Vishwas Waghmode

The SEC, in two separate orders, issued directions to the BMC, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivali, Ulhasnagar, Nashik, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kolhapur, Solapur, Amaravati, Akola and Nagpur municipal corporations.

On what basis has the Supreme Court cleared local body elections in Madhya Pradesh? What is the legal position in the case of Maharashtra now? Why are states so keen to hold these elections — and what is the problem with collecting the OBC data?

Thackeray met the ministers at his official residence, ‘Varsha’, on Wednesday evening.

Sources said that the party is likely to repeat Sanjay Raut for the Rajya Sabha election. For the second seat, the party has indicated to Sambhaji Chhatrapati to join it to get a nomination for the Rajya Sabha.

Sources in the government said that the issue of OBC quota was raised by the ministers in the Cabinet meeting.

A source close to the development said that the proposal came up for discussion in a cabinet meeting held last month and a senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister raised an objection to the proposal.

While the MVA government has appointed a commission for preparing a report, it also got a legislation passed by the Assembly during the winter session in December last year to provide up to 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs in the local bodies.

On Thursday, the poll panel had asked all the 25 Zilla Parishads and 284 Panchayat Samitis to check the draft ward boundaries at the SEC and six Zilla Parishad did so on Friday.

In the meeting, the government decided to explore all possible legal options to ensure quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the upcoming local body polls, including elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said sources.

Shiv Sena leaders say that they see in Thackeray’s remarks a confidence marked by a realisation that he can fall back on his own experience of dealing with the BJP.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting on the court order regarding the OBC quota in local bodies on Thursday.

Section of Shiv Sena concerned after Raj Thackeray took the lead in mosque loudspeaker issue even though it was part of ruling party’s central agenda.

Mumbai Covid-19 update: The city also continued to record more than half of the state’s new coronavirus infections. On Tuesday, across Maharashtra, 153 cases were recorded, out of which Mumbai accounted for 66 per cent of the cases.

Mahadeshwar was among Shiv Sena workers who took to the streets last week to protest against lawmaker couple Navneet and Ravi Rana.

Insider says party upset with CM Thackeray's name missing from invitation card and Centre ‘targeting’ the Thackeray family through agencies.

Thackeray, though, visited the home of 80-year-old Chandrabhaga Shinde who was seen protesting outside Matoshree, his residence, against independent MLA Ravi Rana and MP Navneet Rana on Saturday.

Sanjay Raut's remarks came in response to the BJP's demand of the imposition of President’s rule citing the current situation in Maharashtra.

Last week, the Ranas had asked Thackeray to recite Hanuman Chalisa on April 16 on Hanuman Jayanti while threatening that they would recite the same outside Matoshree if he did not do so.

At his Shivaji Park speech, Raj Thackeray had also accused his cousin and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of “betraying” the BJP and voters for the sake of the CM’s post.

The dedicated commission for reservation of OBCs in local bodies in Maharashtra published a public notice on Tuesday seeking suggestions and representations from stakeholders by May 10.

Sources in the Shiv Sena admit the MNS chief's remarks are being viewed with concern as they may end up damaging the Sena's prospects in a handful of seats.

While Sharad Pawar has been vociferous in denying any role in the day-to-day functioning of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, the 83-year-old Maratha stalwart remains the fulcrum of this coalition government.

Days after the Maharashtra government passed a bill taking over the powers to redraw ward boundaries, the State Election Commission (SEC) has written a letter to the state government, asking it to initiate the process of drafting the ward boundaries of local bodies which are overdue for elections.

Following the meeting between the CM and Walse-Patil, Raut said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government would not take any action out of political vengeance, as it was being done by the central investigative agencies.