In Brief 8212; Pune

Kumbhar's daughter at the helmKolhapur: In a dramatic turn of events incumbency reigned supreme at Ichalkaranji-based Panchganga sugar co...

Kumbhar8217;s daughter at the helm
Kolhapur: In a dramatic turn of events incumbency reigned supreme at Ichalkaranji-based Panchganga sugar cooperative as Rajani Magdum, daughter of late sugar baron MLA Ratnappa Kumbhar, was unanimously elected factory chairperson, today.

The factory board of directors met to decide the late sugar baron8217;s heir this morning after a fortnight long controversy. What appeared to be a vexed event, turned out to be a tamed affair, according to factory sources.

The election of the factory chairperson was the centre of attraction for the entire sugar belt of western Maharashtra as a virtual battle of supremacy ensued after a vertical split among the factory directors. The battle lines were drawn between Rajani Magdum and then factory vice-president Annasaheb Patil Korochikar, with the later approaching Sugar Commissionerate seeking postponement of the elections.

Five-year-old dies in septic tank
Pune: Nikhil Namdeo Utkule, the five-year-old son of a tailor from Junnar, died after falling inside a septic tank near his house on Saturday afternoon.

Nikhil was reported missing ever since he left home to play cricket with his older brother and a friend around 3.30 p.m. on Saturday. His body was fished out of the tank near his house last morning.

Sena is secular8217;Solapur: Minister for State for Sports Uttam Prakash Khandare has said Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Chief Minister Narayan Rane, Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray will attend the State-level Matang community meet slated for May.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Khandare criticised the Congress for neglecting the Matang community. He said the community had showed its strength but in vain. The Shiv Sena had honoured the community by giving him a berth,8220;which reflects the secular image of Shiv Sena,8221; he said.

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Khandare, however, made it clear that his portfolio was important.He added that his ministry had a budget of Rs 44 crore.