Page 16 - Maharashtra Assembly Elections

'Batenge to katenge': How this slogan is shaking up Maharashtra elections

As the BJP struggles to align its campaign narrative in Maharashtra, the slogan 'batenge to katenge' has revealed underlying tensions within the party and its alliances

Over 12L workers may miss voting in Maha polls: Sugarcane cutters' body

More than 12 lakh sugarcane cutters from Marathwada, north Maharashtra, and Vidarbha could miss their opportunity to vote in the upcoming state assembly elections on November 20. With the cane crushing season set to commence on November 15, lakhs of cutters from various districts have already migrated to the sugarcane belts in western Maharashtra and many other states, according to the Maharashtra Sugarcane Cutters and Transport Association. The association has approached the Aurangabad High Court Bench, seeking directions to the Election Commission to ensure that this large group of voters is not deprived of their right to exercise their franchise. However, the West Indian Sugar Mills Association, claimed that proper arrangements would be made to send the workers to their hometowns to get their fingers inked on November 20. In their petition, Jeevan Rathod, president of the Maharashtra Sugarcane Cutters and Transport Association, said that 12-15 lakh cutters from Marathwada, north

Maharashtra polls: Bollywood hopes for reforms for daily wagers, tax cuts

As Maharashtra gears up for the state assembly elections on November 20, the Hindi film industry in Mumbai hopes the new government will bring critical reforms for daily wage workers and policies to reduce financial burdens on the sector. In five days, the state will witness an electoral battle between the ruling Mahayuti, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi led by the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). Actor Suresh Oberoi emphasised the importance of voting, referring to it as a national festival. Voting is a national festival, and it is your duty to exercise your voting rights and strengthen the foundation of democracy, the veteran actor told PTI. Talking to PTI, actor Gulshan Devaiah said, Elections are a hallmark of a good democracy, and it is the people's right. No matter what problems we may have with each other, electorally and ideologically, we can hold free and fair elections, so that's quite amazing." Film producer Boney Kapoo

Maharashtra secured 52% national investment under BJP, says Fadnavis

However, Fadnavis claimed that with the formation of the new government, Maharashtra quickly regained its position at number 1. Citing the latest RBI report, he pointed out that Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis slams MVA over Ulema Council's demands

"One demand is: all cases against the Muslim community in riots from 2012 to 2024 should be dismissed and taken back. I want to ask, what kind of politics is this?" Fadnavis added

Maharashtra elections: 6.3K poll violations reported, EC seizes cash, goods

The Election Commission has received 6,382 complaints related to model code violations in Maharashtra in the past month and has resolved all but one, while agencies under it have seized cash and goods worth more than Rs 536 crore. These complaints were filed through the cVIGIL app of the poll panel between October 15, when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force with the announcement of the election schedule, and November 14, said a statement issued by the office of state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Thursday. cVIGIL is a mobile application developed by the EC to enable citizens to report violations of the MCC during elections. Of the total complaints received in the past month, 6,381 have been resolved by the EC, said the statement. Once a complaint is filed, the relevant team investigates and takes appropriate action, it said. In an enforcement crackdown since October 15, various state and central agencies have seized assets worth Rs 536.45 crore, which include illeg

Maharashtra election: Current govt handed over Dharavi to Adani, says Rahul

Gandhi further criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the situation in Manipur

Congress looted poor in name of poverty elimination, says PM Modi

PM Modi said, Congress always worked on the agenda of keeping the poor, poor

Over 4,000 candidates in fray in Maharashtra polls, 28% rise over last time

A total of 4,136 candidates are in the fray for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, a rise of 27.7 per cent over the number five years ago. There are as many as 2,086 independent contenders among them. The Election Commission on Thursday made available the final figures of each party's candidates after withdrawals and rejections at the scrutiny stage even as campaigning is underway in full swing. In 2019, when the fight was between BJP-Shiv Sena and Congress-NCP alliances, a total of 3,239 candidates contested the elections. This time, the political landscape is more fragmented with the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party splitting up in the last two years. The assembly has a total of 288 seats. Of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 149 candidates, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded 81 candidates, and deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded 59. In the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress has ...

Maharashtra's evolving political scene: From the Congress era to BJP surge

Maharashtra's journey is a dynamic tale of shifting alliances, the Hindutva surge with the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition, and transformative governance under the Congress-NCP era

Nadda accuses Cong of 'promoting urban Naxals', slams Uddhav's alliance

Nadda said that Modi government has prioritized social and financial inclusivity in its growth model to empower the poor

Amid controversy, EC checks bags of Maha CM Shinde, Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar

Earlier today, the bags of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also checked by the poll officials at Palghar Police ground helipad as part of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

PM Modi wanted 400 seats in LS as BJP planned to amend Constitution: Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seeking 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections as "his eyes were on the Constitution of India." Opposition sensed that the BJP wanted to attack democracy and hence it came together, he said, speaking at a campaign rally at Bhosari near here ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections. "During the Lok Sabha polls, prime minister Narendra Modi was seeking 400 seats for the BJP. We were surprised because 300 to 350 seats for a party is considered a good majority. We went a little deeper and realised that he wanted 400 MPs because his eyes were on the Constitution of India written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar," Pawar said. The Opposition suspected that the BJP wanted to tamper with the Constitution and restrict the common people's rights, he added. "We then brought together all key leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, myself, Arvind Kejriwal, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, and decided to fight together

Muslim quota not possible, SC/ST/OBC reservation won't be altered: Shah

Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly elections, Home Minister Amit Shah speaks on Muslim quota, Article 370, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition

Ajit Pawar names Gautam Adani in BJP-NCP talks, sparks Opposition outrage

Ajit Pawar disclosed that the discussions before his early morning swearing-in as deputy chief minister in 2019 took place at a 'businessman's house' in Delhi

Poll merchandise retailers hit as parties prefer wholesalers in Maharashtra

The retail market for election campaign materials in Maharashtra is experiencing a significant slowdown, with many long-standing shops struggling to stay afloat. The shift in procurement practices by political parties, which now source materials directly from wholesalers in Surat and Ahmedabad, has left many retailers grappling with reduced demand and shrinking profit margins. "Political parties now procure campaign materials in bulk, well in advance for elections, directly from wholesalers in Gujarat, and distribute them to candidates. This has led to a significant decline in retail demand," said Yogesh Parekh of Parekh Brothers who runs a shop in Lalbaug area of Mumbai. Parekh brothers have been operating the shop selling poll merchandise in Mumbai's Lalbaug over the last 75 years. He explained that the landscape of the business has changed drastically in the past 5-6 years. Campaign materials such as flags, scarves, caps, wristbands, and turbansonce popular among political work

Checking of bags a non-issue, Uddhav seeking votes by whining: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray was trying to divert the attention by needlessly protesting against the checking of his bags by poll officials and was "seeking votes by whining". What is wrong with checking of bags? the senior BJP leader wondered. Thackeray's frustration was showing, Fadnavis said on Tuesday while campaigning for the ruling Mahayuti's candidate Sulabha Ganpat Gaikwad in Kalyan East in Thane district ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls. "What is wrong with checking bags? We had our bags checked during campaigning, and there was no need for this level of frustration," the deputy CM said, adding that election officials followed the same procedures with his campaign team too. Lacking pressing topics, Thackeray is now "seeking votes by whining", he said. For the second consecutive day, Thackeray claimed his bags were inspected by election authorities on Tuesday after he arrived in Latur

Maha elections: Cong asks PM why Centre neglected state's sugar industry

The Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asking him as to why Maharashtra's Chakan industrial area is witnessing a a mass exodus of manufacturing units and why has the Centre "neglected" the state's sugar industry. Ahead of Modi's Pune visit, Congress General Secretary (In-charge, Communications) Jairam Ramesh posed three questions to the PM including why the BJP has ignored the Dhangar community's demand for ST status. "Pune's Chakan industrial area is currently witnessing a mass exodus of manufacturing units due to problems caused by poor road infrastructure. Despite ongoing roadwork, basic issues of traffic congestion and potholes continue to plague the area," Ramesh said in his post on X. This has not only caused frequent traffic jams but also a worrying increase in the number of accidents, and the absence of traffic police at important junctions has only exacerbated the problem, the Congress leader said. This has led to disruptions in production schedul

MVA fighting over driver's seat: Modi attacks opposition in Maharashtra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said there is constant infighting within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra, with everyone fighting for the driver's seat. You all are seeing how there is a stampede in the Aghadi. There is a tug-of-war going on in the Aghadi for the post of chief minister, Modi said, addressing a rally in Solapur for the November 20 state assembly elections. One party remains busy the whole day in declaring its leader as the chief minister, while other parties and Congress remain busy in rejecting its claim, Modi said. Those whose condition is like this before the elections, they can never give a stable government to Maharashtra, he said. For decades, the Congress governed the country but left many issues unresolved. They kept people preoccupied with various problems. This has become their typical work culture, he said. As a result of this approach, the farmers in Maharashtra have suffered for many years, Modi said. In this region, ...

Maharashtra assembly elections: Key candidates and hot seats | Mahayuti | Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)

Maharashtra gears up for the assembly elections with the 288-member assembly heading to polls on November 20. Get a sneak peek into the top candidates and key constituencies.