Page 18 - Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Maharashtra Assembly polls crucial for Mumbai and state: Aaditya Thackeray

With the Mahayuti and MVA alliances locked in a fierce electoral contest and various narratives being set up by parties, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said the forthcoming elections are crucial for Mumbai and Maharashtra. Addressing a poll rally at Sewri in Mumbai, Thackeray accused the BJP of taking big-ticket investments to Gujarat and "crushing the dreams" of Maharashtra's youths. "This poll will be the most important poll of our life. This poll is not (about) getting back our symbol and the party or for Uddhav Thackeray or me. This poll is important for Maharashtra and Mumbai," he said. Thackeray said the Dharavi Redevelopment Project will have an impact all over Mumbai. He said when Shiv Sena took charge of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in 1997, it had a Rs 600 crore deficit. But the civic body is in Rs 92,000 crore surplus now, he added. Thackeray alleged the state government wanted to hand over prime coastal land of Koliwadas (fishing villag

Had Congress prioritised rural India, we would have less poverty: Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday accused the Congress of not prioritising rural India, saying had that been the case, farmers would not be dying by suicide and there would have been less poverty in villages. Addressing a rally at Arvi in Wardha district ahead of the November 20 assembly polls, Gadkari said the BJP is neither a party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor himself but the workers who dedicated their lives to it. He also hailed the contribution of party workers in his political journey. The Nagpur MP recalled his days as a party worker when he would visit the neighbouring Wardha district, in the state's Vidarbha region, on a scooter with a third pillion rider. The region elects 62 of Maharashtra's 288 MLAs. In 75 years of India's history, the Congress never gave priority to the development of the country's rural side. There were no roads in villages or drinking water. Congress never seriously thought of the development of rural India. Had the rural India got ...

PM Modi using 'divisive language', Maharashtra will not tolerate it: Patole

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Nana Patole on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using "divisive language" during his campaign speeches for the Maharashtra polls. The PM, who addressed rallies in Dhule and Nashik on Friday and in Akola and Nanded during the day, accused the Congress of working against the unity of Dalits, tribals and backward classes in a bid to regain power and asked people to follow the mantra of "ek hai to safe hai" (safety in unity). Hitting back, Patole said Maharashtra is a state that celebrates the legacy of social reformers like Mahatma Phule and legendary warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "Slogans like 'ek hai to safe hai' fosters divisions among people rather than addressing their issues. Maharashtra will not tolerate such divisive language. The PM should offer solutions to farmers in distress instead," Patole said. He was addressing a rally in support of Congress' Jalna candidate Kailash Gorantyal. Speaking in Akola, the PM said the .

Maha Cong assured Muslim body of 10% reservation, ban on RSS, claims BJP

The BJP on Saturday claimed that the Maharashtra unit of Congress has assured a Muslim body that it will take steps to fulfil its demands including a 10 per cent quota for the minority community in jobs and education and a ban on the RSS if Maha Vikas Aghadi is voted to power in the state assembly polls. Addressing a press conference here at the BJP headquarters, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the All India Ulama Board (AIUB) has written to Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders offering its conditional support in the assembly elections. In its letter, the organisation has said that if Nana Patole (Congress), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) and other parties want their support they will have to fulfil their demands which include opposition to Waqf Bill, 10 per cent reservation to Muslims in jobs and education..., he claimed. It has also demanded a ban on the RSS if the MVA is voted to power in Maharashtra, Prasad claimed, terming the organisation'

BJP diverting people's attention from core issues through lies, says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday hit out at the BJP, saying its leaders were diverting people's attention by giving provocative speeches and peddling lies. Addressing a press conference in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, where assembly elections will be held on November 20, he said the state needs a good government which will bring it on the path of development again, and expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will win the elections. He also said while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has raised 'Batenge toh katenge' (divided we perish) slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the call of 'Ek hain toh safe hain' (we are safe if we are united). "First you decide between yourselves whose slogan is to be followed - whether Yogi ji's or Modi ji's," the Congress chief said. "BJP gives inciting speeches and speaks lies and divert people's attention from core issues," he alleged. He said two big leaders from Vidarbha could not stop big ...

Cong losing support due to unity of SCs, STs, Dalits, Adivasis: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress has been losing its support base over the years due to the unity of SCs, STs, Dalits and Adivasis. Congress people are showing a red book labelled 'Constitution of India' with blank pages inside, Modi said, addressing an election rally at Nanded in Maharashtra. Why are the Congress people so much in love with Article 370, Modi asked, referring to the demand by the opposition party to restore Article 370 in Kashmir. The red book titled Constitution of India contained blank pages and is a testament to the Congress' disregard and hatred for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, he said. The entire country is in shock over this foolish and unfortunate political play of Congress, he said. Today there is a wave in support of BJP and Mahayuti across Maharashtra, Modi said. Today, there is only one slogan on everyone's lips: BJP-Mahayuti ahe, tar gati ahe. Maharashtraachi pragati ahe (Only BJP-Mahayuti will ensure Maharashtra's speedy progress,

INDIA alliance will bring changes in Maharashtra with 5 guarantees: Rahul

Rahul Gandhi in an attack on the BJP-led NDA alliance said that they are levelling false allegations against Congress

Congress-ruled states ATM of party's 'shahi parivar', says PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that wherever a Congress government is formed, that state becomes the ATM (Automated Teller Machine) of the party's shashi parivar'. We won't let Maharashtra become the ATM of Congress, Modi said, addressing a campaign rally in Akola for the November 20 state assembly elections. I challenge the shahi parivar of Congress to prove if they ever visited Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's panchteerth, Modi said. Modi has coined the term panchteerth to denote Amedbkar birthplace in Mhow, the place in London where he stayed while studying in the UK, Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism, his Mahaparinirvan Sthal' in Delhi, and Chaitya Bhoomi' in Mumbai. People of Haryana foiled the conspiracy of Congress by following the Ek hai to safe hai' (we are safe if we are united) mantra, Modi said. The Congress knows that it will be strengthened only if the country is weakened. The policy of that party is to pit one caste against the other, he ...

Maharashtra polls: Amit Shah to release BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' on October 10

As the election date nears, political campaigning is gaining momentum in Maharashtra

Police seizes Rs 3.70 cr in Palghar amid Maharashtra poll code in place

Police have seized more than Rs 3.70 crore cash from a van in Palghar district of Maharashtra amid the code of conduct in place for the November 20 assembly polls, an official said on Saturday. The cash was seized at Wada in the coastal district on Friday, police inspector Datta Kindre said. "The police's vigilance and flying squad received a tip-off that a van was transporting cash through the district. Based on the information, the team intercepted the van and carried out a check, during which it found that Rs 3,70,50,000 cash was being transported. The driver and security personnel failed to produce valid documents required for the transportation of the cash," he said. They told the police that the cash was being taken from a company based in Navi Mumbai to Vikramgad in Palghar, he added. The cash has since been seized and the Income Tax Department as well as election officials have been informed for further probe, he said, adding that two occupants of the van have been detained

Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde calls MVA an anti-development govt in Pune

In contrast, the Maharashtra CM said his government focused on public interest from day one and worked toward the welfare of the people, highlighting the approval of 124 irrigation projects

Maharashtra polls: Sanjay Raut slams PM Modi's 'Ek hai toh safe hai' remark

PM Modi said the people of Maharashtra have already seen MVA's misgovernance for two and a half years

PM Modi accuses Congress of dividing castes, urges unity in Maharashtra

In his rally in Nashik, PM Modi asked if Congress party will praise late Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray "whose contribution to the politics of the country and Maharashtra is incomparable

Aaditya Thackeray accuses BJP of looting Maharashtra, ignoring state issues

Thackeray stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer why the BJP looted Maharashtra

Trading holiday on Nov 20 for Maha polls; Tata AM launches innovation fund

Tata Asset Management on Friday announced the launch of Tata India Innovation Fund to tap the growth potential of companies that are ahead on the innovation front

'Ek hai toh safe hai', says PM Modi in first rally for Maharashtra polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his campaign on Friday for the crucial Maharashtra assembly polls with unity message of "Ek hai, toh safe hai, building on his party colleague and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge to katenge' slogan. Modi dared Congress allies in Maharashtra to get party MP Rahul Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes in praise of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, whose contributions to the country, he said, were unparalleled. Addressing two poll rallies during the day, the BJP's star campaigner called out the Congress for its "divisive" brand of politics characterised by pitting one caste against another, and maintained since the days of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the party has been opposed to reservation. Seeking votes for the ruling Mahayuti coalition, he harped on its development agenda and sought to portray the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as directionless, saying the opposition bloc resembles a vehicle without

Highlights: Fortis Healthcare reports net profit of Rs 176 crore in Q2FY25

Latest news updates: Catch all the latest news developments from across the world here

MVA will be wiped out in Maharashtra as Cong was defeated in Haryana: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will be wiped out in Maharashtra in the assembly elections the same way the Congress faced a defeat in Haryana. He also said that while Uddhav Thackeray wants his son (Aaditya Thackeray) to become the chief minister of Maharashtra and Sharad Pawar wishes the same for his daughter (Supriya Sule), there are a number of leaders in the Congress who are vying for the post. Shah was addressing an election rally at Shirala in Sangli district to garner support for BJP candidates from Shirala and Islampur constituencies ahead of the November 20 assembly polls. "If MVA comes to power in Maharashtra by mistake, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray wants to make his son the chief minister, (Sharad) Pawar saheb wants the post for his daughter and there are a dozen leaders in the Congress who have already stitched clothes to become the CM," Shah said. The former BJP president said those who wish to make their .

Cong prioritises vote bank over development, divides communities: Rijuju

Union Minister Kiren Rijuju on Friday claimed that the Congress has prioritised its vote bank over true development, urging the people of Maharashtra to remain cautious about the party's "misleading tactics" ahead of the state assembly elections. Addressing the media here, the BJP leader accused the Congress of dividing communities for votes. "The Congress has a long-standing policy of dividing communities to secure votes, which has only harmed the unity and progress of our nation. They continue to think of some communities as their assured vote banks while creating divisions elsewhere, but this illusion will soon break when people realise the party's intentions," Rijuju said. The Union minister for minority affairs claimed the party prioritised its vote bank over development works. He said the world respects India because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "Earlier, Indians did not get the same respect abroad, but Modi's governance has elevated the country's image ...

People of Maharashtra will give BJP a befitting reply: Kharge to Fadnavis

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday slammed the BJP over its leader Devendra Fadnavis' remarks on Rahul Gandhi showing a 'red-covered' copy of the Constitution, and said the people of Maharashtra and the country will give a befitting reply to the "anti-Constitution and anti-reservation" BJP. His remarks came after Fadnavis asked what message Rahul Gandhi wanted to give by showing a red-covered copy of the Constitution of India. Fadnavis also accused the Congress leader of building a coalition of anarchists. In a post on Hindi on X, Kharge asked why has the BJP started "hating" the Constitution of India so much. "We are asking this question not only to the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Chief Minister of Assam, but also to Modi Ji, who had to bow down to the Constitution in Parliament after the Lok Sabha elections," Kharge said. By repeatedly linking the Constitution with Naxalism, do the BJP/RSS leaders want to bring their defeated agenda of implementing .