Mumbai, Jul 14

Terming the recent claims by former union Home Secretary R V S Mani regarding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks as "deeply disturbing," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday demanded a high-level, impartial investigation into the alleged ISI-Congress conspiracy.

Addressing a press conference following a marathon Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister pivoted from this grave national security concern to announce a massive development roadmap for the state. Among the key decisions, the government has cleared a landmark expansion of the 'Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana-2026,' which is set to benefit approximately 56 lakh farmers by removing previous eligibility barriers and offering new incentives for regular repayment.

Fadnavis also sought to settle the brewing controversy surrounding the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), categorically dismissing opposition allegations of land privatization. He clarified that MSRTC would retain full ownership of its assets, with surplus land slated for development under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ensure the long-term financial viability of the state’s transport network.

The Cabinet further approved a new "Monetization Policy" to boost the revenue of local self-governing bodies and sanctioned the implementation of the central "Urban Challenge Fund" to accelerate infrastructure projects in cities. Notable regional initiatives included a Rs 24.95 crore modernization package for the Beed District Sports Complex and the establishment of an international-grade agricultural market in Dahanu (Palghar), spanning 558.43 hectares.
Refuting political attacks from the opposition, the Chief Minister dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the state’s handling of paper leaks as "ill-informed" and labeled Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s recent political posturing as "hollow."

Other administrative decisions included doubling the rehabilitation grant for acquitted prisoners from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 and approving critical amendments to the Maharashtra Minor Mineral Extraction Rules, 2013, to improve regulatory transparency.

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Mumbai, Jul 14

Amid speculation that the "Operation Tiger" strategy could now be replicated in the Nashik Municipal Corporation, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting of the party's corporators from Nashik at his Matoshree residence on Wednesday, in an apparent bid to prevent a possible split. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 15 corporators in the Nashik civic body.

Political circles are abuzz with claims that around 10 to 12 of them are in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and could switch sides at any time.  If that happens, it could significantly alter the political equations in the corporation. The development comes in the wake of the recent split in the party's Lok Sabha ranks, where six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs first formed a separate group before joining the Shinde faction.

Before that rebellion, Thackeray had called a meeting of the party MPs and issued a whip, but the six MPs skipped the meeting.

Following the parliamentary split, Thackeray held rallies and public meetings in the constituencies of the rebel MPs to retain the support of party workers and office-bearers.

He had also adopted an aggressive stand against the defectors.  Political observers will now be closely watching whether Thackeray's outreach succeeds in preventing a similar rebellion among the Nashik corporators.

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Ambegaon (Pune), July 13: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA and former Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Sunday firmly denied allegations linking him to the ongoing milk adulteration case in Ambegaon taluka, asserting that he is neither the "mastermind" behind the issue nor someone who would protect those involved in wrongdoing.

Speaking at the Jan Samvad programme organised by the Ambegaon-Shirur unit of the NCP at Shivgiri Mangal Karyalaya in Manchar, Walse Patil said that although one of the accused may be associated with him politically, he would never support anyone found guilty of milk adulteration.

"I am not the mastermind behind this case. In fact, there is no mastermind. I will never defend or shield anyone involved in milk adulteration," he said while responding to allegations made by political opponents.

Walse Patil said it would be inappropriate to comment further until the official investigation is completed and a chargesheet is filed against those responsible.

"The probe is still underway. Until the investigation is complete and charges are formally framed, it is not proper for me to make detailed comments on the matter," he said.

He accused the opposition of using the milk adulteration issue as a political tool rather than genuinely working for the welfare of farmers.

"You know whether this agitation is for farmers' interests or merely a conspiracy against me," he remarked.

The senior NCP leader also criticised the increasing use of fake social media accounts to defame political leaders and urged party workers to respond strongly to misinformation and propaganda.

Without directly naming local leader Devdatta Nikam, Walse Patil questioned his claims of working for farmers and raised issues regarding cooperative institutions and temple administration.

Several senior NCP leaders, including Pune MHADA Chairman Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, district president Rajendra Korekar, and other party office-bearers, were present at the event.

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Mumbai, Jul 13 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has added another milestone to his political career, with his name now being etched among the top three longest-serving Chief Ministers of the state, BJP state chief spokesperson Navnath Ban said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Ban said that Fadnavis, who had earlier completed a consecutive five-year term as Chief Minister, had earned the distinction due to the blessings of Maharashtra's 140 million people.

He expressed confidence that Fadnavis would eventually emerge as the state's longest-serving Chief Minister.
"Devendra Fadnavis, who has served as Chief Minister on three occasions, has consistently received public support because of the many decisions he has taken in the interest of Maharashtra. There is no doubt that he will go on to set a new record as the longest-serving Chief Minister,” Ban said.

Describing Fadnavis as an "infrastructure man", Ban said Maharashtra was well aware of his contributions. He added that Fadnavis also holds the record for implementing the highest number of farm loan waivers. Public welfare projects such as housing in Bombay Development Directorate (BDD) chawls, the Atal Setu, the Mumbai Metro network, the Coastal Road and the Samruddhi Mahamarg, had been undertaken during his tenure, he said.

Launching a sharp attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, Ban questioned what achievements could be attributed to him. He accused Raut of adopting a pro-Pakistan stance and alleged that Uddhav Thackeray had abandoned the ideology of his father for electoral gains.

Referring to the Ladki Bahin scheme, Ban questioned why Raut had been critical of the initiative since its launch. He warned that opposition to the scheme could invite the ire of its beneficiaries. He also alleged that the Congress had approached the courts seeking to halt the programme.

"As long as the BJP-Mahayuti government remains in power, no one will be able to discontinue the Ladki Bahin scheme. Beneficiaries currently receive Rs 1,500 per month, and we remain committed to fulfilling our electoral promise of increasing the amount to Rs 2,100," he declared.

Ban also criticised Raut and Uddhav Thackeray for sharing political space with the Samajwadi Party and the Congress. He alleged that the Samajwadi Party had a history of violence against devotees during the Ayodhya movement, while accusing the Congress of having denied the existence of Lord Ram.

Commenting on recent remarks by senior leader Sharad Pawar, Ban said Pawar had praised Fadnavis for his decision to announce a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh despite there being no elections at the time. He claimed that while Pawar was taking all parties along, the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction was increasingly becoming isolated within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.

Taking another swipe at Sanjay Raut, Ban said the Shiv Sena (UBT) had been weakened politically and alleged that only Raut and Uddhav Thackeray remained at the forefront of the faction.

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Mumbai, Correspondent

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Maharashtra Chief Spokesperson Navnath Ban on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, alleging that Raut has weakened Aaditya Thackeray's political standing by welcoming former MLA Sachin Ahir's return to the original Shiv Sena.

Ban claimed that Raut's public expression of satisfaction over Ahir's departure from the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction suggested a deliberate weakening of Aaditya Thackeray's camp. He further alleged that Raut was aware Aaditya Thackeray could face a tough contest in retaining the Worli Assembly seat in the next Maharashtra Assembly elections.

The BJP leader also accused Raut of repeatedly undermining Uddhav Thackeray's leadership by claiming that the party had failed to identify loyal workers. According to Ban, such statements project Uddhav Thackeray's leadership as weak and are aimed at laying the groundwork for a possible merger of Shiv Sena (UBT) with the Congress.

Responding to Raut's criticism of the BJP, Ban said Raut should refrain from lecturing others on political history, alleging that "betrayal" has become synonymous with the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut.

Praising Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Ban said the Mahayuti government remains focused on accelerating Maharashtra's development and transforming the state into the country's top-performing economy.

On Raut's allegations regarding financial irregularities, Ban asserted that anyone found guilty in the Ram Temple donation controversy would face action in accordance with the law. He also accused the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of financial mismanagement and demanded accountability from its leaders.

The remarks come amid escalating political exchanges between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and Shiv Sena (UBT) over recent political developments in Maharashtra.

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Pune, June 27

Former Maharashtra Legislative Council member and senior Ambedkarite leader Adv. Jaydev Gaikwad has appealed for unity between the Nav-Buddhist and Matang communities, warning against what he termed "divisive politics" over the issue of Scheduled Caste sub-categorisation.

Addressing a Harmony Conference held at Balasaheb Thackeray Kala Dalan in Pune, Gaikwad expressed concern over the growing hostility and abusive exchanges between members of the two communities. He urged the Matang community to introspect on the reasons behind its educational and social backwardness instead of blaming the Nav-Buddhist community for cornering reservation benefits.

Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's message of "Educate, Organise and Agitate," Gaikwad said education was never confined to any one community and that every section had an equal opportunity to pursue it. He argued that the progress made by the Nav-Buddhist community was the result of prioritising education and social empowerment rather than any preferential access to reservation.

Gaikwad alleged that ideological forces associated with the BJP and the RSS were attempting to create divisions among historically oppressed communities for political gains. He urged Ambedkarite activists to engage with the Matang community through dialogue rather than confrontation and work towards strengthening social unity.

The conference was organised amid the ongoing debate over the sub-categorisation of reservations within the Scheduled Castes. Participants stressed the need for coordination and mutual understanding between the Nav-Buddhist and Matang communities to prevent social polarisation.

Several resolutions were adopted during the conference, including making the Badar Committee report public, ensuring representation of all Scheduled Caste communities in the sub-categorisation committee, conducting a caste census before implementing any classification, and organising similar harmony conferences across Maharashtra. The gathering also proposed a statewide march to promote unity between the two communities.

The event was attended by senior Ambedkarite leaders Vasantrao Salve, Rohidas Gaikwad, Dhammasangini Ramagorakh, Shailendra Chavan, Mahadev Khude, Sujit Yadav, Sudip Gaikwad, Anil Hatagale, and several social activists and representatives from Bahujan organisations. The conference concluded with a call to uphold the egalitarian ideals of Jyotirao Phule, Shahu Maharaj, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Annabhau Sathe, while opposing attempts to spread hatred among marginalised communities.

MUMBAI, June 29

Maharashtra’s political landscape remains on edge amid continued speculation of a possible fresh split within the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction. Reports suggest that following the recent defection of six Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, efforts may now be underway to consolidate a breakaway group of MLAs in what some political circles are calling “Operation Tiger 3.0.”

Political discussions have intensified over claims that 14 legislators from the Thackeray faction are in advanced talks with the ruling alliance. This number is seen as politically significant, as it would meet the two-thirds threshold of the faction’s total strength of 20 MLAs in the State Assembly, potentially allowing a split under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and circumvent the provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection Law).
The speculation gained momentum after Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil claimed that “Operation Tiger 3.0” had already begun and that 14 MLAs were expected to join the Deputy Chief Minister’s camp.

However, other senior leaders within the Shinde faction, including minister Uday Samant, have officially denied the existence of any such "operation," maintaining that while several opposition MLAs have expressed interest in joining their party out of their own will, no formal 'takeover' bid is being orchestrated.

The Thackeray faction has faced a series of setbacks recently, with six of its Lok Sabha members crossing over to the ruling alliance.' Uddhav Thackeray has since embarked on a state-wide tour to connect with party cadres and reinforce support in the constituencies of the rebel MPs.

Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti coalition views the possible realignments as part of a broader political shift, with some leaders suggesting that legislators are aligning with the party in power to ensure greater access to development funds for their constituencies.

The developments come at a sensitive juncture during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the State Legislature. As political manoeuvring continues behind the scenes, both the ruling alliance and the opposition are closely monitoring proceedings, with analysts suggesting that any formal move by the MLAs would significantly alter the state's power dynamics and further marginalize the opposition's strength in the House.

While official confirmations remain elusive, the atmosphere in Mumbai’s political corridors remains highly volatile as the state awaits clarity on these high-stakes developments.

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Mumbai, Correspondent

The oath-taking ceremony of 16 newly elected Members of Legislative Council was held in the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) Hall here today.

Sharad Pawar-led NCP Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule's son-in-law Arun Lakhani was among those who took their oaths. Supriya Sule's daughter Revati Sule was also present at the Legislative Council Hall.

The 16 MLCs sworn in to Legislative Council include Vikram Kakade, Aniket Tatkare, Dhairyasheel Kadam, Gokul Gite, Rajiv Potdar, Basavaraj Patil, Arun Lakhani, Amar Rajurkar, Avinash Brahmankar, Dushyant Chaturvedi, Nandkishore Mahajan, Praveen Pote, Suhas Shirsath, Ravindra Phatak, Rajendra Raut and Prajakta Tanpure.
Vikram Kakade is from Pune, Rajendra Raut is from Solapur, Aniket Tatkare is from Ratnagiri and Dhairyasheel Kadam is from Satara. Some MLCs who were elected during the previous Legislative Council elections were also administered the oath of office here today.

The results of the local body legislative council elections in the state were announced here on Monday, June 22, and the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti won a resounding victory by winning 10 out of 11 seats, though Mahayuti (Shinde-led Sena) candidate Narendra Darade was defeated in Nashik.

However, Gokul Geete, who won from Nashik, met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday evening, after his victory and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, thus becoming part of the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
The BJP has significantly strengthened its position in the Maharashtra Legislative Council after the latest round of elections, moving closer to a standalone majority in the upper house of the state legislature.

Presently, the BJP holds 35 seats in the 73-member Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad), making it the single largest political force in the house and giving the ruling Mahayuti alliance a stronger hold in legislative proceedings.
The latest results have further consolidated the position of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance at a time when the Opposition is grappling with internal differences over the post of Leader of the Opposition (LoP).

The party may receive another opportunity to strengthen its numbers later this year when biennial elections are held for five Graduate and Teachers' constituencies.

If the BJP wins at least three of the five seats, its strength in the Legislative Council would cross the 40-seat mark, giving it a standalone majority without relying on alliance partners.

Such an outcome would further strengthen the BJP's ability to push legislation through the upper house and reduce its dependence on coalition negotiations.

Significantly, the BJP already holds one of the most important positions in the Legislative Council through Chairman Ram Shinde.

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Mumbai, Correspondent

Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (Shinde) president Eknath Shinde today stated in the Maharashtra Assembly that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will receive more political shocks shortly. “The strong shock which they (Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) got has disturbed his (Aaditya Thackeray's) mental balance. They will receive more such shocks very soon,” Shinde said during the monsoon session here, after Aaditya Thackeray became aggressive in the assembly alleging that ministers have not responded to his questions.

Shinde made the statement after it came to light that 3 MLAs and 1 member of Legislative Council (MLC) failed to turn up at a legislative party meeting convened by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday.

All of them had informed Uddhav Thackeray in advance that they would not be able to attend, citing reasons like preparations for the forthcoming Legislative Council elections, ill health and personal commitments.

The legislators who did not attend the meeting were MLAs Sanjay Derkar, Rahul Patil and Sanjay Potnis, as well as MLC Sunil Shinde.

Meanwhile, according to sources, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is already working to poach between 30 to 35 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Sources said that the objective behind engineering the next phase of ‘Operation Tiger’ is to wrest the position of the Leader of Opposition post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. If the Shinde-led Sena plan to poach around 35 BMC corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena succeeds, the BJP-led Mahayuti ruling alliance will end up enjoying undisputed domination of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In a related development, Eknath Shinde MP Ravindra Waikar stated here today that there will be “another earthquake” in Maharashtra politics shortly.

“After ‘Operation Tiger-1’ has become a success, and ‘Operation Tiger-2’ and ‘Operation Tiger-3’ will also happen. Every issue needs to be examined from all sides. It is important to complete the work and things are progressing in the right direction. Every coin has two sides and all aspects need to be considered,” he said.

Significantly, Waikar made his statement, after similar statements by other leaders of his party on Friday (June 19).
Speaking to media persons here on Friday (June 19), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Amey Ghole had told media persons that around 25 corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-le Sena “are in touch” with the Eknath Shinde-led Sena. “Around 25 corporators from Uddhav Thackeray's party are in touch with us. An official announcement will be after the number of these corporators reaches 40 or 45,” Ghole had said.

“There is widespread resentment among Uddhav Thackeray's BMC corporators against the party leadership; the top brass neither meets ordinary party workers nor give time to MPs and MLAs. We are not doing anything to break them away. Uddhav Thackeray's corporators themselves come to us,” Ghole had mentioned.

“They (Uddhav Thackeray's BMC corporators) say that they also need Eknath Shinde's leadership. Eknath Shinde meets everyone, talks to them and stands by them. Uddav Thackeray's corporators are very appreciative of this approach. What Uddav Thackeray's MPs did today will be followed by their MLAs and corporators tomorrow. No ‘operation’ has to be conducted for this, the outpatient department (OPD) is enough,” Ghole had stated on Friday.
Separately, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Santosh Bangur had told media persons on Friday (June 19) that, “As many as 13 to 14 MLAs from Uddhav Thackeray's party will soon join Eknath Shinde.”

Eknath Shinde leader and Minister for Mining Shambhuraj Desai had also told media persons here on Friday that “All these MLAs are our friends. They express their feelings to us. They will also come with us.”

Shinde Sena MLA Bachchu Kadu had also confirmed it by saying, “After MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's party have come to us, even their MLAs will come to us, after them. Shinde's planning is very systematic and perfect. Eknath Shinde is keeping the legacy of Balasaheb's Shiv Sena alive.”

Speaking to media persons, Bangur had said, “Six months ago, I had said that some MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's party would join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. Today, it actually happened. All six UYddhav Thackeray MPs have come with us, trusting Eknath Shinde’s leadership”.

When asked if more Uddhav Thackeray-led MLAs would join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Bangar told media persons, “Just wait and see what will happen. Whatever you just said, will happen. Around 14 MLAs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in a few days.”

“The Shiv Sena loyal to Bal Thackeray’s ideas is the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Shinde is taking Maharashtra forward on the path of Hindutva,” Bangur had said.

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By Vibha Sharma

In politics, it can never really be an endgame. So, are the devastating developments in Shiv Sena (UBT) the end of the road for party chief Uddhav Thackeray—the son of the man who started it all six decades ago, the late Balasaheb Thackeray?

Considered an introverted politician, especially when compared to the aggressive line followed by the "original" Shiv Sena and his father, many believe that the "humble and modest" Uddhav was perhaps never really cut out for cutthroat politics. For much of his early life, he remained out of the spotlight, preferring wildlife and aerial photography over public life.

His cousin Raj Thackeray was widely seen as more of a chip off the old block, resembling Balasaheb Thackeray in temperament and political style.

Uddhav took control of the party in January 2013 after the death of his father and also inherited the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance—one of the oldest and most enduring ideological coalitions in Indian politics, spanning three decades before its collapse in 2019 over power-sharing issues between the two.

Observers say breaking up with the BJP was perhaps Uddhav's biggest mistake.

After breaking up with the BJP, he formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the Congress and the NCP to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra —a decision that reshaped Maharashtra politics and the fortunes of his party. But since the first split in 2022, when he lost the government, MLAs, and the "Bow and Arrow" party symbol to Eknath Shinde, he has been battling a perception war over who carries the Balasaheb's legacy.

Observers say more than when leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, or Raj Thackeray left, what hurt Uddhav most was when Shinde jumped ship to become Chief Minister with the support of the BJP and, later, the breakaway faction of Sharad Pawar's NCP. Unlike earlier departures led by individual leaders, the Shinde revolt directly challenged his leadership and the party's political future.

On Monday, Shinde dealt another devastating blow, taking away six of Uddhav's nine Lok Sabha MPs. With rumblings also among Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs and no control over local bodies, especially the BMC, observers say Uddhav's uncertain future now depends on how he navigates the upcoming electoral battles with a shrinking support base.

His immediate challenge will be whether he can rally remaining supporters, reinvent the party's grassroots outreach, and show that he still holds the Thackeray legacy. "Despite losing the party name and symbol to Shinde, Uddhav and son Aaditya Thackeray still hold the Thackeray surname, which may hold some emotional value among Shiv Sena supporters," they say. There may also be a sympathy factor favouring him, but will that hold given the sharp politics of rivals BJP and Shinde? That remains to be seen.

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