Page 3 - Raj Thackeray

Husband vs wife, uncle vs nephew: Families battle their own in Maharashtra

Amid parties accusing rivals of promoting dynastic politics, the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls will see brothers, cousins and father-children in the fray, with members of the same family taking on each other in some seats. In one constituency, the battle is between husband and wife, while another seat has an uncle and nephew pitted against each other. In the high stakes battle of Pawars, debutant Yugendra Pawar, the candidate of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), will take on his uncle and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, representing the NCP, in Baramati seat. Ajit Pawar has won the Baramati assembly poll seven times and also once bagged the Baramati parliamentary seat. This is the second time that Baramati, the bastion of Pawars, will see a contest within the family. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the deputy CM's wife Sunetra Pawar was defeated by his cousin and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule in the Baramati parliamentary seat. In the neighbouring Karjat-Jamkhed, Rohit Pawar,

Sanjay Raut calls out Raj Thackeray's praise for PM Modi and HM Shah

Raut highlighted the stark contrast between Thackeray's past opposition to BJP leaders and his current alignment with them, raising questions about his motives as elections approach

On Fawad Khan's movie, MNS leader's open dare: 'Theatre owners know…'

Amid the news that Pakistani movie 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' starring Fawad Khan will release in India, MNS Cinema Wing President Ameya Khopkar has threatened theatre owners against screening it

MVA got anti-BJP votes in LS polls, no rise in support base: MNS chief

Addressing a press conference, Thackeray further claimed the outfits led by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar will not get these anti-incumbency votes in the assembly polls

No order from Raj Thackeray to back any party in council polls: MNS leader

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande on Wednesday said there was no order for them from party chief Raj Thackeray to vote for any particular party in the polls underway on Wednesday for four seats of the Maharashtra legislative council. Notably, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supported the ruling Mahayuti in the state, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the NCP headed by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections. Polling was being held on Wednesday in the Mumbai Graduates, Mumbai Teachers, Nashik Teachers and Konkan Graduates constituencies of the state legislative council, as the terms of their sitting members are expiring in July. In the Konkan Graduates constituency, there is a direct fight between sitting BJP MLC Niranjan Davkhare and Congress candidate Ramesh Keer. Last month, the MNS fielded filmmaker Abhijit Panse from the Konkan Graduates seat but he later withdrew from the fray. Asked about the MNS stand for the M

MNS going alone in Maha council polls as issues state-related: Leader

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supported the Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections, has decided to go it alone for the upcoming legislative council polls for the Konkan Graduates Constituency, as the issues are state-related, a party leader said on Tuesday. The MNS on Monday announced the candidature of film director Abhijit Panse from the Konkan Graduates' constituency for the legislative council elections scheduled on June 26. The constituency is currently represented by the BJP's Niranjan Davkhare. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had declared unconditional support to the ruling 'Mahayuti' alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra. Addressing a press conference, the MNS's Palghar and Thane unit chief Avinash Jadhav said, "The support MNS gave to the Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha polls was to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister again. Now, this is the election for the state council, where the issues are local and related to the state. Hence, the par

Lok Sabha polls 2024: PM Modi to hold public rally in Maharashtra today

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray will share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Shivaji Park

Raj Thackeray's MNS supporting Maharashtra's 'enemies': Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday took a dig at MNS chief Raj Thackeray, saying doubt arises in the minds of people when an outfit formed to safeguard the pride of Maharashtra backs its "enemies". Raut's comments come a day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Thackeray announced unconditional support to the ruling 'Mahayuti' alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in the state and backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The MNS leader did not elaborate whether his party, which has not fielded any candidate so far, will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Raut said his party is fighting for Maharashtra's pride. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken in its fold "all corrupt persons". "Businesses are driven away from Maharashtra, attempts are being made to break and cripple Mumbai. In such circumstances, if a party formed for Maharashtra pride backs enemies of Maharashtra, then a doubt arises in th

CM Shinde thanks Raj Thackeray for his support to ruling 'Mahayuti' in Maha

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday thanked MNS president Raj Thackeray for extending unconditional support to the ruling 'Mahayuti' alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP and backing Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking a jibe at his rival and former CM Uddhav Thackeray without mentioning his name, Shinde said those counting 'rokad' (money) while sitting at home during COVID-19 have no right to criticise Modi. Shinde, speaking with the media at the Nagpur airport, thanked Raj Thackeray for supporting the ruling 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance). Addressing his party's annual rally in Mumbai on Gudi Padwa (traditional Maharashtra New Year that symbolises fresh beginnings, auspiciousness), Raj Thackeray announced unconditional support to the 'Mahayuti' alliance and backed PM Modi. Asked whether Mahayuti will give Lok Sabha seats to the MNS to contest, Shinde said the Raj Thackeray-led outfit has not put any conditions for supporting the three-party alliance. The MNS ...

Lok Sabha polls: Thackeray vs Thackeray likely as MNS chief meets Amit Shah

The Mahayuti alliance currently has three constituents, the BJP, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

Maharashtra politics a mess with party lines blurring: Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday said the politics of the state had turned into a mess and it was time people brought about a change. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Kalyan as part of his statewide tour ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the MNS chief also said meeting leaders from other parties did not mean alliances were being struck. There was speculation recently of the MNS joining the National Democratic Alliance after Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar met Thackeray in the latter's Shivaji Park home. The current political scenario in the state was like "chikkal" (wet, slippery mud) with party lines blurring and people must ensure politicians are held accountable for their deeds, Thackeray said. He also questioned the reliability of electronic voting machines and said polls must be held through ballot papers. Speaking about the Maratha quota issue, the MNS leader said the focus now was on caste-based politics rather than issues like drought, unemploym

Refuse poll duty as students get affected: MNS chief to teachers, slams ECI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday asked teachers to refuse election duty since it adversely affects students. Speaking to reporters here, he said a delegation of teachers from Shardashram School had met him and drawn his attention to the order of the Election Commission of India asking them to report for poll duty. "I asked them and others to not take up poll duty at the cost of teaching. Who will teach the students (during this time)? The ECI is not conducting polls for the first time. Why can't it come with its own system and machinery for polls," he said. He said the ECI should face action for pressuring teachers into taking up poll duty by warning them of disciplinary action. "Teachers should not take up poll duty. I will see if the Election Commission takes action against you," he asserted.

MNS stir against toll: Raj Thackeray calls state's biggest scam, slams CM

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday warned the state government that his party workers will set fire to toll booths in the state if they are stopped from ensuring that small vehicles are exempted from paying toll charges. Speaking to reporters here, Thackeray alleged toll collection in Maharashtra is the biggest scam in the history of the state. I have sought an appointment with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the next couple of days. Will see what comes out of that meeting, otherwise, keeping the deputy chief minister's (Devendra Fadnavis) statement in mind, MNS workers will gather at every toll booth and ensure that four, three and two-wheelers are not charged tolls. If we are stopped, we will set it ablaze, Thackeray said. Thackeray was referring to Fadnavis' statement on Sunday in which he said small vehicles are exempted from paying tolls. All political parties have come to power in the state in the last few years, but, none of them implemented their

Will meet CM to discuss toll hike issue, says MNS chief Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday said he would meet Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss the issue of toll hike against which his party workers have been protesting. Thackeray spoke to reporters in Thane after meeting party leader Avinash Jadhav who has been on a hunger strike for the last four days to protest the toll hike that came into effect on October 1. The MNS chief said he would meet the chief minister in the next couple of days and discuss the toll hike and other issues faced by the people of the state. The previous Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in its election manifesto had promised to make Maharashtra free of toll, but the promise was not kept, he said. Thackeray further claimed that Shinde had in the past filed a petition in court regarding toll and later withdrew it and questioned on whose instruction he had taken the plea back. The MNS leader urged the citizens to retaliate and revolt to make the government realise its mistakes. The ruling

Maratha reservation: Raj Thackeray leaves for Jalna to meet protestors

The Rasta Roko movement also got started in multiple locations and Raj Thackeray has been stopping and meeting the people

BJP lost K'taka polls due its nature, Bharat Jodo helped Cong: MNS's Raj

The defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Karnataka Assembly elections is the result of its nature and behaviour and Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra' definitely helped the Congress, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters at Ambernath in Maharashtra's Thane district, Thackeray said the opposition party never wins the election, it's the ruling party that loses in the polls. In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the Congress put up an impressive show by winning 135 seats, while incumbent BJP and the former prime minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19, respectively. Thackeray said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra', Rahul Gandhi's foot march from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, also helped in changing the fortunes of the Congress in the southern state. He said citizens should never be taken for granted and that political parties should learn lessons from the results in Karnataka. It is too early

Sunstroke deaths: MNS chief slams Maha govt for 'political selfishness'

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday slammed the Eknath Shinde government over the deaths at the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony in Kharghar in Navi Mumbai a day earlier. Thirteen people died and several others are hospitalised due to sunstroke and other health complications after several lakh people, mostly followers of awardee Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, attended the event under the scorching summer sun in the sprawling International Corporate Park on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after visiting patients from the event at a hospital in Navi Mumbai, Thackeray said the event was held in such an elaborate manner with a massive crowd due to "political selfishness". The award could have been given to Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Raj Bhavan considering the oppressive summer heat, he said. The state government could have averted the deaths by not holding the event in such a manner, he said. "The incident is unfortunate but who do you hold responsible for it? It was no

MNS President Raj Thackeray blames Uddhav for leaders quitting Shiv Sena

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Wednesday squarely blamed his estranged cousin and former CM Uddhav Thackeray for many Shiv Sena leaders quitting the party and said as chief minister he was not ready to meet anyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a rally of his party at the Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, the MNS leader blamed Uddhav Thackeray for many Shiv Sena leaders parting ways with him in the past, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs supporting him, who raised a banner of revolt in June last year. The rally was organised on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, a festival which marks the start of the Marathi New Year. Raj Thackeray said he will renew his campaign to pull down loudspeakers from mosques if the states government does not take any action in the matter. The MNS chief demanded withdrawal of nearly 17,000 cases slapped on his party workers last year when they launched protests seeking removal of loudspeakers from mosques.

Maharashtra court rejects Raj Thackeray's discharge plea in 2008 case

A local court in western Maharashtra's Sangli district on Friday rejected Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's plea seeking discharge in a 2008 case related to a protest organized by his party's workers. MNS workers had staged protest in Shirala in the district against Thackeray's arrest in Mumbai, and a case under IPC sections related to unlawful assembly and breach of peace was registered. The FIR also named Thackeray besides nine others. Assistant public prosecutor Ranjit Patil opposed the discharge plea and stated that it can not be decided till all the witnesses depose. The court upheld his argument, Patil said in a statement here. MNS had staged a state-wide agitation demanding preference for Marathi youth in railway jobs and Thackeray had been arrested over the issue.

MNS president Raj Thackeray slams Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remark

Coming down hard on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Veer Savarkar, Maharashtra Navirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Sunday called him 'gadha' (idiot)