only attacked India but also enjoyed biryani after killing people during the UPA rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wiped out terrorists through surgical and air strikes.

"Rahul baba makes promises one after another, but after making promises he flies abroad... But on the other hand, PM Modi's promise is like one etched on stone (patthar ki lakeer). He fulfils what he promises. BJP fulfils its guarantees and only we can shape Jharkhand. The Congress, JMM and RJD can never work in the interest of the state," he said.

Alleging that the ruling JMM-led coalition has turned infiltrators into its 'vote-bank', Shah declared that illegal immigration will be checked once the BJP is voted to power in the state.

"Infiltrators are posing a threat not only to the tribals but also to the state's youth by snatching jobs and fuelling crime. The Jharkhand High Court had directed to identify and deport infiltrators. While the Centre agreed, the Hemant Soren government in the state didn't," he claimed.

--PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of delaying helicopters of his and Rahul Gandhi in Jharkhand, and alleged that despite holding cabinet minister rank, the opposition leaders were not given access to reserved airport lounge. Congress raised allegations that Gandhi’s helicopter, which was supposed to take from Mahagama in Godda district, was grounded for about two hours yesterday, as it was politically motivated. On the same day, Modi was stranded at Deoghar airport for nearly two hours and a “no-fly” zone was declared in the region’s airspace.