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        <title>Latest Maharashtra politics News | Top Maharashtra politics News Headlines Today | Today India news | Breaking Maharashtra politics News Today | English Maharashtra politics News Headlines - TheDailyGuardian</title>
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        </image><item><title>Will Eknath Shinde&amp;#8217;s Fight for Influential Deptt in Portfolio Work With BJP?</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/politics/will-eknath-shindes-fight-for-influential-deptt-in-portfolio-work-with-bjp/</link><pubDate>December 8, 2024, 7:45 pm</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Maharashtra-Deputy-CM-Eknath-Shinde_TDG.webp</image><category>Politics</category><excerpt>Insiders say Eknath Shinde wants Shiv Sena’s control over key infrastructure and economic departments critical to Maharashtra’s development.
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, now serving as Deputy Chief Minister, is maneuvering to secure influential portfolios following his political downgrade. Representing the new Shiv Sena, Shinde is eyeing key departments like irrigation, public works (PWD), and revenue—despite the BJP&amp;#8217;s dominant position with 132 assembly seats.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BJP Turns Down Shinde&amp;#8217;s Home Portfolio Request&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Shinde’s request for the powerful home ministry was rejected by the BJP, which holds significant sway in the coalition government. Political analysts suggest Shinde’s bargaining power has been weakened by the entry of Ajit Pawar&amp;#8217;s faction of the NCP into the alliance, with Pawar making fewer demands due to pending corruption cases reportedly held by the BJP.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Strategic Importance of Portfolios&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Shinde’s Shiv Sena is particularly interested in securing infrastructure and economic departments, given Maharashtra&amp;#8217;s critical role in India’s economy. Contributing 20% of the national industrial output, the state’s economic portfolios carry substantial influence and potential for development.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Irrigation projects, in particular, are a significant focus. Maharashtra, being water-rich, has numerous ongoing projects, including the Adhala Medium Irrigation Project, Chikotra Irrigation Project in Kolhapur, and the Gosikhurd and Jayakwadi Dam projects. These initiatives not only boost the economy but also offer political leverage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Political Analyst Weighs In&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Rajan Khanna, a Mumbai-based political analyst, commented on the dynamics, stating, &amp;#8220;There is certainly going to be some give and take, but Shinde’s position is not too strong, particularly given the fact that Ajit Pawar’s NCP is not making too many demands; Pawar has too many anti-corruption files in the hands of a BJP that has the numbers and can dictate terms.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Road Ahead&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
As negotiations continue, Shinde faces the challenge of maintaining relevance within the coalition while vying for departments crucial to Maharashtra’s infrastructure and economy. The final allocation of portfolios could shape the state&amp;#8217;s political and economic trajectory in the coming years.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>Maharashtra cabinet portfolio allocation to be decided this week ; Sources</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/maharashtra-cabinet-portfolio-allocation-to-be-decided-this-week-sources/</link><pubDate>December 6, 2024, 2:54 pm</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Maharasthra-Politics-e1733477080949-300x141.jpg</image><category>India</category><excerpt>The suspense over who will be the next CM of Maharashtra finally came to an end yesterday evening when Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third time. The grand event took place yesterday at Mumbai&amp;#8217;s historic Azad maidan in the evening at 05:30 pm where all the VVIP&amp;#8217;s including PM [&amp;hellip;]
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;The suspense over who will be the next CM of Maharashtra finally came to an end yesterday evening when Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the Chief Minister for the third time. The grand event took place yesterday at Mumbai&amp;#8217;s historic Azad maidan in the evening at 05:30 pm where all the VVIP&amp;#8217;s including PM Narendra Modi, Union HM Amit Shah and the Chief Minister&amp;#8217;s of the ruling NDA states were present . Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were also were sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister&amp;#8217;s.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;But now the tensions might arise within the Mahayuti over the cabinet portfolio allocation. As per sources, the meeting to discuss the cabinet portfolio allocation is set to take place this week among the top three leaders of the Mahayuti. Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar together will decide the cabinet portfolio allocation. The formula of the allocation can be as follows BJP CM + 22 cabinet berths, Shivsena DCM + 12 cabinet berths and NCP DCM + 10 cabinet berths.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sources have also said that the BJP might keep the key portfolios with them which includes Home Ministry, Revenue Ministry and the speaker&amp;#8217;s post which was already with them in the previous Mahayuti tenure under Eknath Shinde. On the other hand Eknath Shinde is insisting on the home ministry and the speaker&amp;#8217;s post. Whereas the finance ministry is already been offered to Ajit Pawar.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Yesterday while addressing a press conference the newly elected Deputy CM &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/eknath-shindes-oath-ceremony-speech-gets-interrupted-by-governor-watch/&quot;&gt;Eknath Shinde&lt;/a&gt; said that cabinet allocation will be done soon and all the three leaders will sit together and have a detailed discussion about it.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>Eknath Shinde Discharged After Routine Check-Up; BJP Leaders Convene in Mumbai| Video</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/politics/eknath-shinde-discharged-after-routine-check-up-bjp-leaders-convene-in-mumbai/</link><pubDate>December 3, 2024, 3:38 pm</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Eknath-Shinde_TDG-1-300x169.webp</image><category>Politics</category><excerpt>Eknath Shinde underwent a routine check-up at Jupiter Hospital in Thane. BJP leaders convened at their state office.
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;Caretaker Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, was discharged from Jupiter Hospital in Thane today after undergoing a &amp;#8220;routine check-up&amp;#8221; earlier this morning. The hospital visit was part of standard medical procedures, and Shinde has since resumed his duties.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Watch&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-media-max-width=&quot;560&quot;&gt;
&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;VIDEO | Caretaker Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde (&lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/mieknathshinde?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;@mieknathshinde&lt;/a&gt;) discharged from Jupiter Hospital in Thane. Shinde was taken to the hospital in the city today morning for a &amp;quot;routine check-up&amp;quot;. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;(Full video available on PTI Videos &amp;#8211; &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/n147TvrpG7&quot;&gt;https://t.co/n147TvrpG7&lt;/a&gt;) &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/37vAG6GXMl&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/37vAG6GXMl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1863884477644341334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;December 3, 2024&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;script async src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In a separate development, &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/growing-dissatisfaction-in-maharashtra-bjp-over-induction-of-defectors/&quot;&gt;Maharashtra BJP&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; leaders held a meeting at the party&amp;#8217;s state office in Mumbai. The agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed, but it comes at a time of significant political activity in the state.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Watch&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-media-max-width=&quot;560&quot;&gt;
&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;#WATCH&lt;/a&gt; | Maharashtra BJP leaders hold a meeting at the party&amp;#39;s state office in Mumbai.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;(Video Source: BJP) &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/rjq9Fqn2gI&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/rjq9Fqn2gI&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;mdash; ANI (@ANI) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1863841017268691445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;December 3, 2024&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;script async src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/eknath-shinde-hospitalized-in-thane-amid-uncertainty-over-maharashtra-cm-post/&quot;&gt;Also read: Eknath Shinde Hospitalized in Thane Amid Uncertainty Over Maharashtra CM Post&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These events occur amid ongoing discussions within the Mahayuti alliance regarding the formation of the new state government and the selection of the next Chief Minister. The alliance partners are expected to make a formal announcement soon.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This is a developing story.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>VIDEO| Baba Siddique Laid to Rest With Full State Honours</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/india/video-baba-siddique-laid-to-rest-with-full-state-honours/</link><pubDate>October 13, 2024, 11:45 pm</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-13-at-11.43.15-PM-300x169.webp</image><category>India</category><excerpt>On Saturday night, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Lilavati Hospital to meet Siddique’s family and express condolences.
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;The last rites of former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/third-accused-arrested-in-baba-siddique-murder-case-shooter-hired/&quot;&gt;Baba Siddique&lt;/a&gt; were performed with full state honours at &lt;strong&gt;Bada Qabrastan in Mumbai&lt;/strong&gt; on Sunday. Siddique was murdered on Saturday in Mumbai.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Watch:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-media-max-width=&quot;560&quot;&gt;
&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;#WATCH&lt;/a&gt; | Mumbai: State honour accorded to Baba Siddique at Bada Qabrastan. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He was murdered yesterday. &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/fFUJTQ81uc&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/fFUJTQ81uc&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;mdash; ANI (@ANI) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1845501529744421219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;October 13, 2024&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;script async src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Several NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Ajit Pawar, attended the funeral at Bada Qabrastan to pay their respects.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader was shot outside his office in Nirmal Nagar. Siddique sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest and was rushed to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital for emergency treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday night.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Siddique was admitted to the hospital at around 9:30 pm. Despite resuscitation efforts, he could not be revived. Dr. Jalil Parkar, a physician at Lilavati Hospital, stated, &amp;#8220;Around 9:30 pm, Baba Siddique was brought here. When he arrived in the emergency room, his pulse and blood pressure were unrecordable, and the ECG showed a flat line. We shifted him to the ICU.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On Sunday, &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/mumbai-police-transfer-baba-siddiques-body-to-cooper-hospital-for-post-mortem/&quot;&gt;Mumbai police&lt;/a&gt; announced the arrest of another accused in the Baba Siddique murder case in Pune. The arrested individual, identified as 28-year-old Pravin Lonkar, is the brother of Shubham Lonkar, one of the conspirators involved in the plot. Mumbai police revealed that Shubham Lonkar, along with Pravin, had enlisted Dharmaraj Kashyap and Shivkumar Gautam in the scheme.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Esplanade court in Mumbai has sent Gurmail Singh, another accused in the case, to Mumbai Crime Branch custody until October 21. The court also directed the authorities to present the second accused for another hearing following an ossification test.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The incident has created shockwaves across political and Bollywood circles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/sachin-tendulkar-joins-ganesh-puja-festivities-at-maharashtra-cm-eknath-shindes-home/&quot;&gt;Eknath Shinde&lt;/a&gt; visited Lilavati Hospital to meet Siddique’s family.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Several other prominent figures, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, senior police officials, Union Minister and RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale, and Parth Pawar, son of Ajit Pawar, also arrived at the hospital to offer condolences.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Chief Minister Shinde assured strict action against the perpetrators, promising that the government would not tolerate those who take the law into their hands.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sanjay Nirupam, a Shiv Sena leader, expressed deep sorrow over Siddique’s death, calling it a “personal loss.” He said, &amp;#8220;The incident is worrying and unfortunate. Baba Siddique was a very good person.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Opposition parties have raised concerns about the law and order situation in Maharashtra.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the state government, calling Siddique&amp;#8217;s murder a &amp;#8220;failure of law and order.&amp;#8221; Kharge said, &amp;#8220;We openly said that the law and order situation is not fine there. Even though he said that his life was in danger, the police didn&amp;#8217;t protect him. This is such a big lapse from the administration&amp;#8217;s side. Police should always be on alert in a big city like Mumbai. This is the failure of law and order and intelligence. If the government doesn&amp;#8217;t take care of such things, that means they are neglecting such incidents.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also criticised the Maharashtra government, pointing to the incident as evidence of the Chief Minister’s failure. &amp;#8220;The death of Baba Siddique, who has worked for so long in Maharashtra, points towards the failure of the Chief Minister. Maharashtra has always had a good law and order situation, which is why big industries have come to Mumbai,&amp;#8221; Raut said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Union Minister Ramdas Athawale called for severe punishment for the accused, stating that the loss was significant for the Mahayuti alliance. Athawale said, &amp;#8220;Baba Siddique was a minority leader, but he was also attracted to the Dalit community. We had been friends for many years&amp;#8230; We had never imagined something like this would happen. The murderers should be punished, and those behind this should also be arrested. This is a great loss for Mahayuti.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Also read: &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/kerala-30-hospitalized-due-to-food-poisoning-at-varkala/&quot;&gt;Kerala: 30 Hospitalised Due to Food Poisoning at Varkala&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Siddique, who had been with the Congress for 35 years, had joined the NCP eight months ago.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bollywood stars also visited Siddique&amp;#8217;s residence to pay their last respects. On Sunday, actor Salman Khan arrived at Siddique’s home. His brother Sohail Khan and sister Arpita Khan Sharma also visited to express their condolences.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Other celebrities, including Zareen Khan, Raj Kundra, and Zaheer Iqbal, also arrived at Siddique’s residence in a show of support and to pay their final respects.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>Shinde Camp Hit: Key Leader Joins Uddhav&amp;#8217;s Sena</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/shinde-camp-hit-key-leader-joins-uddhavs-sena/</link><pubDate>October 6, 2024, 10:53 pm</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/10/@dipeshpundlikmhatre99-300x169.webp</image><category>Others</category><excerpt>Mhatre emphasized that, despite being part of the ruling side, his team faced legal challenges, prompting the defection.
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;In a significant political development, Dipesh Mhatre, an influential leader from Dombivli, has left Maharashtra Chief Minister &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/sachin-tendulkar-joins-ganesh-puja-festivities-at-maharashtra-cm-eknath-shindes-home/&quot;&gt;Eknath Shinde&lt;/a&gt;’s camp to join Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT). This marks the first major defection from Shinde’s faction, and it could have substantial ramifications for the upcoming assembly elections. Mhatre, who was previously part of Shinde’s Yuva Sena, is now set to challenge Public Works Department (PWD) minister Ravindra Chavan of the BJP for the Kalyan assembly seat.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The defection signals growing internal tension within Shinde’s camp, particularly in the Kalyan-Dombivli region, which had already witnessed friction between the &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/defamation-verdict-shiv-senas-sanjay-raut-convicted-over-rs-100-crore-corruption-claims/&quot;&gt;Shiv Sena&lt;/a&gt; and BJP. In recent months, there had been unrest among local BJP leaders, some of whom felt sidelined by the administration and police. A notable example of this tension was a confrontation between BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad and Sena leader Mahesh Gaikwad, which escalated into a shooting incident at a police station.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to sources, Mhatre had long been eyeing a seat in the assembly elections but faced resistance from the ruling alliance due to Chavan&amp;#8217;s strong position. With little prospect of securing a BJP ticket, Mhatre decided to align with Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, expressing his determination to work towards reclaiming the Kalyan-Dombivli region for the party. In his statement, Mhatre emphasized that despite being part of the ruling side, he and his supporters had faced legal challenges and harassment, leading to his decision to switch allegiance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This defection is viewed as a blow to Shinde, especially as it occurs in his home district of &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/whale-vomit-worth-rs-6-2-crore-seized-by-thane-police-goes-viral/&quot;&gt;Thane&lt;/a&gt;. Seven corporators from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) also joined Thackeray’s faction, further solidifying UBT&amp;#8217;s position in the region. Uddhav Thackeray, welcoming Mhatre, took a light-hearted jab, assigning him the task of rebuilding the party’s presence in Kalyan and Dombivli, a region that has historically been a stronghold for Shinde’s family.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thackeray also criticized those who left the party for personal gain, asserting that they would not be welcomed back. He made it clear that his faction would fight to keep Maharashtra united and accused the ruling side of attempting to divide the state for political advantage. Mhatre echoed this sentiment, vowing to strengthen the UBT in Thane and pledging that no more defections would occur from his side.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Also read: &lt;a href=&quot;https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/muzaffarnagar-riots-7-acquitted-due-to-lack-of-evidence/&quot;&gt;Muzaffarnagar Riots: 7 Acquitted Due To Lack Of Evidence&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This defection, coming ahead of the state elections, may intensify the political rivalry between the Shiv Sena factions and their BJP allies, with potential implications for the broader political landscape of Maharashtra​.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>Uddhav Thackeray Accuses BJP Of &amp;#8220;Power Jihad,&amp;#8221; Counters Amit Shah&amp;#8217;s &amp;#8220;Aurangzeb Fan Club&amp;#8221; Remarks</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/india/uddhav-thackeray-bjp-power-jihad-amit-shah-aurangzeb/</link><pubDate>August 3, 2024, 3:41 pm</pubDate><image></image><category>India</category><excerpt>Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in &amp;#8220;power jihad&amp;#8221; by allegedly breaking political parties to remain in government. Thackeray&amp;#8217;s remarks came during an address to party workers in Pune on Saturday, as reported by PTI. Thackeray also criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for labeling him [&amp;hellip;]
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in &amp;#8220;power jihad&amp;#8221; by allegedly breaking political parties to remain in government. Thackeray&amp;#8217;s remarks came during an address to party workers in Pune on Saturday, as reported by PTI.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thackeray also criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for labeling him the head of the &amp;#8220;Aurangzeb Fan Club.&amp;#8221; He accused Shah of being the &amp;#8220;political descendent&amp;#8221; of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan ruler who defeated the Marathas in the Battle of Panipat.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thackeray further criticized the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over its &amp;#8216;Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin&amp;#8217; scheme, accusing it of bribing voters with &amp;#8220;revdis&amp;#8221; (freebies). He stated, &amp;#8220;If Muslims are with us after we explain to them our Hindutva, then we are (according to the BJP) the Aurangzeb Fan Club. Then what you are doing is power jihad,&amp;#8221; according to PTI.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;On July 21, during a BJP conclave in Maharashtra&amp;#8217;s Pune, Amit Shah had called the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance an &amp;#8220;Aurangzeb fan club,&amp;#8221; alleging that Thackeray was its leader. Shah stated, &amp;#8220;Maha Vikas Aghadi is Aurangzeb fan club. This Aurangzeb fan club cannot ensure India&amp;#8217;s security. Uddhav Thackeray is the leader of this Aurangzeb Fan Club. This Fan Club cannot make Maharashtra and India safe. It&amp;#8217;s only the BJP that can ensure the safety and security of all,&amp;#8221; according to ANI.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Shah further alleged that &amp;#8220;Uddhav Thackeray shares his meals with people involved with Kasab, he supports PFI and stands against renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar.&amp;#8221;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This exchange marks another instance of Shah publicly criticizing Thackeray, accusing him of abandoning ideology for power during the Lok Sabha elections.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Uddhav Thackeray was forced to resign as chief minister in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion in the Shiv Sena, resulting in the collapse of his government. In February 2023, the Election Commission of India recognized the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Elections for the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly are expected to take place later this year.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>Sharad Pawar Calls For Urgent Dialogue To Resolve Maratha-OBC Quota Rift</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/india/sharad-pawar-maratha-obc-quota-rift/</link><pubDate>July 28, 2024, 3:54 am</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/07/th-46-300x185.jpeg</image><category>India</category><excerpt>Mumbai: Concerned about the growing rift between Maratha and OBC communities over reservation issues, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar called for urgent dialogue to pacify the situation. He suggested that the Eknath Shinde government hold talks with Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and OBC leaders to resolve the issue. “It is disturbing that a few districts in [&amp;hellip;]
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mumbai:&lt;/strong&gt; Concerned about the growing rift between Maratha and OBC communities over reservation issues, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar called for urgent dialogue to pacify the situation. He suggested that the Eknath Shinde government hold talks with Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and OBC leaders to resolve the issue.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“It is disturbing that a few districts in Marathwada have posed against each other over the reservation issue which has led to an unprecedented rift between Maratha and OBC communities. I learned that members from both communities are boycotting hotels and other establishments run by the other. This is disturbing,” said Pawar during his tour of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Addressing Local Tensions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Pawar plans to visit affected areas like Beed and Jalna to engage with the communities directly. He highlighted the urgency of addressing the bitterness and misunderstanding between the two groups, which he deemed dangerous. He also noted that the process for talks over the quota issue seems to have begun, but stressed the need for the chief minister to engage all stakeholders comprehensively.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Maratha Activist&amp;#8217;s Demands&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Maratha activist Manoj Jarange has been demanding the implementation of a draft notification that recognizes Kunbis as ‘sage soyare’ (blood relatives) of Marathas, thus allowing them to be included under the OBC category. However, OBC leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal, have stressed that their quota should not be diluted.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Government&amp;#8217;s Role&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Pawar shared his feedback with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who appeared favorable to initiating dialogue. “The government should call Maratha activist Manoj Jarange, (minister) Chhagan Bhujbal, Laxman Hake, and others committed to OBC reservation for talks,” he said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Political Reactions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
While Shinde has urged unity to resolve the issue, his ally, the BJP, criticized Pawar. Senior BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil accused Pawar of politicizing the issue, questioning what actions Pawar took regarding Maratha reservation during his tenure as Maharashtra’s chief minister.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Maratha activist Jarange-Patil accused both ruling and opposition parties of “fooling the Maratha community” by engaging in talks instead of making decisive actions.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Future of MVA Alliance&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Regarding seat-sharing among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress, Pawar mentioned that discussions will take place after the current session of Parliament. He suggested that Left parties should also be considered in the upcoming assembly polls.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Party Dynamics&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In a related development, NCP’s MLC Babajani Durrani rejoined the Sharad Pawar-led faction. Pawar stated that only leaders aligned with their ideology would be considered for re-induction, excluding those who took extreme stands during the split.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>Decision By CM Shinde Opposed By Ajit Pawar’s MLAs</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/others/maharashtra-onion-mahabanks-decision-controversy/</link><pubDate>July 27, 2024, 2:29 am</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1-18-300x169.jpg</image><category>Others</category><excerpt>Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to establish Onion Mahabanks in the state, with locations planned for Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Solapur in Maharashtra. However, this decision has been opposed by MLAs from Ajit Pawar’s faction. These MLAs have demanded a reduction in the 40 per cent export duty imposed on onions instead of creating [&amp;hellip;]
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to establish Onion Mahabanks in the state, with locations planned for Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Solapur in Maharashtra.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;However, this decision has been opposed by MLAs from Ajit Pawar’s faction. These MLAs have demanded a reduction in the 40 per cent export duty imposed on onions instead of creating the Mahabank.Opponents claim there is a lack of coordination between the three-party government currently in the state, with the assembly elections approaching. Sources indicate that there was an argument between BJP MLA and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar during a Cabinet meeting. Subsequently, it was revealed that Ajit Pawar’s MLAs opposed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s decision to create the Mahabank for onions.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ajit Pawar’s MLAs argue that reducing the export duty on onions would be more beneficial for onion farmers. They have requested that the Chief Minister raise the issue of onion export duty at the upcoming Niti Aayog meeting in Delhi. They believe that while the concept of the Onion Mahabank is good, it is costly and will not provide significant benefits to onion farmers. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Grand Alliance faced the consequences of the onion farmers’ anger. Therefore, Ajit Pawar’s MLAs have urged the state government to provide relief to these farmers before the assembly elections.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>Rahul Gandhi Invokes Shahu Maharaj, Ambedkar In Push For Caste Census And Reservation Justice</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/india/rahul-gandhi-caste-census-maharashtra/</link><pubDate>July 26, 2024, 11:22 pm</pubDate><image></image><category>India</category><excerpt>Amidst the various caste-related struggles going on in Maharashtra, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has taken a bold stance on Shahu Maharaj’s historic gazette by reiterating Congress’s demand for caste census, lifting the 50 per cent cap on reservation, and ‘nyay’ for marginalised sections. By invoking both Shahu Maharaj and Dr. B [&amp;hellip;]
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;Amidst the various caste-related struggles going on in Maharashtra, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has taken a bold stance on Shahu Maharaj’s historic gazette by reiterating Congress’s demand for caste census, lifting the 50 per cent cap on reservation, and ‘nyay’ for marginalised sections.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;By invoking both Shahu Maharaj and Dr. B R Ambedkar, Rahul Gandhi has sent a strong message of himself believing and taking forward Maharashtra Dharma which legends such as Shivaji, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule and Dr. Ambedkar set out.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj’s contributions towards social justice were well ahead of his time. A pioneer in the fight for social justice in the country, his lifelong work on social reforms has had a great impact on me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj made education universal by deciding to publish the ‘Revolutionary Gazette’ on this day in 1902. Also, through this, Shahu Maharaj worked to strengthen the weaker sections of society by giving 50 per cent job reservations,” the Congress leader said.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He said that Shahu Maharaj’s support and efforts influenced Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to include reservations in the Constitution.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;Our demands for a caste census, removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservations, and nyay for the marginalised are inspired by Shahu Maharaj’s revolutionary ideals,&lt;/em&gt;” he said.Rahul Gandhi’s statement today shows that Congress as taken a principled stance that will bring a permanent solution to the multiple conflicting demands of various caste groups.&lt;br /&gt;
This statement is also a recognition of the fact that Maharashtra, which has not seen a caste census since the 1931 nationwide census, cannot emerge out of this long-standing conflict without a proper caste census that addresses the root of the issue.&lt;/p&gt;
</content></item><item><title>The Baramati Battleground: A Gripping Tale of Power, Legacy, and Familial Rifts</title><link>https://latest.thedailyguardian.com/india/the-baramati-battleground-a-gripping-tale-of-power-legacy-and-familial-rifts/</link><pubDate>May 14, 2024, 3:07 pm</pubDate><image>wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sharad-Ajit-pawar-ncp_d-300x169.webp</image><category>India</category><excerpt>In the heart of Maharashtra&amp;#8217;s Pune district, an intense political saga is unfolding, drawing the attention of the entire nation. Baramati, a constituency long dominated by the influential Pawar family, is witnessing a remarkable clash &amp;#8211; a family feud between the dynasty&amp;#8217;s giants, Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar. Baramati&amp;#8217;s importance in Maharashtra&amp;#8217;s political [&amp;hellip;]
</excerpt><content>&lt;p&gt;In the heart of Maharashtra&amp;#8217;s Pune district, an intense political saga is unfolding, drawing the attention of the entire nation. Baramati, a constituency long dominated by the influential Pawar family, is witnessing a remarkable clash &amp;#8211; a family feud between the dynasty&amp;#8217;s giants, Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar. Baramati&amp;#8217;s importance in Maharashtra&amp;#8217;s political arena extends well beyond its borders. For the Pawar family, this constituency has been a stronghold of power and influence, a base from which they have steered the state&amp;#8217;s course for decades. Sharad Pawar&amp;#8217;s steadfast dedication to rural development, his emphasis on agriculture, and his relentless efforts to bring infrastructure, healthcare, and educational facilities to Baramati have earned him the affection of the local population.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Although Ajit Pawar and the BJP aim to frame the election as Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi rather than a Pawar family feud, Sharad Pawar&amp;#8217;s emotional resonance remains substantial. Despite nominating his wife as a candidate, Ajit Pawar maintains that he is the genuine contender in this election. However, this electoral battle has highlighted the internal rifts within the Pawar family, with Ajit Pawar&amp;#8217;s brother and nephews supporting Supriya Sule and actively campaigning for her. Once known as the most united political family in Maharashtra, the Pawars are now witnessing their family conflicts play out in public during the Baramati election campaign.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Baramati Parliamentary Constituency-Lok Sabha (35) is situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra. This is a constituency comprising six assembly seats Daund, Indapur, Baramati, Purandar, Bhor, and Khadakwasala.  As per the 2011 census, out of a total population of 2,390,446, 79.3% reside in rural areas, while 20.7% are urban dwellers. Scheduled Castes (SC) account for 12.25% of the population, and Scheduled Tribes (ST) make up 2% of the total population. In the 2019 voter list, there were 2,114,663 electorates and 2,372 polling stations in this constituency. The voter turnout was 61.82% in the 2019 parliamentary election and 58.83% in the 2014 parliamentary election. In the 2019 parliamentary election, the BJP received 40.69% of the votes, while the NCP secured 52.63%. Comparatively, in the 2014 parliamentary election, the NCP and the RSPS obtained 48.9% and 42.36% of the votes, respectively. Currently, Supriya Sule (NCP) serves as the Member of Parliament for Baramati Parliamentary Constituency-Lok Sabha.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For generations, the people of Baramati have remained steadfast in their loyalty to the Pawar clan, a political dynasty that has shaped the region&amp;#8217;s destiny with unwavering determination. The choice at the ballot box was a straightforward one – either a candidate from the Pawar family or someone who carried their blessing. This unshakable bond between the voters and the Pawars was akin to the enduring relationship between the Gandhis and their strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli. Delving into Baramati&amp;#8217;s political history, the constituency has been a stronghold for the Pawar family since the 1960s. Sharad Pawar himself represented Baramati as a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1984. Subsequently, his nephew, Ajit Pawar won the seat in 1991 under the NCP banner. Bapusaheb Thite (NCP) secured the seat in a by-poll in 1994, and Supriya Sule (NCP) has been the sitting MP since 2004, securing comfortable victories in 2009 and 2019.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Beyond the internal family strife, the contest for Baramati&amp;#8217;s Lok Sabha seat mirrors changing demographics and political dynamics. Initially a largely rural area, the constituency has transformed with the growth of Pune city and now encompasses a substantial urban area. After delimitation in 2009, Baramati has urban belt areas like the Khadakwasala assembly constituency, which has over five lakh voters and is considered a BJP stronghold since 2014. The BJP also won the Daund seat.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Although Ajit Pawar might seem to have an advantage on paper, Sharad Pawar&amp;#8217;s emotional bond with voters, especially in the Baramati Assembly constituency, could ultimately influence the result. Despite the BJP&amp;#8217;s concerted efforts in the region against Ajit Pawar, against whom it previously ran anti-corruption campaigns, the challenge remains formidable. The BJP had been struggling to make its place in Baramati, and while doing so, its cadre had to face Ajit Pawar&amp;#8217;s might on the ground when the NCP was united. Both men have wielded considerable influence over the administration of the constituency and the broader Pune district, making this contest a true clash of titans.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), this election presents an opportunity they have long coveted—a chance to challenge the Pawar family&amp;#8217;s iron grip on Baramati. In previous elections, the BJP&amp;#8217;s efforts were thwarted by the unwavering support for Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar&amp;#8217;s daughter, who secured victories in 2014 and 2019. However, a change in strategy has now emerged, fueled by the internal rifts within the Pawar clan.Ajit Pawar&amp;#8217;s defection to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in July 2023 and his subsequent acquisition of the Nationalist Congress Party&amp;#8217;s (NCP) name and symbol from his uncle set the stage for an unprecedented familial faceoff. By fielding Ajit Pawar&amp;#8217;s wife Sunetra from Baramati, the BJP aims to ensure a genuine contest, one that could potentially break the Pawar family&amp;#8217;s stranglehold on the constituency.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As the battle between the Pawars rages on, the outcome will not only determine the leadership of Baramati but will also shape the future trajectory of Maharashtra&amp;#8217;s political landscape. With tensions running high and emotions frayed, this contest transcends familial ties, encompassing broader implications for the state&amp;#8217;s future. Political observers and analysts across the nation are watching with bated breath, eager to witness the denouement of this gripping saga.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In the end, the people of Baramati will be the ultimate arbiters, their votes carrying the weight of a legacy that spans generations. Will they reaffirm their unwavering loyalty to the Pawar dynasty, or will they embrace the winds of change ushered in by Ajit Pawar&amp;#8217;s defection? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the Baramati battleground has captured the imagination of the entire nation, a riveting tale of power, legacy, and the unraveling of familial bonds.&lt;/p&gt;
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