Maharashtra

Mumbai: A controversy has erupted in Maharashtra amid voting for 29 municipal corporations, including the Mumbai BMC elections, over the use of pens instead of traditional indelible ink on voters’ fingers. MNS chief Raj Thackeray raised concerns in Mumbai, alleging that the Election Commission replaced the standard voting ink with a new type of pen. “Complaints are emerging about this new pen. If a voter uses hand sanitizer, the ink disappears. The only option left is to apply the ink, step outside, wipe it off, and re-enter to vote again. This new practice reflects how the government is willing to adopt any method to retain power. Such manipulations cannot be called fair elections,” Thackeray said. He appealed to the public, MNS, and Matoshree Sena workers to remain vigilant. He also c...

After a four-year wait, Mumbaikars are finally exercising their democratic right to elect their local representatives as polling for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections began on Thursday. By 11:30 am, the city had recorded a voter turnout of 17.62 percent, with voting reported to be relatively slow in several VIP localities. The BMC elections are being held for 227 seats, with nearly 1,700 candidates in the fray. A total of 1.03 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots. The previous BMC elections were held in 2017, and the civic body’s term ended on March 7, 2022. Counting of votes and results for Mumbai, along with 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, will take place on January 16. Polling is underway from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm not only in Mumbai but ...

Nagpur: While all eyes are on the Mumbai BMC elections, political observers are keeping a close watch on Nagpur, home to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters, as the city goes to polls for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. Here, the stakes are particularly high for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the results are widely seen as a test of both local governance and the development legacy of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. BJP’s Longstanding Hold under ScrutinyNagpur, the headquarters of the RSS, has been a BJP stronghold for many years. With the party dominating at both the state and central levels, there is mounting pressure for a decisive victory in the municipal elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a Nagpur native, and Nitin Gadkari, the city’s Lok Sabha MP, add...

Nagpur: Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), exercised his democratic right to vote in the Nagpur municipal elections on Thursday morning. Speaking after casting his vote, Bhagwat highlighted the importance of voting and urged citizens to choose capable candidates. He also raised concerns about the use of NOTA (None of the Above) in elections. Voting in Maharashtra’s 29 municipal corporations began at 7:30 AM, with Bhagwat being among the first to cast his ballot in Nagpur. Speaking to the media, he described voting as the day’s “first responsibility” and stressed the pivotal role of elections in a democratic system. He urged voters to make balanced and welfare-oriented choices while selecting candidates. Questions on NOTAWhen asked about NOTA, Bhagwat a...

Mumbai, Maharashtra:After a four-year wait, Mumbai residents headed to the polls on Thursday to elect representatives for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Voting is underway for all 227 BMC seats, with 1.03 crore voters expected to cast their ballots. Across Maharashtra, 29 municipal corporations, including Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Vasai-Virar, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi, and Mira-Bhayandar, are also holding elections today. Crowds at Polling Centers, Voting Slips Missing Large crowds gathered at polling stations from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, but some voters faced difficulty due to missing voting slips, which delayed the process by around five minutes per voter. Director and filmmaker Avinash Gowariker expressed concern over the issue, noting that while the cent...

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed confidence in his alliance’s prospects in the upcoming local body elections, claiming that the Mahayuti is prepared to win key municipal corporations across the state. Speaking ahead of the polls, he stated that if the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, decide to come together in the future, strategic decisions will be made at that time. Fadnavis emphasized that the ongoing alliances in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad involve only local-level coordination and that no formal merger has taken place between the NCP factions. “The leaders are trying to show unity locally to consolidate their supporters, but ultimately the BJP will secure a majority in Pune and Pim...

Mumbai: A shocking case of political violence has emerged from Ward 124, Vikhroli Park Site, Mumbai. A man was attacked with a sharp weapon allegedly for campaigning for a rival party. Police have registered an FIR against 11 people, including former councilor Haroon Khan and his son. Allegations of Violence Over Rival Party Campaign The complainant, Salikh Siddique Kundar, alleged that around 12:20 AM on Monday, Haroon Khan, his son Roshan Khan, and 10 others approached him. Accusing him of promoting a rival party, they reportedly struck him on the back with a sharp weapon. The FIR names Haroon Khan, Roshan Khan, Azad alias “Daddy,” Fareed Lala, Javed Lala, Vicky Pathan, Jainul, and five others as accused. Independent Candidate’s Rally Stopped by Police Meanwhile, independent ...

Mumbai: In view of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the sale of alcohol in Mumbai will remain prohibited from January 14 to 16. The Bombay High Court has refused to grant interim relief to an association of liquor vendors that had challenged the government’s ban. Ban to Remain Until Counting on January 16The Maharashtra government imposed the liquor ban in the city from January 14 to 16, covering the voting day on January 15 and the counting of votes on January 16. The Association of Progressive Retail Liquor Vendors had filed a petition challenging the application of Section 135-C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to municipal elections. During the hearing, the court observed that challenging the law requires detailed examination. Additio...

Mumbai, Jan 14:Even before voting begins for Maharashtra’s local body elections, new political equations have started to emerge, sparking intense speculation across the state. Political observers believe that the results of these civic polls could trigger rapid realignments—not only in Maharashtra’s power structure but also in national politics. At the center of this churn is a key question: could veteran leader Sharad Pawar move closer to the NDA after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections? The civic polls are scheduled for January 15 across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra. These elections are being seen as a litmus test for all major alliances, with shifting loyalties and fractured fronts already visible on both sides of the political divide. Fragile Oppos...