Page 5 - Shiv Sena

Ready to help reconcile two Senas, but hearts need to meet first: Shirsat

Maharashtra Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat has said he is ready to facilitate reconciliation between his party and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) but hearts must meet first. The Shiv Sena spokesperson, in an interview with a Marathi channel on Saturday, said he and many of his party colleagues share cordial ties with the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders even today. Shirsat said he is pained by the split in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena, which is now headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Asked if he was ready to facilitate any efforts towards rapprochement if he gets an opportunity, Shirsat said, I will do it, but hearts need to meet first. Leaders of the two parties still meet each other warmly, he said. But the distance has become such that if it's not bridged now, it will be difficult to mend ties later, Shirsat said. Asked whether Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, the son of former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, could facilitate a patch-up,

Cong alleges Maharashtra govt elected illegitimately, cites voter list data

Opposition Congress on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra was "not legitimately elected" and claimed there was a suspicious addition of a large number of voters and manipulation of votes during the November 2024 assembly polls. Congress' data analytics department chairperson Praveen Chakravarty and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithiviraj Chavan made the allegations in a press conference. "The government in Maharashtra is not legitimately elected through a fair electoral process. We say this with full responsibility as India's oldest political party and as the only political party that fought for India's freedom and helped establish India as a constitutional republic," Chakaravarty said. There has been significant manipulation of the voter results in the recently-held state assembly elections in Maharashtra, he said. "Forty-eight lakh new voters were added in the electoral rolls in the assembly elections after the Lok Sabha polls, while only 3

Mahayuti's appointment of guardian ministers shows rift in alliance: Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged that the Mahayuti government's handling of the appointment of guardian minister was a sign of internal discord in the alliance. The state government on Saturday announced guardian ministers for 36 districts of the state, but a day later, issued an order to stay the appointments for Nashik and Raigad. NCP's Aditi Tatkare was appointed as the guardian minister for Raigad, while BJP leader Girish Mahajan was given the responsibility of Nashik. Talking to reporters, Raut said, "The government is failing to manage its internal conflicts. (Deputy Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde's anger over the allocation of guardian ministers is clear, and his authority is being questioned." The Rajya Sabha MP was reacting to reports of Eknath Shinde's dissatisfaction over the appointments for Raigad and Nashik. He also hinted that state Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant might be groomed as a possible replacement for Shinde. Accordi

Saif Ali Khan hospitalised after knife attack by robber at Bandra home

According to the police, an intruder broke into the house and allegedly attacked Saif Ali Khan before fleeing the scene when other family members woke up

PM Modi to meet Mahayuti MLAs in Mumbai today, says Eknath Shinde

PM Modi will be in Mumbai today to dedicate three frontline naval combatants INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer to the nation on their commissioning at the Naval Dockyard

Dialogue needed to save, strengthen INDIA bloc: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Raut

Raut's remarks came after Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja admitted that the INDIA bloc 'stands divided' post-Lok Sabha election 2024

Sena (UBT) never called for disbanding INDIA bloc or MVA: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said his party wants to go solo in the local bodies polls to strengthen its base and has never called for dissolution of the opposition INDIA bloc or the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Raut's remarks came a day after he cited the lack of opportunities for workers of respective parties in an alliance and the right to organisational growth as the major considerations for contesting solo, which raised a question mark over the opposition bloc's unity. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Raut said, "The MVA was formed for the assembly polls and INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha elections. The local body elections are meant to empower party workers and strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level." "I or my party have never said that the INDIA bloc or the MVA should be dissolved," the Rajya Sabha member added. The INDIA bloc and MVA alliances include the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). Asked about the ...

Shiv Sena (UBT) to go alone in local bodies elections, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said his party will contest the upcoming elections to the various local bodies alone. Talking to reporters, the Rajya Sabha MP said the INDIA bloc and Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances were for the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. "In an alliance, workers of individual parties don't get opportunities, and it hampers organisational growth. We will contest polls to the Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and other municipal corporations, zilla parishads and panchayats on our strength," he said. He said party chief Uddhav Thackeray gave the party indications that it should go alone. Hitting out at Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar for indulging in a blame game over the MVA's defeat in the state assembly, Raut said those who don't believe in consensus and compromise have no right to be in an alliance. He further claimed that the INDIA bloc did not hold a single meeting after the Lok Sabha elections. "We were not able to appoint even a convenor for INDIA bloc. I

Ajit Pawar-led NCP trying to poach rival faction MPs, claims Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday claimed that the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was trying to engineer defections in the rival NCP (SP), promising its leaders berths in the union cabinet. Raut's comment came after NCP leader Amol Mitkati said that some Lok Sabha members from the Sharad Pawar-led NCP were in contact with Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. NCP (SP) MLA and former state minister Jitendra Awhad also alleged that Sunil Tatkare, state chief of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, had asked MPs of the rival faction to "leave the father and daughter". Tatkare's reaction to these claims was awaited. Speaking to reporters, Raut alleged that senior NCP leader Praful Patel and Tatkare had been assigned the task of engineering defections in the Sharad Pawar-led faction. At present, the Ajit-led NCP has only one Lok Sabha MP, Tatkare, while the rival NCP (SP) has eight Lok Sabha members. "The party (NCP) will not get any post in the Union ...

BJP launches projects before polls, neglects promises for 5 years: Raut

He cited the 'Sheeshmahal' as an example, referencing a report by a leading newspaper revealing excessive expenditure on the Delhi CM's residence, based on the CAG report

Recognition given by 'Ladki Bahin' beneficiaries biggest honour: Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said "Ladki Bahin" (women) in the state recognising him as their "dear brother" is the biggest honour for him. Notably, the Ladki Bahin scheme for financial assistance to women, started during the previous Mahayuti government when Shinde was the CM, is widely credited to have contributed to the BJP-led coalition's big win the state assembly polls in November 2024. The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP, registered a landslide win in the polls. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was subsequently sworn in as the chief minister, with Shinde and Pawar as his deputies. Shinde on Monday night attended the Diva Festival in Thane district where a speaker remarked about his transition from chief minister to deputy CM after the state elections. Responding to it, Shinde said, "I am proud and happy that 2.40 crore Ladki Bahin have recognised me as a Ladka Bhau (beloved brother)." "This recognition is my greate

Bhujbal's exclusion from Maharashtra cabinet NCP's issue: Shiv Sena leader

Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogawale has said Chhagan Bhujbal's exclusion from the cabinet is an internal issue of the NCP and not of the ruling Mahayuti coalition. It is the discretion of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to pick ministers, like the allies Shiv Sena and BJP, Gogawale told reporters on Sunday. "Others can't comment on this issue. The exclusion of Bhujbal from the council of ministers is the issue of the NCP and not of the Mahayuti coalition," he said. Bhujbal has blamed NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for not inducting him in the expanded cabinet of the BJP-led government. The former minister claimed CM Devendra Fadnavis had favoured his induction into the state cabinet. A total of 39 legislators took oath as ministers on December 15, including 33 as cabinet ministers and the rest as ministers of state.

Maha govt announces Rs 5L aid for cricketer Vinod Kambli, assures support

Kambli was admitted to the hospital on Saturday evening after experiencing muscle cramps and dizziness at home

From Maharashtra to Andhra, 2024 was the year of political comebacks

From the Lok Sabha elections to state assembly polls, various leaders staged striking returns in 2024, capturing the attention of both the public and political analysts

Shiv Sena (UBT) might contest BMC polls by itself, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday hinted that his party might go solo in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election without exiting the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Talking to reporters, Raut said party workers were insisting the organisation go solo in the local body polls, as there were more aspirants than for the Lok Sabha or state assembly polls. "Talks are on between Uddhav Thackeray and other party leaders (about whether to go solo) for the BMC polls. Workers want the party to contest the polls solo," he said. The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the cash-rich BMC for 25 consecutive years from 1997 to 2022. The term of the previous elected representatives of the BMC ended in early March 2022, and fresh polls are due for nearly three years now. Raut said the party's power in Mumbai is undisputed. "If had we got more seats to contest in Mumbai (during the assembly polls), it would have won them," he said, claiming that it was necessary to win Mumbai or else the c

Shiv Sena, Cong also contributed to Ram Mandir movement, says Sanjay Raut

Raut lashed out at Bhagwat and said that he is the one who brought such people to power and should take responsibility now

Simultaneous polls proposal a bid to divert focus from key issues: Uddhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said the Centre's move to introduce a bill on simultaneous polls in the Lok Sabha was an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country. Addressing reporters in Nagpur, Thackeray demanded a transparent election process before implementation of the 'One Nation One Election' proposal. He also said the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government should pay Rs 2,100 per month to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme as promised before the state assembly polls held last month. Currently, women in the state get Rs 1,500 per month under the scheme. On Tuesday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure. Meghwal moved for introduction the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on "one nation,

Three-time Shiv Sena MLA denied cabinet berth, resigned from party post

MLA Narendra Bhondekar is excluded from the recent cabinet expansion. He also failed to meet party leaders like Eknath Shinde, Uday Samant, and Shrikant Shinde before the cabinet berth allocations

Maharashtra cabinet expansion: 12 Sena MLAs to take oath as ministers today

According to Shiv Sena MLA Gogawale, twelve MLAs from his party including himself will take oath as ministers of which seven are new faces

Does Shiv Sena agree with Rahul's remarks on Savarkar: Shrikant Shinde

The Lok Sabha, on December 13, initiated a two-day debate on the Constitution to commemorate the beginning of the 75th year of its adoption