Page 2 - Maharashtra

I owe no debt despite allegations: Ajit Pawar on 'vote for funds' remark

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday defended his controversial "vote for funds" remark, asserting that despite decades of allegations, he owes "no debt to anyone". Addressing a public rally at Jintur in Parbhani district ahead of the December 2 local body polls, the NCP leader acknowledged the intense media scrutiny over his remarks, noting that any issue is quickly linked to him. He stressed his respect for the Model Code of Conduct, and admitted that mistakes can occur in public work. During campaigning on Friday for elections to the Malegaon Nagar Panchayat in Baramati tehsil of Pune district, Pawar said he will ensure there is no shortage of funds for the town if they elect his party's candidates, but if they reject them, he will also "reject". The Opposition had criticised Pawar and demanded an apology from him. Addressing the controversy, the deputy CM on Monday said, "The media is watching me and monitoring my words about the funds. If anything happens, t

Maharashtra Congress divided over tie-up with MNS for civic polls: BJP

The Congress in Maharashtra appeared divided on allying with the MNS in the upcoming local body polls, with senior leader of the grand old party Vijay Wadettiwar favouring a united contest, while MP Varsha Gaikwad said it was firm on not aligning with the Raj Thackeray-led party in Mumbai. Wadettiwar, however, suggested that the Congress wouldn't compromise on its ideology for forging alliances. He referred to NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's statement underlining the importance of Opposition unity for defeating the BJP. "Ultimately, ideology matters. We are positive towards a united fight, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Everyone must come together to defeat the BJP," the Congress Legislature Party leader told reporters on Saturday. He referred to the MNS's participation in the 'Satyacha Morcha' organised by the opposition MVA in Mumbai earlier this month against the alleged discrepancies in the voters' list. Wadettiwar's open support for MNS flies in the face of the Mum

Rise and greet MPs, MLAs during visits: Maharashtra govt tells officials

Officials in Maharashtra have been told to stand and greet MPs and MLAs during visits, reply to their letters on time, and meet them regularly as part of a new government order

Seven states enact laws on lines of Jan Vishwas Act to encourage business

Seven NDA-ruled states are pushing for reforms on the lines of the Jan Vishwas Act, which de-criminalises minor offences by replacing prison terms with fines, to make investment climates more predictable and business-friendly, officials said on Friday. This year, the seven states, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, passed their own legislations or promulgated ordinances on the lines of the Jan Vishwas Act, making it the largest coordinated deregulation push undertaken at the state level to date, they said. "Together, these reforms represent a structural shift toward trust-based governance, cutting down on criminalisation for routine, technical, or procedural non-compliances," the officials said. They said the combined effect of the states is expected to boost entrepreneurship, reduce litigation, provide regulatory clarity and make state-level investment climates more predictable and business-friendly. Maharashtra has approved the Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025, amending seven .

Toyota Kirloskar, Maharashtra to set up 45 ITI automotive training labs

Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Maharashtra's Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) on Thursday signed an agreement to establish well-equipped laboratories in 45 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the state to strengthen automotive skills training. The agreement was signed by Toyota Kirloskar Motor senior vice-president Vikram Gulati and DVET director Madhavi Sardeshmukh at Mantralaya (state secretariat) in the presence of Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Speaking on the occasion, Lodha said the agreement would enhance training quality and create employment opportunities for students. "This partnership will offer world-class training and open global job prospects for our youth," he said. As part of the agreement, Toyota Kirloskar Motor will set up advanced laboratories for Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) technician courses in 45 ITIs and train instructors appointed to these facilities. The initiative is expected to benefit around 8,000 ITI students

Kumbh authority clears Nashik airport expansion with March 2027 target

In view of the forthcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela, the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Development Authority has given its administrative approval for the expansion of the Nashik (Ozar) airport, officials have said. The chairman of the Authority and divisional commissioner Dr Praveen Gedam has directed that the airport expansion work be completed before March 2027, an official release said on Wednesday. The airport is located about 20 km from Nashik in the Ozar area. It is maintained by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). A meeting of the Kumbh authority was held on Wednesday, during which the administrative approval was given to construct a new integrated terminal building along with ancillary works at an estimated cost of Rs 556 crore. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the state government and HAL for the airport expansion. The expansion will raise the passenger traffic capacity of the airport from 300 per hour to 1,000 passengers per hour, the release ...

VVPAT not mandatory for local body polls, not feasible: EC to Bombay HC

The Maharashtra State Election Commission on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that the use of VVPAT machines was not mandatory for local body polls, and it was also not technically feasible. The commission filed an affidavit opposing a petition filed by Congress leader Prafulla Gudadhe before the Nagpur bench of the high court, challenging its decision to not use VVPAT in the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra. Gudadhe in his plea said the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system was essential for a transparent election process. During the hearing on Wednesday, a bench headed by Justice Anil Kilor sought to know the reason for not using VVPAT machines especially when a Supreme Court judgment said the use of VVPAT was a must. The commission's lawyer told the court that the SC judgment applied only to the general elections, and not local body polls. VVPAT machines were not used during the 2017 municipal polls too, he pointed out. The commission in its affidav

Marathwada reports 899 farmer suicides this year amid flood devastation

As many as 899 farmers committed suicide in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra during January to October this year, with 537 of them taking their lives in six months when floods caused massive damage to crops, official data shows. Minister of State for Agriculture Ashish Jaiswal said the government is seriously addressing the issue and has increased the spending on dedicated schemes and incentives to Rs 1 lakh crore. The data provided by the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisional commissioner's office shows Marathwada recorded 899 farmer suicides in ten months from January to October this year, including 537 in six months (May 1 to October 31) when rains and floods wreaked havoc. Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts recorded the highest number of suicides by agriculturists. District-wise, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded 112 suicides, Jalna- 32, Parbhani- 45, Hingoli-33, Nanded- 90, Beed- 108, Latur- 47 and Dharashiv- 70 in these six months. The state government has ...

Cotton farming declines in Maharashtra amid rising costs, low mechanisation

Cotton cultivation in Maharashtra has shrunk by nearly 4.59 lakh hectares over four years as high labour costs and lack of mechanisation push farmers towards soybean, a cotton expert said. In 2020-21, cotton was cultivated on 45.45 lakh hectares across Maharashtra, with an output of 101.05 lakh bales (each bale weighs 170 kilograms). By 2024-25, the area dropped to 40.86 lakh hectares, and the projected production is 87.63 lakh bales, according to data from the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Cotton Research Centre, Nanded. Dr Arvind Pandagale, an agronomist from the Cotton Research Centre, told PTI that cotton cultivation is largely being replaced by soybean. "Cotton has to be picked by hand. The labour cost for cotton picking is Rs 10 per kg. The selling price is not more than Rs 70 per kg. Plus, the crop needs spraying of pesticides, and the manpower required for this is a big and costly part," he said. "The cost of growing cotton is increasing, which

'Jo jeeta wohi sikandar', says Maha CM Fadnavis on Bihar poll results

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday countered the criticism targeted at the NDA after its landslide victory in Bihar, by asserting that the one who wins becomes the emperor, and asked the Opposition to accept defeat, identify mistakes and introspect. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising two main constituents -- BJP and JD(U) --decimated the Mahagathbandhan, an alliance of Congress, RJD and other parties, in Bihar on Friday to retain power. Speaking in Baramati on Saturday, NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar wondered how the Election Commission allowed distribution of funds during the poll process in Bihar. He was referring to the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, which distributes money to a woman member of each family for setting up a business. "The Election Commission should think if the money distribution (by the Bihar government) was correct," he said, raising concerns over the possible implementation of the Bihar template in future ...

Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Yojana: Eligibility, e-KYC process explained

State is completing verification checks for scheme that provides Rs 1,500 monthly to eligible women

Maharashtra ATS questions Thane teacher over 'terror' links of Pune techie

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has questioned a teacher in Thane in connection with the arrest of a Pune-based software engineer for his alleged links with Al Qaeda and other banned outfits, officials said on Wednesday. The teacher's house at Mumbra in Thane district was used for one of the meetings by the arrested engineer, Zubair Hangargekar, they said. The ATS nabbed Hangargekar (37) on October 27 for his alleged links with banned outfits, such as Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, and for his suspected involvement in radicalisation activities. During the investigation, the ATS had found a Pakistani contact number saved on his old phone. While probing further, the ATS learned that Hangargekar had visited Mumbra for one of his meetings. Accordingly, the ATS officials visited the teacher's house on Tuesday and enquired about Hangargekar and his meeting, an official said. The teacher is neither an accused nor a witness in the case, he said. The ATS tol

Centre approves 1,000 electric buses for Pune under PM E-DRIVE scheme

The Centre has approved the purchase of 1,000 electric buses for Pune under the PM E-DRIVE scheme, giving a major push to the city's public transport network, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol said. The induction of the new e-buses is expected to bolster Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd's (PMPML) fleet, ease congestion and help curb vehicular pollution, the BJP MP from Pune said in a statement on Tuesday. The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme emphasises providing affordable and environmentally friendly public transportation options for the masses. Mohol said Union Minister for Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy has granted the final approval to the proposal submitted by PMPML, which operates bus services in the city, Pimpri Chinchwad and adjoining areas under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority. PMPML currently runs around 2,000 buses, of which nearly 750 are owned by the undertaking and the rest are operated through

Nine states raise ₹15,560 cr at weekly auction, lower than notified amount

After Maharashtra last week, Tamil Nadu rejects bids for 15-year paper

Local body polls: BJP, NCP hold talks over possible alliance in Nashik

Ahead of the local body polls in Maharashtra, former NCP MP Sameer Bhujbal held discussions with Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan in Nashik on Monday. The meeting was seen as part of the ongoing efforts between the ruling BJP and NCP to explore seat-sharing and coordination for the local self-government polls scheduled next month, sources said. The two leaders held detailed discussions on the political situation in Yeola constituency and preparations for the elections to the Yeola Municipal Council, Nandgaon, and Manmad civic bodies. Elections in 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in Maharashtra will take place on December 2. Earlier, on Saturday, BJP's Nashik district election in-charge and MLA Dr Rahul Aher met Sameer Bhujbal at the latter's office in Yeola. BJP's district president Yatin Kadam, youth district president Sameer Samdadiya, former Manmad municipal president Ganesh Dhatrak and others were present during the meeting, sources said. Both parties are lik

Over 90,000 stray dogs in Mumbai but only 8 shelters for them: BMC

There are over 90,000 stray dogs in Mumbai, but the number of shelters for them is only eight, civic officials said on Saturday, a day after the Supreme Court directed relocation of stray canines to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination. The officials said that in order to implement the apex court's order, more dog shelters need to be set up in the metropolis. Taking note of the "alarming rise" in dog bite incidents within institutional areas like educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the forthwith relocation of stray canines to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination. It said the recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas reflected not only administrative apathy but also a "systemic failure" to secure these premises from preventable hazards. The SC also directed the states and Union Territories to take appropriate steps to address the "deficiencies and shortcomings"

Land deal row: Parth Pawar's firm must pay double duty to cancel sale deed

After Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's announcement that the sale deed executed by his son Parth Pawar's firm for a prime land in Pune has been cancelled, it has come to light that Amadea Enterprises LLP will now have to pay double stamp duty, which comes to Rs 42 crore, for cancellation. The Department of Registration and Stamps has informed Digvijay Amarsinh Patil, the cousin of Parth Pawar and a partner in Amadea Enterprises LLP, that the firm must pay the earlier 7 per cent stamp duty (5 per cent under the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1 percent Local Body Tax and 1 percent Metro Cess), as it had sought an exemption by claiming a data centre was proposed on the land. It must also pay an additional 7 per cent stamp duty to execute the cancellation deed, officials from the department said. According to the department, the firm had claimed a stamp duty exemption at the time of the sale deed by stating that a data centre would be set up on the land. But the cancellation deed

Maharashtra rejects bond bids again as seven states raise ₹11,600 crore

Maharashtra declined all bids for its long-term bond re-issues even as seven states raised Rs 11,600 crore, below the notified Rs 13,600 crore, at the weekly auction on Tuesday

Maharashtra reserves 70% jobs in district cooperative banks for locals

In a move aimed at encouraging local employment, the Maharashtra government has directed that 70 per cent of jobs in District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) be reserved for candidates domiciled in the respective districts. The government has also decided that all future recruitments in DCCBs across the state be conducted only through the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), TCS-iON (Tata Consultancy Services), or Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd (MKCL) to ensure transparency and fairness in the process. A government resolution (GR) issued on October 31 said "70 per cent of the posts should be reserved for domicile candidates of the respective districts", while the remaining 30 per cent will be open to candidates from outside the district. If suitable out-of-district candidates are not available, those posts may also be filled by local candidates. As per the GR, the directive applies even to the banks that have issued recruitment advertisements before this ...

Satara woman doctor suicide: CM Fadnavis orders setting up of SIT for probe

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the suicide of a woman doctor in Satara district last week, an official said on Friday. The doctor, hailing from Beed district of central Maharashtra, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan on October 23. In a suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that sub inspector Gopal Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Prashant Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her. Both have been arrested. The CM, who holds the Home portfolio, has directed the state Director General of Police to constitute the SIT under a woman IPS officer immediately, the official added. The move comes amid pressure from citizens and political parties seeking justice for the deceased's kin. The victim's family had also appealed for an SIT investigation to ensure stern punishment for the culprits. Meanwhile, BJP leader Chitra Wagh thanked Fadnavis for the decision to set .