Page 4 - Maharashtra Assembly

Battleground 2024: Schisms in two alliances cloud Maharashtra poll outcome

Assembly Speaker Narwekar to issue order on the NCP split on January 31

Uddhav, speaker spar as Maharashtra awaits Sena vs Sena case verdict

The political temperature has risen in Maharashtra ahead of the crucial verdict by the assembly speaker on the cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs following a split in the party. The outcome will decide the way forward for the Eknath Shinde government and also the regional outfit's rival groups. Narwekar is slated to deliver his much-awaited verdict on the disqualification pleas at 4 pm on Wednesday, more than 18 months after the Shiv Sena suffered a vertical split, a political development that resulted in a change of guard in the state. On Tuesday, the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) upped the ante as its president Uddhav Thackeray said his party has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court objecting to a recent meeting between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is among the MLAs whose disqualification has been sought, and speaker Rahul Narwekar as both sides engaged in a verbal spat. "If the judge (Narwekar) is going to meet the accused, w

Maharashtra now preferred destination for overseas investments: CM Shinde

Maharashtra has become a preferred destination for investments from various countries, reflecting the state's conducive business environment, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said. Welcoming the New Year by participating in a midnight blood donation camp here, Shinde also spoke about the growing impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the positive impact of a deep cleaning drive taken up in Mumbai and its extension across the state. The CM highlighted the successful implementation of 85 per cent of the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the Davos meet (in 2023). "Maharashtra has become a preferred destination for investments from various countries," he said. Underlining the commitment to people's welfare, Shinde said the Chief Minister's Relief Fund has provided assistance of over Rs 165 crore to more than 20,000 individuals since his government assumed office, a significant increase from the earlier disbursal of Rs 2 to 3 ..

Maha CM Eknath Shinde announces 'Shivsankalp Abhiyaan' for Lok Sabha polls

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has set the Shiv Sena's Lok Sabha campaign rolling by announcing that he would tour all 48 constituencies in the state as part of the Shivsankalp Abhiyaan'. Addressing party workers through video conferencing on Thursday, Shinde asked them to prepare for the Lok Sabha polls, which will be held in the first half of 2024. He directed them to campaign for candidates of the ruling alliance or Mahayuti', which also includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party. The Shivsankalp Abhiyaan will start from January 6 from Yavatmal-Washim constituency. Over the next month, Shinde will visit 15 more constituencies covering different regions of the state, the CM's party said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, out of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, the BJP secured 23 seats, followed by the undivided Shiv Sena with 18 seats and the NCP with 4 seats. The Congress and AIMIM each won one, while another went

SC asks Maha speaker to decide plea for disqualification of MLAs by Jan 10

The Supreme Court on Friday extended the deadline for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide the cross-petitions filed by the rival factions of the Shiv Sena seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs from December 31 to January 10 next year . The top court, which granted 10 more days to the speaker, had earlier asked him to decide the disqualification pleas by December 31, saying the sanctity of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (disqualification law) should be maintained. "The speaker has indicated that the proceedings will be closed on December 20 and the speaker has sought a reasonable extension of time for declaration of the order. Bearing in mind the time limit, which was set out by this court in its previous order dated October 30, was until December 31. We grant extension of time for pronouncement of orders till January 10," a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said. At the start of the brief ..

LS security breach: Gorhe directs against issuing visitors' council pass

Maharashtra legislative council's deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe on Wednesday gave instructions to officials not to issue the council gallery passes to visitors, after a security breach in the Lok Sabha, sources said. The winter session of the state legislature is currently underway in Nagpur. In a major security breach on the 22nd anniversary of Parliament terror attack, two intruders jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by MPs. Around the same time, two persons, including a woman, also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting slogans outside Parliament premises in New Delhi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later informed the House that four persons have been arrested - two from inside the House, and two from outside Parliament in connection with the incident. Following the incident, Gorhe gave directions to authorities concerned not to issue passes for the

Dharavi revamp project: Maha Oppn attacks Shinde govt, alleges favouritism

Members of opposition parties in Maharashtra on Wednesday attacked the Eknath Shinde-led state government over the Dharavi redevelopment issue, accusing it of favouring the Adani Group but leaving the residents of the slum colony in the lurch. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, who represents the Dharavi assembly constituency, Leader of Opposition in the legislative council Ambadas Danve from the Shiv Sena (UBT), and other legislators from the opposition parties raised slogans over the issue on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan, the state legislature complex here. 'Dharavi vachva, laghu udyog vachva' (Save Dharavi, save small-scale industries) was one of the slogans raised by them. Dharavi, located in central parts of the country's financial capital, is a hub for several small-scale, unorganised industries that manufacture medicines, leather, footwear, clothes among other things. It is known as one of Asia's biggest slum clusters. After emerging as the highest bidder for the ...

Will demand to withdraw FIRs against Maratha protesters: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday told the legislative assembly that the state government was taking necessary action on the demand to withdraw cases filed against pro-Maratha reservation protesters in Jalna district. The police had used mild force against the Maratha protesters in Jalna, he said, adding that 79 police personnel and 50 persons were injured during the face-off. Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, said this in his written reply to questions asked by more than 20 legislators on the Maratha quota issue. "The state government will review the cases filed against the protesters involved in the Maratha quota agitation and take appropriate action. The government has also sent some of the police officials on compulsory leave and later transferred them out of the district," he said. Activist Manoj Jarange had sat on an indefinite fast in the last week of August at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. However, the agitatio

Maha govt tables supplementary demands worth Rs 55,520 cr in state assembly

The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government on Thursday tabled supplementary demands worth Rs 55,520.77 crore in the state assembly on the first day of the winter session of the legislature here. The supplementary demands, which are additional funds sought by the government over the budgetary allocation, were tabled in the House by Finance Minister Ajit Pawar. Of the total, supplementary demands worth Rs 19,244.34 crore were described as mandatory expenditure, while demands worth Rs 32,792.81 crore are required for various ongoing programmes and schemes of the state government, a note issued by the finance department said. Besides that, supplementary demands worth Rs 3,483.62 crore are towards the state's contribution to the ongoing schemes of the Union government, it said. "There are several ongoing schemes which require a portion of financial expenditure from the state's coffers," a finance department official said. The actual impact of these supplementary demands on the state

Maharashtra govt should raise ceiling on quota as in Bihar: Congress

Congress leaders in Maharashtra on Friday demanded that the state government take steps to increase the limit on total reservation on the lines of Bihar. Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, said in a post on X that if the ceiling, currently at 50 per cent, is raised, all issues related to reservation will be resolved. Maharashtra earlier this month witnessed a reintensified agitation for quota by the Maratha community. The state government should take up this issue in the next legislature session, Wadettiwar demanded. Senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan said in a statement that the Bihar assembly has increased the overall quota to 75 percent and "why can't it happen in Maharashtra." The state government should take steps to waive the quota limit in the coming winter session of the assembly which will help the Maratha community get reservation, the former chief minister said. The BJP, which is part of the government in Maharashtra,

'Mahayuti' to focus on winning 45 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra: CM Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said constituents of the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) will now focus on winning 45 out of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state, in the general elections due next year. Mahayuti comprises the ruling BJP, Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde, and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). Targeting Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for reaching out to socialist parties, Shinde told reporters here that the move to join hands with socialist leaders amounts to "adulteration" of the Hindutva ideology. Thackeray, while addressing leaders of 21 socialist parties in the state on Sunday, claimed differences with them were mainly ideological which can be settled for the cause of democracy. The Sena (UBT) leader had also said "many of them may be Muslims but they are nationalists who want to protect the country's democracy". CM Shinde was speaking to reporters during visit to a Navaratri programme in Thane city shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Asked ab

Sena disqualification row: SC says Maha speaker cannot defeat its orders

The Supreme Court on Friday came down hard on the Maharashtra assembly speaker for the delay in deciding the plea for disqualification of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several MLAs, saying the speaker cannot defeat the orders of the top court. Somebody has to advise the Speaker that he cannot defeat the orders of the Supreme Court, a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said and asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to apprise the court about the timeline for deciding the issue. A visibly irked CJI said decision on disqualification pleas has to be taken before next assembly elections or the whole process will become infructuous. The bench said if it is not satisfied with the timeline of the Speaker then it would direct that the decision be taken within two months. The writ of this court has to run when there is a decision contrary to the Constitution of India, the bench said, indicating that it may hear the plea on Monday or Tuesday. On September 18, the top court had

As 'Wagh Nakh' is set to return to India, here's a look at its history

Its most famous use was made by the first Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji who attacked Bijapur general Afzal Khan with a 'Wagh nakh'

Maha Assembly: LoP Wadettiwar raises viral video of assault on NCC cadets

Taking note of the controversy around the video, which surfaced online, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar directed the government to take necessary action on the matter

Maha speaker has to disqualify 16 MLAs including CM Shinde: Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab on Tuesday said Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar will have to disqualify 16 MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who rebelled against the party leadership last June. The Supreme Court has given guidelines on what is legal and what is illegal, who is qualified and who is disqualified. Speaker has to disqualify the 16 MLAs and he is also well aware of it, Parab said. This (disqualification process) won't take much time and the SC will take appropriate decision, he told reporters here. Narwekar has already initiated the process of hearing on disqualification petitions which came to be filed after the Shiv Sena split last year.

Many NCP MLAs skip Maha legislature's monsoon session on 1st day

As many as 27 out of the 53 MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) did not attend the Maharashtra legislature's monsoon session on the first day on Monday. One NCP MLA, Nawab Malik, is currently under judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case. Out of the 24 NCP MLAs who attended the session, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, cabinet ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Dilip Walse Patil, Hasan Mushrif, Aditi Tatkare, Sanjay Bansode, Dhananjay Munde, Anil Patil and Dharmarao Atram were seated on the ruling side. The other MLAs who extended their support to Ajit Pawar and were present in the House were Babanrao Shinde, Indranil Naik, Prakash Solankhe, Kiran Lahamate, Sunil Shelke and Saroj Ahire. NCP state president Jayant Patil (from Sharad Pawar camp), legislators Balasaheb Patil, Prajakt Tanpure, Sunil Bhusara, Mansing Pawar, Suman Patil, Rohit Pawar, Rajesh Tope, Ashok Pawar and Anil Deshmukh were seated on the Opposition side. Notably, chief whip of the NCP (Shara

Notices issued to 40 MLAs of Shinde-led Sena, 14 of Uddhav camp: Speaker

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Saturday said notices have been issued to 40 MLAs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and 14 of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, seeking their replies on disqualification petitions against them. The development comes a day after Narwekar said he has received a copy of the Shiv Sena's constitution from the Election Commission of India, and hearing on the disqualification petitions against 16 Shiv Sena MLAs, including CM Shinde will start soon. "Notice seeking replies on disqualification issued to 40 MLA of Eknath Shinde-Shiv Sena faction, 14 of Uddhav Thackeray faction," Narwekar told PTI. Earlier this week, the Shiv Sena (UBT) approached the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Assembly Speaker to hear the disqualification petitions expeditiously. MLA Sunil Prabhu had, in his capacity as chief whip of the undivided Shiv Sena, had filed the disqualification petitions against Shinde and other 15 MLAs last year afte

Suitable action to be taken on Ajit Pawar's disqualification plea: Speaker

Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Monday said he will take appropriate action on the NCP's plea seeking disqualification of Ajit Pawar and other eight party MLAs, who have taken oath as ministers in the Eknath Shinde-led government. State NCP president Jayant Patil on Sunday said his party has moved the disqualification petition against Ajit Pawar and eight others. He said an e-mail has also been sent to the Election Commission of India informing that the rank and file of the NCP is with party chief Sharad Pawar. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Narwekar said, I have received the petition filed by Jayant Patil seeking disqualification of the nine NCP MLAs. I will read it carefully. I will study the points mentioned and take appropriate action on the petition. Asked how many NCP MLAs have supported Ajit Pawar, Narvekar said, I have no information about it. The Speaker also said it is his prerogative to decide on the appointment of a new opposition leader in the ...

NCP appoints Awhad as LoP in Maha Assembly; 36 of 53 MLAs with Ajit Pawar

The Nationalist Congress Party appointed Jitendra Awhad as Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly after incumbent LoP Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde government as deputy chief minister on Sunday. The development comes amid a close aide of Pawar saying 36 out of 53 NCP MLAs have extended support to the new deputy CM and the numbers could go to 46 in a few days time. Awhad, MLA from Mumbra-Kalwa in neighbouring Thane district, said NCP state unit president Jayant Patil had appointed him chief whip of the party and LoP in the Assembly. "All the MLAs will have to abide my whip," he asserted in an apparent reference to defection and disqualification angles that are bound to come up in connection with Sunday's developments brought about by a vertical split in the NCP. Queried on Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation probes against some NCP leaders and its role in them switching sides, Awhad said, "I don't see any other reason behind these leaders ...

Maha cabinet expansion to take place before monsoon session: Shambhuraj

Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai on Tuesday said the much awaited cabinet expansion will take place before the state legislature's monsoon session or even before that. The monsoon session's schedule has not yet been announced. Talking to reporters, Desai also said that seat-sharing between the Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the Lok Sabha polls due next year has not been finalised. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats. In 2019, the Shiv Sena (then undivided) contested 23 seats and won 18. Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the state cabinet will be expanded soon and the timeline will be decided by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. On August 9 last year, 18 ministers were inducted in the Shinde-Fadnavis government after it came to power in June, while as per rules the council of ministers in the state can have a maximum of 43 members. However, neither Shinde nor Fadnavis