Maharashtra Elections 2024 Highlights: Gautam Adani, the surprising focal point of Maharashtra’s election drama; Congress, BJP clash over governance issues

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has pledged measures for Maharashtra’s farmers if the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comes to power. He announced that an MVA government would provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹7,000 per quintal, plus a bonus for soyabean farmers, and form a committee to determine fair pricing for onions.

In a post on X, Gandhi said, “MSP is a right for cotton as well. For three elections, the BJP promised an MSP of ₹6,000 for soyabean, but even today, farmers are forced to sell their hard-earned produce for ₹3,000-4,000. The MVA will ensure our farmers receive their rightful dues, the fruits of their labour, and justice.”

Gandhi’s commitment follows interactions with soyabean farmers who shared that the cost of cultivation is ₹4,000 per quintal, while they sell at ₹3,000, incurring a loss of ₹1,000 per quintal. “Forget about doubling income, the BJP has forced farmers to sell crops at three-fourths of their cost,” Gandhi emphasised.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced an MSP of ₹6,000 per quintal for soyabean, offering some relief to farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada. This followed the Maharashtra government’s Mahayuti coalition initiative, which provided ₹5,000 per farmer

As the Maharashtra election campaign heats up, political parties are positioning their chief ministerial candidates. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, has signaled that Devendra Fadnavis will return as chief minister if the party wins the most seats. Read more

Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will embark on an election campaign in Mumbai on Saturday. The Chief Minister is scheduled to address four public meetings in a single day.

According to the CMO’s official press release, Chief Minister Patel will begin his campaign by participating in a ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ with the Gujarati business community at the Dahisar assembly constituency at 10 am on Saturday. During his visit, he is also set to interact with members of the Gems and Jewellery Council of India at the Bharat Diamond Bourse in Bandra Kurla.

In the afternoon, the Chief Minister will attend a mass meeting organised by the Greater Mumbai Gujarati Samaj at Gujarat Bhavan in Jogeshwari West. Representatives from over 140 Gujarati social organisations across Mumbai are expected to participate in this gathering. Later in the evening, he will address a rally at Mahada Ground near Oshiwara Metro Station in Jogeshwari West, in support of the Versova Assembly seat candidate. He will then speak at a rally at Ram Mandir, Marol, Andheri, in support of the candidate for the Andheri Assembly constituency. The final public meeting of the day will take place at the Police Hockey Ground in support of the candidate for the Ghatkopar East Assembly constituency. Following this, the Chief Minister will return to Gandhinagar late on Saturday night. : ANI

Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Narendra Modi-led government will eliminate Naxalism from Chhattisgarh by March 31, 2026.

“Modi ji has worked to free the country from terrorism and Naxalism. He worked to make the country prosperous and increase its respect in the world,” Shah said, addressing an election rally at Chandrapur in Maharashtra.

“Whatever (Naxal menace) is remaining in Chhattisgarh, we will end it by March 31, 2026,” Shah said.

“Modi ji has sent ₹15.10 lakh crore for the development of Maharashtra. Along with this, many projects were also started in Maharashtra,” Shah said. : PTI

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has set up an Electronic Media Monitoring Centre (EMMC) to monitor election related news telecast on various television channels. This step was taken in view of the State Assembly Election in the state scheduled to be held on November 20, 2024.

The preparations are underway for the Nov. 20 assembly elections in Maharashtra. The voting will be held in a single phase on the day. Taking necessary precautions, the ECI has set up the EMMC to monitor the poll-related news broadcast on television news channels in the country.

The ECI will monitor each and every news telecast on various TV news channels on the polling day and also on the day before the polling. If any noteworthy text, visuals regarding the news is detected in the news being telecast, the election system of the concerned district will take immediate notice of it. For this the state-level and district-level media monitoring and control rooms are working in Mumbai and the districts of the State.

The district election officer and concerned system and the EMMC will keep a watch on the poll-related news telecast and will take immediate note of any news regarding important incidents, breach of the model code of conduct, law and order etc. The action report will be sent to the ECI by the concerned DEO and EMMC.

A meeting regarding the EMMC was held today at Mantralaya. Instructions were issued to the concerned district information officer (DIO) and Member Secretary of the (Media Verification and Monitoring Committee) by the Joint Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Rathod. Information and Public Relations Director Dayanand Kamble, Under Secretary and Nodal Officer of Media Room Sharad Dalvi, Desk Officer Vivek Jagdale, Desk Officer Kalpana Karande, DIOs of Regional Office were present at the meeting through the video communication system.

The split Shiv Sena will face its biggest electoral test next Wednesday and its outcome will determine the face and fortune of the party.

While the party has seen many high level exits in its 58-year- history, Eknath Shinde’s rebellion in 2022 has been the most damaging thus far.

Not only did Shinde walk out with 40 legislators and 13 members of parliament, his faction also secured the Election Commission’s approval to use Shiv Sena name and was allotted its party symbol of bow and arrow.

The two parties - Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) are facing off in a high stakes battle that will decide who rules Maharashtra for next five years.

Read more here.

Hingoli (Maharashtra): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, challenging him to praise Veer Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.“Aghadi is an army of liars. Rahul Baba, please praise your friend Uddhav Thackeray’s father, the great Balasaheb Thackeray, for two minutes. Uddhav ji, if you have the courage, get Rahul Baba to speak two good words about Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb,” Shah said while addressing a rally in Hingoli. :ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that election officials at Maharashtra’s Hingoli checked the helicopter ferrying him and his bags.

Shah is in the state to campaign for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance ahead of the November 20 assembly polls.

In a post on X, Shah said the BJP believes in free and fair elections and follows all laid-down rules and protocols.

“In a healthy electoral system, we all should contribute and fulfil our duties to make India the strongest democracy in the world,” he said.

The issue of poll officials checking politicians’ luggage entered electoral discourse after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray filmed his bags being inspected and shared the video of it. He also sought to know if the election officials had checked the bags of the chief minister, the state’s two deputy CMs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah. : PTI

In a bid to ensure a cleaner surrounding on the day of Maharashtra assembly elections on November 20, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has decided to carry out a cleanliness drive across all polling stations in the city.

TMC Commissioner Saurabh Rao gave the instructions to the civic staff. The directions include focusing on cleaning immediate surroundings of polling stations, nearby public toilets, roads, footpaths, squares and dividers, a corporation official said.

The solid waste management department and ward committees will lead the drive in a phased manner from November 16 to 18 between 7 am and 11 am every day. This is aimed at providing a smooth and pleasant voting process, he said. -- PTI

• To support BMC’s efforts, Mumbai Metro One is extending its operational hours for the upcoming state elections.

• The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha General Election 2024 is scheduled for November 20, 2024, with the vote counting set for November 23, 2024.

• On election day, November 20, the first metro from Versova and Ghatkopar will start as early as 04:00 AM, while the last service from both stations will run until 01:00 AM on November 21, 2024.

• This extension aligns with Mumbai Metro One’s commitment to assist the BMC in facilitating the early morning as well as late-night travel needs of polling station officers and employees in both Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts. These officials will need to reach their stations early by 5:00 AM and stay until late to secure election materials at central locations.

• The BMC requested this extension as the Metro connects key stations of Western and Central Railways, making it a vital link for election staff to reach their designated stations on time.

• As a socially responsible organization, we are proud to extend our hours to support this significant event, helping dedicated election officers and staff to reach their polling stations promptly.

For 57 years, Pratibha Pawar has stood in the shadow of her husband Sharad Pawar’s political career, a silent supporter since his entry into electoral politics in 1967. She stepped back from the public eye, emerging only sparingly — until now. This year, the octogenarian made a rare and poignant return to the campaign trail, driven by events that have shaken Baramati to its core. Radheshyam Jadhav reports

The opposition’s successful “changing of constitution” angle from the Lok Sabha elections is falling flat in the state assembly polls. The Congress and its allies are now pivoting to frame the BJP-led alliance as being controlled by business magnate Gautam Adani.

Read businessline’s report here

Though AI-based sentiment analytics proves to be useful, social media remains the most powerful form of technology for elections, say political campaigners ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls

Read businessline’s report here

Source: PTI (X)

Union HM Amit Shah tweeted, “Today, during my election campaign in Hingoli Assembly constituency of Maharashtra, my helicopter was inspected by Election Commission officials. BJP believes in fair elections and a healthy election system and follows all the rules made by the Honourable Election Commission. We all must contribute to a healthy election system and perform our duties in keeping India as the strongest democracy in the world.” 

(Video Source - Union HM Amit Shah/X)

“We do not agree with abusive words used against Manoj Jarange Patil by a person from Baramati”, says Ajit Pawar 

Ajit Pawar underlines ‘such personal criticism is not the culture of Maharashtra’

NDA candidate from Maharashtra’s Worli assembly constituency in Milind Deora on Friday invited sitting Worli MLA and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray to have an open debate with him on Mumbai, Worli and Maharashtra.’

Aditya and Deora are contesting against each other from Worli in the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls.

In a post on X, Deora posted a video where he said, “Aditya, it’s been already 24 hours since I invited you to debate me on Worli, Mumbai, and Maharashtra. The people of Maharashtra deserve to know, in which direction Maharashtra is headed economically and in terms of law and order, where is Mumbai headed towards infrastructural development, and where is Worli headed in terms of local issues like the Mahalaxmi race course.”

On reacting to an earlier post of Aditya Thackeray where he stated that anyone who is scared of a rival candidate is not worthy of any public forum, he urged him to choose any journalist of his liking and have a debate on MVA’s and Mahayuti’s track record.

“During the Lok Sabha election in 2024, you said someone who is scared of a rival candidate is not worthy of any public forum. I urge you to choose any journalist of your liking and let’s have a debate on MVA’s track record and Mahayuti’s track record. On MVA’s vision for Worli, Mumbai, and Maharashtra vs. Mahayuti’s vision for Worli, Mumbai, and Maharashtra,” he said.

“If you really believe in the democratic ideals that you profess, I invite you to have a debate,” Deora said to Aditya through his video message.

Earlier on May 12, this year, Aditya Thackeray said in an X post, “Someone who is scared of an open debate with rival candidates is not worthy of being in any public forum, the Parliament being the highest.”

Inputs from ANI

Maharashtra’s election battleground has turned into a spectacle of competitive populism, with each party outbidding the other in a race to shower the public with promises of lavish giveaways. Yet, beneath the surface, the State’s fiscal numbers flash urgent warnings. The projected revenue deficit stands at ₹20,151 crore, while the budgeted fiscal deficit is a daunting ₹1,10,355 crore for FY25. Fiscal deficit almost doubled in FY24, rising from 1.9 per cent of GDP in FY23 to 2.8 per cent of GDP in FY24. While it is still within the FRBM limit, the sudden expansion is a cause for worry.

Read businessline’s data focus story: Maharashtra’s bold election gambit amid fiscal red flags

Addressing a public rally in Jharkhand’s Godda, Congress MP & LoP Rahul Gandhi says, “We are not scared of Narendra Modi, the 56-inch chest, Mann ki Baat...BJP & Modi ji are trying to give Mumbai’s Dharavi land to Adani ji. The Congress govt in Maharashtra was overthrown to help Adani ji...”

Source: ANI (X)

Union Minister Amit Shah on Friday dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to speak “nicely” about Veer Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

“Uddhav ji, if you have the courage, get Rahul Baba to speak two good words about Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb,” Shah said, addressing a rally at Hingoli in Maharashtra ahead of the November 20 state assembly elections.

“Rahul Baba’s Congress party has passed a resolution in Kashmir to bring back Article 370. Rahul Baba, listen carefully, not only you but even your fourth generation cannot bring back Article 370,” Shah said.

Shah said that in the Haryana assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi had said with confidence that his party had won.

“So much arrogance in a democracy. Look at the results, Congress was wiped out in Haryana and BJP formed the government,” he said.

Inputs from PTI

Senior opposition leader Sharad Pawar on Friday accused Narendra Modi of “dividing” the society as he slammed the prime minister’s campaign speeches and stressed that he will have no association with those allied with the BJP, when asked about the possibility of a post-poll reunion with his estranged nephew Ajit Pawar.

Inputs from PTI

For 57 years, Pratibha Pawar has stood in the shadow of her husband Sharad Pawar’s political career, a silent supporter since his entry into electoral politics in 1967. She stepped back from the public eye, emerging only sparingly — until now. This year, the octogenarian made a rare and poignant return to the campaign trail, driven by events that have shaken Baramati to its core.

Radheshyam Jadhav of businessline writes | Click to read

Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “In Haryana elections, Rahul Gandhi said that we (Congress) have won, this kind of arrogance and that too in a democracy? Later, Congress was wiped out and the BJP formed the govt... In Mahrashtra, Mahayuti is going to form the govt.”

Source: ANI (X)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a public rally in the Mahagama constituency on Thursday where he said that his party was not scared of Narendra Modi and that the party was attempting to give Mumbai’s Dharavi to Adani.

Speaking to the public, Gandhi said “We are not scared of Narendra Modi, the 56-inch chest man and Mann ki Baat. Narendra Modi is a puppet of billionaires. Whatever the billionaires say, Narendra Modi does the same. Modi ji has waived off Rs 16 lakh crore of billionaires by snatching the money of the poor. Dharavi’s land worth Rs 1 lakh crore in Maharashtra is also being handed over to Adani. The truth is that- Our government in Maharashtra has been toppled only to grab land.”

Further, he attacked the BJP and RSS governments and said that they were trying to break the Constitution.

ANI report

Input from PTI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray said on Friday that he won’t hold his November 17 rally at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park as the Election Commission (EC) is yet to grant his party permission for the event.

Instead, Thackeray said, he would visit assembly segments in Mumbai and Thane to canvass for MNS candidates.

“I still have not got the permission and I have 1.5 days for the meeting. In these 1.5 days, holding rallies is becoming difficult. Instead, I will visit assembly seats in Mumbai and Thane,” Thackeray said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS had sought permission to hold rallies on November 17 at the iconic Shivaji Park. Both parties have not yet received the EC nod for the proposed events.

Campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls ends at 5 pm on November 18.

Inputs from PTI

“I said about that, sometimes we are so busy with our work, that, by mistake, I will say something...... it must have happened by mistake.,” Pawar stated.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused him of serving the interests of billionaires at the expense of India’s poor.

Inputs from PTI

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Friday clarified on an earlier statement that industrialist Gautam Adani was present at the key discussions about government formation in the state involving top BJP and NCP leaders 5 years ago. Pawar said that he had made a mistake by stating this earlier.

“I said about that, sometimes we are so busy with our work, that, by mistake, I will say something...... it must have happened by mistake.,” Pawar stated.

“I am a man, only a man makes mistakes,” he added.

Speaking to ANI in an interview, Pawar stated that the industrialist was not present at any meeting on government formation.

“He (Gautam Adani) was not there. They were not there. meeting is held in different areas. Like we are sitting here. Some are in Devgiri, some are in Sagar, some are in Varsha, some are in different hotels, some are in other places, in guest houses,” Ajit Pawar said.

Inputs from ANI

• To support BMC’s efforts, Mumbai Metro One is extending its operational hours for the upcoming state elections.

• The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha General Election 2024 is scheduled for November 20, 2024, with the vote counting set for November 23, 2024.

• On election day, November 20, the first metro from Versova and Ghatkopar will start as early as 04:00 AM, while the last service from both stations will run until 01:00 AM on November 21, 2024.

• This extension aligns with Mumbai Metro One’s commitment to assist the BMC in facilitating the early morning as well as late-night travel needs of polling station officers and employees in both Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts. These officials will need to reach their stations early by 5:00 AM and stay until late to secure election materials at central locations.

• The BMC requested this extension as the Metro connects key stations of Western and Central Railways, making it a vital link for election staff to reach their designated stations on time.

• As a socially responsible organization, we are proud to extend our hours to support this significant event, helping dedicated election officers and staff to reach their polling stations promptly.

Buldhana, Maharashtra: On ‘Batoge toh Katoge’ slogan, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar says, “OBCs have already been cut. Their reservation has been cut. This has been done by the BJP...their slogan is only for cutting and they are telling people that we are cutting you. People should understand and remove them from power.”

Source: ANI (X)

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar | On Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress leader Sachin Pilot says, “Maharashtra elections are very important and the whole country is looking towards the people of Maharashtra. In the Lok Sabha elections, people supported the INDIA alliance and MVA. I am seeing the same sentiment even today. Our alliance is strong and our policies, agenda and campaign are much better. If you announce a scheme just before elections, then people don’t take it seriously...Be it BJP at the Centre or here, both are doing politics for votes. Today, every section of society is troubled and wants change...All indications suggest that we will come to power with a majority.” 

Source: ANI (X)

Mumbai’s public transport, including metro, rail lines and BEST buses, will operate extended hours on November 20, the polling day, to support voters, election staff, and regular commuters. , BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani directed the BEST Undertaking and Metro authorities to extend services, with suburban Central and Western Railway trains also running additional hours.

• Multiplex chains PVR Inox, Cinepolis, Mirage, Sterling, Mukta, MovieMax and Movie Time will offer 20 per cent discount to voters from November 20 to 22 in Mumbai.
• AHAR will give 10 to 20 percent discounts to voters on food on November 20 and 21.
• Customers will get discounts if they show their inked finger. Retailers Association of India and the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association have also announced discounts at various retail outlets in the city.

All India Congress Commitee’s Mahrashtra in-charge, Ramesh Chennithala, on Friday questioned the turnout at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent rally, claiming that public support was stronger for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

“There were fewer people in PM Modi’s rally, but a large number of people attended Rahul Gandhi’s rallies in Nanded and Nandurbar,” Chennithala said. He added that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP-SCP, is united. He added,”Our Maha Vikas Aghadi is capable, we will move forward together, no one controls anyone. There is a big fight in the Mahayuti. No one accepted the issue of ‘batenge toh katenge’ in Maharashtra.”

Inputs from ANI

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Friday claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rallies in the state were not getting any response compared to the meetings of party leader Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference here, Chennithala said there were no listeners for PM Modi’s rally in the city on Thursday.

“There were empty chairs everywhere at Shivaji Park. This proves that he (the prime minister) lies so much, and people don’t want to listen,” he alleged, claiming that Rahul Gandhi’s rallies were attracting a lot of crowd.

The All India Congress Committee in-charge of Maharashtra said Rahul Gandhi will address rallies in Chimur (Chandrapur) and Dhamangaon (Amravati) on Saturday, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be in Shirdi and Kolhapur.

He said Priyanka will address rallies in Gadchiroli and hold a roadshow in Nagpur on Sunday.

Inputs from PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday highlighted the importance of schemes like the Ladli Behna Yojana, which aims to transfer money directly to women’s accounts, while also slamming the Congress, claiming they did nothing when they were in power.

He also underlined other initiatives benefiting citizens of the state, such as the Ujjwala scheme, which has provided free cylinders to 52 lakh beneficiaries in Maharashtra.

The Deputy CM, while discussing the political landscape exclusively with ANI ahead of Maharashtra’s upcoming elections, defended the Mahayuti government’s record of helping people, stating that Congress had failed to deliver similar promises during its rule.

Inputs from ANI

Since India’s independence, the Patil dynasty of Sangli, spearheaded by the late Congress leader Vasantdada Patil, has ruled the local political landscape with an iron grip. For over three decades, this powerful family has held the Sangli Lok Sabha seat, seen its members grace the state assembly, legislative council, cabinet, and even the Union cabinet. Vasantdada himself rose to the heights of Chief Minister and Governor of Rajasthan. Yet, despite wielding almost every political accolade short of Prime Minister, resentment brews within the family.

The latest storm? Congress denying Jayshree Patil a state assembly ticket, leading her to rebel against the party and challenge its candidate, Prithviraj Patil, son of former Congress MP Gulabrao Patil. The echoes of dissent were already felt in 2024 when Vasantdada’s grandson broke ranks, contested as an independent, and seized the Lok Sabha seat.

Radheshyam Jadhav of businessline writes | Click to read more

On Uddhav Thackeray’s allegation that projects meant from Maharashtra are going to Gujarat, NCP leader & Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar says,” A fake narrative is being run that all projects are going to Gujarat. Even today, Maharashtra is on the top in getting FDI...BJP-Shiv Sena have been in alliance for 25 years and they have worked together..”

Source: ANI (X)

On being asked if he aspires to be the CM, NCP leader & Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar says, “Right now, nothing has to be said on this as 20th November nears. We want to focus on how Mahayuti will cross 175 (seats)...Later, all in Mahayuti will decide who will be the CM...” 

Source: ANI (X)

Since India’s independence, the Patil dynasty of Sangli, spearheaded by the late Congress leader Vasantdada Patil, has ruled the local political landscape with an iron grip. For over three decades, this powerful family has held the Sangli Lok Sabha seat, seen its members grace the state assembly, legislative council, cabinet, and even the Union cabinet. Vasantdada himself rose to the heights of Chief Minister and Governor of Rajasthan. Yet, despite wielding almost every political accolade short of Prime Minister, resentment brews within the family.

Radheshyam Jadhav of businessline writes | Click to read more

Input from ANI

Input from ANI

Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Friday said that the people of Maharashtra will defeat the language of hate used by the BJP in the run-up to the state assembly elections.

Singh is in Nagpur to campaign for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates.

Talking to reporters at Nagpur airport, the AAP leader claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi meted out a step-motherly treatment to Maharashtra by shifting investments worth Rs 2 lakh crore from the state to neighbouring Gujarat, and said this was a big issue on people’s minds.

“The people of Maharashtra will defeat the language of hate being used (by the BJP) in the elections here,” he said and expressed confidence that the MVA will win the polls with a huge majority.

The Aam Aadmi Party is a member of the opposition INDIA bloc.

Inputs from PTI

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, on Thursday defended his decision to offer a ticket to Nawab Malik to contest from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, despite the serious allegations against him.

Malik was arrested in 2022 on charges of having links with Dawood Ibrahim’s associates, but no court has proven these allegations yet.

Speaking exclusively to ANI, Pawar stated, “The allegation against Nawab Malik has not been proven, so why not give him a ticket?” He compared Malik’s situation to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who faced accusations during his time in office. “Many allegations were made against Rajiv Gandhi, like Bofors, but that doesn’t mean he is an accused. This is a democracy, we can’t blame anyone without evidence,” Pawar said.

Pawar then emphasized that allegations must be proven in court before anyone is declared guilty. “Allegations are easy to make, but they must be proven in court. Right now, these are just accusations. We are not accusing anyone without solid proof,” he said.

Inputs from ANI

• Multiplex chains PVR Inox, Cinepolis, Mirage, Sterling, Mukta, MovieMax and Movie Time will offer 20% discount to voters from November 20 to 22 in Mumbai.
• AHAR will give 10 to 20 percent discounts to voters on food on November 20 and 21.
• Customers will get the discounts if they show their inked finger. Retailers Association of India and the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association have also announced discounts at various retail outlets in the city.

Mumbai’s public transport, including metro, rail lines and BEST buses, will operate extended hours on November 20, the polling day, to support voters, election staff, and regular commuters. , BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani directed the BEST Undertaking and Metro authorities to extend services, with suburban Central and Western Railway trains also running additional hours.

B N Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), pointed out that despite numerous appeals to political leaders for assistance, little has been done to secure job stability for daily wagers.

“They need all sorts of help from the film industry, but they (political leaders) never think about us. We have written to them numerous times to implement the PPF scheme for workers, provide them with job security, etc. We fail to understand why those who talk about helping the poor people don’t do anything for them,” Tiwari told PTI.

He said the plight of daily wagers in the film industry has gone unnoticed as many continue to face economic hardships after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Devaiah, best known for his work in “Badhaai Do”, “Dahaad”, and “Guns & Gulaabs”, highlighted the inadequacies of support systems in place for workers since the pandemic.

Inputs from PTI

The Hindi film industry in Mumbai hopes the new government will bring critical reforms for daily wage workers and policies to reduce financial burdens on the sector.

In five days, the state will witness an electoral battle between the ruling Mahayuti, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi led by the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).

Actor Suresh Oberoi emphasised the importance of voting, referring to it as a “national festival”.

“Voting is a national festival, and it is your duty to exercise your voting rights and strengthen the foundation of democracy,” the veteran actor told PTI.

Talking to PTI, actor Gulshan Devaiah said, “Elections are a hallmark of a good democracy, and it is the people’s right. No matter what problems we may have with each other, electorally and ideologically, we can hold free and fair elections, so that’s quite amazing.” Film producer Boney Kapoor echoed similar sentiments.

Inputs from PTI

On PM Modi’s ‘Congress in Maharashtra is trying to divide the OBC community’ remark, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says “Rahul Gandhi has already given an indication of this in America...His mentality came to the fore with the statements he made in America on the Constitution and reservation. The way he is trying to divide people into castes, PM Modi has said the right thing, there are 350 castes in OBC in Maharashtra. These 350 castes together form the OBC group, so there is a pressure group that the welfare of OBC has to be done. If 350 castes get separated, then this group will not exist and their pressure will end...The way Bharat Jodo has been formed, it is a community of anarchists. They are not Bharat Jodo, they want to divide India into communities and then break India.” 

Source: ANI (X)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday refuted the opposition’s allegation of the Maharashtra losing projects to Gujarat and said that his state under the BJP leadership has secured 52 per cent of the total investment in the country.

Taking a hit at the oppositon, Devendra Fadnavis stating that Gujarat is fortunate because it doesn’t need to advertise - the MVA does it for them.

“No one praises Gujarat as much as Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nana Patole do. They have become the ambassadors of Gujarat,” said Devendra Fadnavis while taking a shot at the MVA alliance.

In a sharp response to the critics, Fadnavis highlighted the state’s economic growth, asserting that Maharashtra has consistently outperformed other states in attracting investment.

Fadnavis recalled that when he took office as Chief Minister in 2019, Karnataka was ranked number 1, and Maharashtra had slipped to number 4. By 2021, Gujarat had taken the top spot, with Maharashtra still languishing at number 4.

However, Fadnavis claimed that with the formation of the new government, Maharashtra quickly regained its position at number 1. 

Amidst the din of election slogans and the chaos of campaign rallies in Dharashiv, Marathwada, Megha Kulkarni stands motionless, her hands trembling as she clutches the sacks of harvested soybeans. Her face, etched with lines of worry and exhaustion, tells a story far removed from the promises and politics swirling around her. She cares little for the political battles being fought in the streets. For her, there is only one battle: the fight for survival.

A white tarpaulin covers a structure on the ground at the red stone Rajkot fort in Malvan town of Sindhudurg district. Beneath the sheet is the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji that collapsed in August, triggering protests across Maharashtra and a political firestorm.

In the poll-bound state, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has latched onto the incident, alleging corruption in the construction of the statue. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has promised Shivaji’s temples across the state if Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is voted to power.

The BJP-led Mahayuti government quickly moved to control the damage and announced plans to construct a larger structure at the same location. Days after the collapse, Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologised to Shivaji Maharaj and those hurt by the fall of the 17th-century king’s statue.

Locals said there is obvious anger and pain over the statue collapse in the coastal Malvan as the area draws its identity from the legendary Maratha king, but there are more pressing issues – employment opportunities and poor health infrastructure.

“As a Shiv permi (followers of Shivaji), we are no doubt dismayed and this may have some impact on the November 20 assembly elections here,” said Kalpita Joshi, who owns a stationery shop in Malvan, located about 500 km from Mumbai.

She was among the residents who had participated in a protest after the statue collapsed. The protest turned violent when Sena (UBT) workers and supporters of BJP MP Narayan Rane, who wields considerable influence in the Konkan region including Malvan, clashed.

“How can the statue installed in December (2023) collapse in eight months? Those involved in any irregularities in its construction should be punished,” she demanded.

Input from PTI

BJP does not have anything to say to people regarding what they did for Maharashtra. What did they do when projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore were shifted from Maharashtra to Gujarat,” says AAP MP Sanjay Singh 

Source: PTI (X)

Stepping up his attacks on the Congress party and its leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari on Friday said that the Congress is desperate in Maharashtra and Jharkhand because no one wants to listen to Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

Bhandari questioned the motive of the Congress party behind “supporting” infiltrators, even as if the “Supreme Court has said in its ruling that supporting infiltrators is equal to external aggression.”

Speaking to ANI, Bhandari said, “The Congress party should answer why it is trying to destroy the Constitution of India. Why is the Congress party talking about giving Muslim reservations? The Congress party should answer why it is talking about giving cylinders to infiltrators. The Supreme Court has said in its ruling that supporting infiltrators is equal to external aggression. What is the Congress party trying to do today? The Congress party wants to change the demography of this country.”

Bhandari stated that such moves by Congress show that the NDA government is going to be formed in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

“I want to tell the Congress party that today you are going to the same Election Commission which you curse after every election and raise questions on the democratic system.”

ANI

For 57 long years, the Pawar family has reigned supreme over the Baramati assembly constituency in Pune district, an unyielding fortress that has withstood every political storm. From 1967 to 1990, Sharad Pawar himself held the seat with an iron grip. And when he moved to national politics, his nephew, Ajit Pawar, took up the mantle in 1995, remaining undefeated and unchallenged through decades of shifting political sands

Read more here

As campaigning has intensified in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar slammed the ruling government Mahayuti, saying that the present government in the state has worsened the situation for farmers and several farmers have committed suicide.

Addressing a public rally, Sharad Pawar said, “In Maharashtra, NCP-SCP, Congress and Shivsena (UBT) decided to go in the election together... Earlier, during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Congress had only one seat and we had three, but this time we got 30 seats because we fought together...The present government has worsened the situation for farmers in Maharashtra...during the last six months, several farmers committed suicide...”

Input from ANI

X/@ShivSenaUBT_

“Who stole the Government?” Gandhi asked the crowd. “Was Modi’s hand not behind it? Even BJP leaders have admitted this. Adani was part of the meeting where the plot was hatched. Why was Adaniji attending a political meeting? Because he wants Dharavi. This Government (Eknath Shinde and BJP) has gifted him benefits worth Rs 1 lakh crore.”

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Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are gearing up to address public meetings in Vidarbha as part of the party’s campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections on November 20. This will be Priyanka Gandhi’s first visit to Vidarbha for the current election cycle, while Rahul Gandhi has already conducted meetings in the region recently.

“The people of Maharashtra do not trust the PM’s statements. Our MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) alliance is united, and Maharashtra is safer with us. Let the public decide whose remote control is in whose hands. As for the faction he created by breaking Shiv Sena, its remote control is certainly with him,” says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut at a press conference in Mumbai.

Earlier, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Marathwada, Modi alleged that Congress had praised Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and echoed Pakistan’s rhetoric, accusing them of seeking to reintroduce Article 370. He pointed to Maharashtra’s success in attracting the highest FDI this year due to the State’s pro-development policies and assured farmers of better prices for their crops.

In Panvel, Modi reiterated that Congress aimed to create divisions among SCs, STs, OBCs, and Adivasis and jeopardise their reservation rights, rallying the crowd with the slogan, “ Eak hai toh safe hai” (Unity is Safety). He also accused Congress of disrespecting the Constitution and its architect, Babasaheb Ambedkar, by failing to implement it in Jammu and Kashmir.

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In Dharashiv district, where the golden glint of soya crops belie the toil and misery of those who cultivate them, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s “Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin” ( CM’s beloved sister) scheme is more a mirage than an oasis. The promise of ₹1,500 per month—pitched as a lifeline to millions of women—has failed to dazzle Aparna Gangawane, Mangal More, Suhasini Pawar, and a chorus of others who see through its thin veneer. They say our “brother” could have done more, eyes hardened by years of backbreaking labour and failed expectations.

Read here

At a time when everyone is talking about using AI for driving efficiencies, Maharashtra’s political parties have lost the enthusiasm to use generative AI for their election campaigning. According to Opposition parties like the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP SP) and the Indian National Congress, social media interaction reaps much better results than AI-content. Still, the Congress said that AI helps in speeding up other modes of campaigning.

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Reeling from a crushing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP alliance government in Maharashtra made a thunderous declaration in its last Budget. With a flourish, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented a mammoth ₹6,12,293-crore Budget, which included a bold promise: three free LPG cylinders a year for BPL families, free electricity for the State’s farmers, and ₹1,500 a month for women under the CM Ladki Bahin Yojana (CM’s beloved sister scheme). Now, this scheme has become the focal point in the BJP-led alliances’ State election campaign. 

Read businessline’s data focus story: ​Maharashtra’s bold election gambit amid fiscal red flags​

(Friday, November 15, 2024)

Time: Mon. 12:45 PM, Public Meeting, Karad, Satara

Time: Mon. 2 o’clock, public meeting, Shirala, Sangli

Time: Evening. 6:30 PM, Public Meeting, Khadakwasla, Pune

Time: Evening. 7:45 PM, Public Meeting, Kasba Peth, Pune

Pime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Congress is far ahead in vote-bank politics, but when it comes to poverty eradication the party has given only empty slogans and looted the impoverished people.

He also raised the issue of illegal immigration and said a Congress leader in Jharkhand, which is facing assembly polls along with Maharashtra, has promised to provide cheap gas cylinders to infiltrators like Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

Stepping up attack on the Congress with less than a week left for polling in the state, the BJP’s star campaigner noted the party gave the ‘Garibi Hatao’ (eradicate poverty) slogan, but instead looted the poor.

“If the poor are benefiting, you feel happy, but the Congress doesn’t feel happy over this,” Modi said, addressing a well-attended rally at Kharghar in Panvel taluka of Raigad district for the November 20 assembly elections.

“The Congress is far ahead when it comes to vote-bank politics, but is the enemy of the poor,” Modi said.

The Grand Old Party has always worked with the agenda of keeping the poor in poverty, the PM remarked.

“Generation after generation these people kept giving the false slogan of eradicating poverty. In the name of eradicating poverty, the Congress looted the poor,” he said.

Even after 70 years of Independence, most of the people in the country were struggling to get food, clothing and shelter, but the situation changed for the first time in the last 10 years, he added.

Modi said his government, since 2014, has brought 25 crore people out of poverty.

The BJP stalwart said a Congress leader has promised to provide subsidised cooking gas cylinder even to infiltrators if the INDIA bloc comes to power in Jharkhand.

“Today, a Congress leader has said in Jharkhand that we will give cheap gas cylinders to Hindus and Muslims as well as infiltrators like Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Should such people who praise the infiltrators get any opportunity anywhere?” he asked.

Modi asked the crowd at the rally to say ‘Ek hai toh safe hai’ (we are safe if we are united) so that those seeking to divide society lose their sleep.

Modi also spoke of his love for Maharashtra, the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“When the BJP chose me as the PM candidate in 2013, I went to Raigad Fort and sought the blessings of Shivaji Maharaj to work for the country. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj gave us the oath of swaraj (self-rule). We have to carry forward the resolution of suraj (good governance) along with swaraj to build a developed India,” he said.

Modi emphasised the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s commitment to policies that uplift and empower all communities, particularly marginalized and economically disadvantaged sections of Maharashtra.

He said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are taking initiatives that are strengthening the “soshit” (oppressed) and “vanchit” (deprived), who were neglected by the Congress.

Highlighting major social welfare schemes that have reached over 80 crore citizens across India, Modi emphasized his government’s provision of free monthly rations to economically disadvantaged families.

“In Raigad alone, 18 lakh people have benefited from free ration distribution,” he stated.

On the economic front, Modi outlined Mahayuti’s development plans, stating that Maharashtra is on the brink of an infrastructural revolution.

Key projects like the Atal Setu sea bridge, the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Vadhavan Port and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway are transforming the state into a hub of growth, he explained.

Modi said that with Rs 30,000 crore invested in a Data Centre Park in Raigad, Maharashtra is poised to become a leading tech hub in Asia.

He assured coastal communities of continued government support, specifically for the fishing industry.

A Rs 1,000-crore assistance package is set to modernize navigation, provide better boats, and support blue economy initiatives, he said in the coastal district.

He highlighted schemes like the PM Awas Yojana, where homes are registered in women’s names, and the Lakhpati Didi programme, which has helped numerous women become financially independent.

“The Congress mocks these programmes, but they transform the lives of millions of women,” he said.

Modi emphasized that the upcoming elections are about securing Maharashtra’s long-term future, not just electing members of the legislative assembly.

The PM warned the audience of the Congress’s attempts to sow division among different communities and castes.

“The Congress is trying to split and exploit Dalits, tribals, Other Backward Classes (OBC) and other communities for power,” Modi asserted.

He alleged the Congress was reluctant to support the progress of SCs/STs/OBCs because it wants to keep them deprived for political advantage.

Assembly poll results will be declared on November 23.

PTI report

Home Minister Amit Shah to hold Jan Sabhas in Maharashtra on Friday, Nov 15

Ramleela maidan, Hingoli at 1:15

Zilla Parishad girls high school ground, Umarkhed, Yavatmal at 2:15

Chanda Club ground, Chandrapur, at 3:45

The Election Commission has resolved 6,381 complaints related to Model Code of Conduct violations in Maharashtra over the past month, with only one case pending resolution, according to the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer

In the final stretch of his election campaign in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi adopted a three-pronged approach. He showcased the development initiatives led by both the State and Central governments, launched sharp critiques at the Congress for allegedly pushing a divisive caste census agenda, and warned voters about Congress’ purportedly pro-Muslim policies. Modi’s strategy was aimed at consolidating support and drawing clear contrasts as the election day approached.

Read businessline’s report: Modi’s three-pronged strategy in Maharashtra

On being asked who will be the CM if Mahayuti comes to power, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis says “There is no plan, no date. We are sure, we will form our Government. As soon as the results come, all three parties will sit together and decide who will be made the CM...I am not in this process. I am a regional leader in my party, all this is the game of national presidents...” - ANI (X)

​

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, “The people of Maharashtra do not trust the Prime Minister’s statement. This is Maha Vikas Aghadi. We three are together. We are one and we are safer in Maharashtra than you. And the second thing is that the people will decide whose remote control is in whose hands...I have said earlier also that after November 23, there will be no Mahayuti because there will be no CM. They will not make Eknath Shinde the CM or LoP. They will not get the majority. We are forming the government...” - ANI

Key contenders in the fray in Maharashtra: Within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, BJP is fighting for 149 seats, sitting CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is contesting 81 seats while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP is fighting from 59 seats. In the main opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance the Congress has 101 candidates in the fray while Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray has 95 candidates, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP is fielding 86 candidates. The smaller parties in the fray are Bahujan Samaj Party with 237 candidates and AIMIM has 17 candidates. Raj Thackeray’s MNS has fielded 110 candidates

A significant political controversy has erupted following Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s recent statement that industrialist ​​Gautam Adani​​ participated in a 2019 meeting between leaders of the NCP and BJP to discuss the possibility of forming a government.

Pawar later clarified that his remarks were misconstrued. Veteran NCP leader Sharad Pawar acknowledged meeting Adani and Union Home Minister Amit Shah but denied that such discussions took place.

“If such a thing had happened, you would have seen a BJP-NCP government being formed,” Sharad Pawar told the media.

Read businessline’s report: ​​ Parties vie for winning narrative as voting nears​​

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleged that the people in Maharashtra were “deprived” of their government and claimed that the current government “handed over” Dharavi to Adani.

Addressing a public rally in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi said, “In Maharashtra, the people were deprived of their government. Adani was present in the meeting held to topple the government. After all, why was Adani sitting in that political meeting? They were sitting there because they wanted Dharavi. Then this government handed over Dharavi to Adani.”

“There is unemployment in the state, the prices are going up, Adani, Ambani are not getting hurt by all this, their wealth is increasing. They got airports, ports, roads, and now they are getting Dharavi. The loss is yours (locals), the loss is of soyabean farmers, of workers, of unemployed youth,” he added.

ANI report

The Election Commission has received 6,382 complaints related to model code violations in Maharashtra in the past month and has resolved all but one, while agencies under it have seized cash and goods worth more than Rs 536 crore.

These complaints were filed through the cVIGIL app of the poll panel between October 15, when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force with the announcement of the election schedule, and November 14, said a statement issued by the office of state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Thursday.

cVIGIL is a mobile application developed by the EC to enable citizens to report violations of the MCC during elections.

Of the total complaints received in the past month, 6,381 have been resolved by the EC, said the statement.

Once a complaint is filed, the relevant team investigates and takes appropriate action, it said.

In an enforcement crackdown since October 15, various state and central agencies have seized assets worth Rs 536.45 crore, which include illegal cash, liquor, narcotics, and precious metals, said the statement.

Seizures were made to stop any inducement of voters in Maharashtra, where polling will take place on November 20.

The MCC is a set of guidelines drafted by the EC that outlines how political parties and candidates must conduct themselves during election campaigning and polling.

PTI report

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said there was no set formula for selecting the next chief minister of the ruling Mahayuti alliance and a decision in this regard will be taken once assembly poll results were declared.

In an interaction with a group of reporters in Mumbai, the senior BJP leader clarified there was no such formula of having a chief minister from the party winning the maximum number of seats or that with a better strike rate in the November 20 polls to elect a new 288-member assembly.

The BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP headed by deputy CM Ajit Pawar are constituents of the ruling alliance.

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday exuded confidence that his candidates will win both the seats in Aurangabad Central and East and they will demand Maratha reservation in the Assembly, said ANI.

Speaking to ANI, Owaisi said that as per their strategy, they are contesting on 16 seats.

“Our candidates will win both the seats in Aurangabad. Drinking water is the biggest issue for the people here. Poor people do not have houses, there is problem of roads and drainage. There is also Maratha reservation. If both of them win, they will go to Maharashtra Assembly and demand Maratha reservation,” Owaisi said.

Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has said he will ensure “vote jihad” does not happen in the upcoming state assembly polls and maintained he was not afraid of the multiple FIRs pertaining to hate speeches registered against him.

In an interview to PTI, Rane, who is the BJP’s nominee from Kankavli seat in Sindhudurg district, asserted he has “not done anything wrong” by taking the side of his “dharma” or community.

“I am going to be mentioned as a Hindu on my birth and death certificate. If I am being blamed for a hate crime just because I am trying to take the side of my own dharma or my community, religion, I don’t think there is anything wrong in it. I have absolutely not done anything wrong,” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) workers were involved in a tussle in Nashik on Thursday in connection with the November 20 Maharashtra polls and both groups approached police, though officials said no formal complaint had been received, according to PTI.

The argument started at around 12:30pm in Panchvati area here after BJP candidate Rahul Dhikle’s supporters apprehended a person and claimed he was distributing money on behalf of NCP (SP).

However, Gokul Gite, brother of NCP (SP) candidate Ganesh Gite, refuted allegations that the apprehended man belonged to their party, leading to verbal clashes and sloganeering between the two groups.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday claimed that Maharashtra has fallen into the wrong hands in the past few years and has suffered a decline.

He was in the Chinchwad assembly constituency in Pune district to canvass for his party candidate Rahul Kalate, who faces off against BJP’s Shankar Jagtap in the November 20 Maharashtra polls.

Pawar took part in a roadshow and addressed a public gathering in support of Kalate.

“Maharashtra was once ranked number one in the country but it has fallen into the wrong hands in recent times leading to the state’s downfall,” he said.

The NCP (SP) president said the Chinchwad constituency lacks even basic infrastructure. The Pimpri-Chinchwad area near Pune is an auto hub.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi feels the “red book” of the Constitution is blank as he has never read it, reported PTI.

Addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar, Gandhi said the Constitution contains the soul of India and the principles envisaged by national icons like Birsa Munda, Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.

“The BJP has objections to the red colour of the book (which Gandhi has been displaying in rallies). But we don’t care about whether the colour is red or blue. We are committed to preserve it (Constitution) and ready to lay down our lives too for it. Modi ji feels the Constitution (book) I carry is blank because he has no idea what it contains. He has not read it in his life,” Gandhi said.

Senior BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur on Thursday said people of Maharashtra must realise that the Congress has failed to fulfil poll promises made in the northern state.

The Congress listed 10 “guarantees” in the manifesto for the HP assembly polls, including Rs 1500 per month to women, but none of these have turned into reality, Thakur told reporters here.

He also showed video clips of Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to buttress his point.

In polls held in December 2022, the Congress unseated the BJP in HP by winning 40 of the 68 seats there.

The Congress has appropriated the benefits of Maharashtra’s citizens but its hunger to snatch remains, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday.

He was addressing a poll rally for the BJP-led Mahayuti in Amravati’s Melghat, which for several decades has hit the national headlines for widespread acute malnutrition among its residents, especially children.

Yadav also said the Congress was unhappy when the grand Ram Temple was built in Ayodhya and its idol consecrated in January this year.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said his party’s ‘batenge to katenge’ slogan is a counter-narrative to the MVA’s campaign and claimed his colleagues Ashok Chavan and Pankaja Munde as well as Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had failed to grasp its “core” meaning, PTI reported.

The slogan, frequently used by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on the campaign trail for the November 20 Maharashtra polls, has united the opposition in its condemnation, which claims it has communal overtones, while even some ruling alliance leaders have frowned on it.

‘Batenge to katenge’ (disunity will lead to destruction) is a counter-narrative to the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi’s divisive campaign, and the core message of the slogan is that “everyone has to stick together”, Fadnavis said during an interaction here with select members of the media.

The Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday by posing questions to him on Mumbai, asking why is the metropolis “made to lose” big-ticket projects to Gujarat and why is the BJP “sponsoring Adani’s Dharavi land grab,” PTI reported.

Ahead of Modi’s poll engagement in Mumbai, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posed five questions which he said the people are asking the PM.

He asked whether the BJP is scared of losing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

Rahul Gandhi criticised Modi for not understanding the Constitution, claiming he sees it as “blank” because he hasn’t read it, according to PTI.

Gandhi defended his use of a red-covered Constitution at rallies and accused the BJP of misrepresenting tribals. 

He also criticized the BJP for moving key projects out of Maharashtra, resulting in job losses, and pledged that a Congress-led government would keep projects in the state and provide debt relief to farmers.

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar criticised Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his recent comment about countering “vote jihad” with “vote dharmyudh,” PTI reported.

Kumar sarcastically questioned whether common people would fight this “dharmyudh” while political leaders’ children study abroad and leaders’ wives make Instagram reels.

He emphasised that if “dharma” needs protection, it should be a collective effort. 

Kumar also attacked Fadnavis for his role in splitting the Shiv Sena and his alliance with the NCP, accusing Fadnavis of hypocrisy for inducting a faction of the NCP into the ruling alliance despite calling them corrupt. This criticism comes as Fadnavis faces a challenge from Congress’ Prafulla Gudhade Patil in the Nagpur South West constituency.

Ticket fares for private buses in Maharashtra have nearly doubled ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, as thousands of voters plan to travel to their native places to cast their ballots, reported PTI.

Routes connecting Mumbai to western Maharashtra, Konkan, Marathwada, and northern Maharashtra have seen a sharp fare increase for November 19 and 20. 

Travel agents report that prices, which had dropped after Diwali, have surged, with buses expected to transport voters to areas like Kolhapur, Nashik, and Latur. Many of these buses are arranged by political parties, while others are booked by voters independently. 

Additionally, some candidates provide ticket money for voters to book their own travel.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for waving a red-covered copy of the Constitution at rallies, calling it a concept borrowed from Latin American campaigns involving “anarchist forces,” PTI reported.

Fadnavis pointed out the controversy after it was revealed that the inside pages of the Constitution copy Gandhi waved were blank. 

He condemned this as an insult to the Constitution, accusing the Congress of disrespecting it by circulating blank books. Fadnavis also mocked the Congress for pretending to protect the Constitution while insulting Dr. Ambedkar by flaunting these blank copies.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his recent comments about Article 370, stating that if former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were alive today, the BJP would be politically insignificant, reported PTI.

Patole questioned the outcomes of scrapping Article 370, pointing out that while elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir after a decade, terrorism persists, and soldiers continue to be martyred. 

He urged Shah to address the unfulfilled promises made by the BJP in the 2014 and 2019 elections. Patole also claimed that the BJP is intimidated by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who remains a vocal critic of the party.

Onion prices have soared in parts of India, reaching ₹100 per kg, with the lack of government control on retail outlets being blamed for the high prices. 

Retailers take advantage of the situation since the government only regulates wholesale prices, and there are issues with market transparency, storage, and agents controlling the supply. 

While wholesale prices in APMC yards are lower, retail prices remain inflated due to added volatility premiums and information gaps. The arrival of kharif onions, delayed by rains, has further pushed up prices, but a sharp drop in prices is expected in two weeks as kharif arrivals increase. 

Despite government efforts to sell onions at ₹35/kg through cooperatives, the availability and quality of these onions have been inconsistent, particularly in places like NCR. 

The market is also impacted by the lack of storage facilities in cities and price manipulation by retailers during reports of crop damage.

Read more here.

In Dharashiv district, women like Aparna Gangawane, Mangal More, and Suhasini Pawar see through the promises of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s “Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin” scheme, which offers ₹1,500 per month to women from low-income families. 

Despite the scheme’s broad reach, these women, who have developed skills in entrepreneurship through local training, feel it falls short. 

They want access to bigger markets and financial stability rather than cash handouts.

While the scheme has benefited millions, including some from affluent families, the women view it as a political tactic rather than a genuine effort at empowerment. 

They believe true empowerment lies in financial independence and support for their businesses, not in reliance on government aid.

Read more here.

Maharashtra’s political parties, including Congress and NCP, are hesitant to fully embrace generative AI for election campaigning, favoring social media interactions instead. Congress, despite using AI in past campaigns, found AI-generated content ineffective and has shifted focus to AI-driven sentiment analysis and more interactive IVR systems. 

Similarly, Shivam Singh from SIGNAL Institute highlighted that while AI is useful for sentiment analytics, its impact on election results remains limited. Both parties agree that traditional campaigning methods still yield better voter engagement than AI-generated content.

Read more here.

In the midst of Maharashtra’s election frenzy, Megha Kulkarni, a soybean farmer from Dharashiv, stands in despair, clutching her under-priced harvest. 

The local market price of soybeans has dropped to ₹4,150 per quintal, well below the MSP of ₹4,892, dimming her hopes of a fair return. 

Megha’s life is haunted by the memory of her husband, who took his life under similar financial strain in 2017, and she fears the same fate may await her. Despite political promises of relief, the reality for farmers remains grim: this year alone, nearly 2,000 farmers in the state have died by suicide, as droughts, debts, and failing support from the government deepen the crisis. 

Activists criticise the government’s focus on consumer needs while ignoring the struggles of farmers bound by restrictive laws. 

For Megha and many others, election pledges are mere rhetoric, with no real change in sight.

Reeling from a heavy Lok Sabha defeat, Maharashtra’s BJP-led alliance unveiled a massive ₹6,12,293-crore Budget, with Finance Minister Ajit Pawar pledging ambitious welfare schemes, including three free LPG cylinders annually for BPL families, free electricity for farmers, and ₹1,500 per month for women under the CM Ladki Bahin Yojana. 

The scheme, now central to the BJP’s election campaign, would cost ₹46,000 crore annually, despite fiscal concerns. 

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde raised the stakes, promising ₹2,100 per month for women if the alliance wins, while the Congress-led opposition countered with an even bigger offer of ₹3,000 under its proposed Mahalaxmi Yojana. 

This “competitive populism” has sparked a spending race, despite a projected ₹20,151-crore revenue deficit and rising fiscal deficit, which nearly doubled from 1.9% of GDP in FY23 to 2.8% in FY24. 

With debt stock hitting ₹7,11,278 crore, the CAG urged Maharashtra to manage debt prudently, recommending rationalized expenditure, expanded revenue sources, and investment in revenue-generating assets to maintain fiscal stability.

Read more here.

In the lead-up to Maharashtra’s assembly elections, political tensions are rising as opposition parties shift their narrative, casting the BJP-led alliance as being influenced by business magnate Gautam Adani. 

Congress and its allies have pivoted from their “changing of constitution” stance, emphasising Adani’s alleged role in plotting against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claiming Adani seeks control of Mumbai.

Meanwhile, BJP’s attempts to boost voter appeal through welfare schemes and a Hindu-Muslim narrative face internal pushback, with prominent leaders like Ashok Chavan and Pankaja Munde opposing Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s divisive “batenge toh katenge” slogan. 

Ajit Pawar’s recent clarification of his comments about Adani’s presence in a 2019 meeting adds to the controversy, while Sharad Pawar dismisses the notion of a BJP-NCP alliance in that period.