New Delhi, Dec 24: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Delhi Police’s Outer North District has arrested two alleged drug peddlers and recovered 304 grams of fine-quality heroin, valued at around Rs 1.50 crore in the international market, officials said on Wednesday.

The seized contraband falls under the “commercial quantity” category under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

According to police, the arrests were made on December 21 following a specific tip-off about the movement of drug traffickers in the Narela area.

Acting swiftly on the information, a special raiding team was constituted under the leadership of Inspector Gaurav Choudhary, in-charge of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, and under the guidance of ACP Dinesh Kumar.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of DCP Outer North District Hareshwar Swami, IPS, and overall leadership of Joint Commissioner of Police, Northern Range, Vijay Singh, IPS.

“On conducting the search of their Vehicle (Shine Motorcycle bearing no. DL 5S CX 4), 304 grams of fine quality of Heroin (Commercial quantity) was recovered,” the police said in its press note.

The two accused have been identified as Taslim (23), a resident of New Seemapuri, and Salman Ansari (29), also a resident of New Seemapuri.

Taslim is a driver by profession and is reportedly a drug addict who has been involved in supplying narcotics for a considerable period. Salman Ansari, a tailor by profession, is a repeat offender and has previously been booked under the NDPS Act, police said.

Following the recovery, a case was registered at Police Station Narela under FIR No. 867/25 dated December 21, 2025, under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act. Both accused were arrested on the spot, and the motorcycle used for transporting the contraband was also seized.

“Both accused persons are currently in custody, and further investigation of the case is going on to dismantle the “backward and forward” linkages of this supply chain to identify the kingpins and distributors involved in this syndicate,” said DCP Hareshwar Swami.

Mumbai, Dec 24: Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam has taken a sharp dig at the newly announced alliance between the Thackeray cousins ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, asserting that the tie-up will have no impact on the BJP-led Mahayuti and claiming that its flag will continue to fly across Mumbai after the polls.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder Raj Thackeray on Wednesday formally announced an alliance for the upcoming BMC and Nashik Municipal Corporation elections.

The move is being seen as a significant political realignment aimed at consolidating the Marathi vote bank and mounting a challenge to the BJP-led Mahayuti.

Reacting to the development, Kadam recalled past differences between the two leaders and questioned the credibility of their reunion.

Speaking to Media, he said, “Twenty years ago, on September 27, 2005, Uddhav Thackeray treated Raj Thackeray so badly that he was forced to leave the party. Today, the same Uddhav is standing at his door with a begging bowl, asking for support. This is what destiny means.”

Kadam further dismissed the electoral impact of the alliance, claiming that public rallies and emotional appeals would not convert into votes.

“There will be crowds during their campaigns, but it will not translate into votes. There will be emotional appeals to divide Mumbaikars. However, every citizen of Mumbai knows that during Covid-19, Uddhav Thackeray and his government looted the city,” he alleged.

The BJP leader also credited the current pace of development in Mumbai to the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“All the development you see in Mumbai today has taken place under the leadership of Devendra Fadnavis. Uddhav Thackeray and his government only played the ’20 per cent commission’ game. Because of his arbitrary actions, we could not hold our heads high in Mumbai,” Kadam said.

The alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray is being widely viewed as a strategic attempt to counter the BJP-led Mahayuti, especially in Mumbai, where the Marathi vote base has remained divided since the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena.

By projecting a “unified Thackeray family”, the two leaders are seeking to reclaim the traditional Shiv Sainik support base in the civic body elections.

However, Kadam remained confident about the Mahayuti’s prospects and reiterated his dismissal of the alliance.

“Despite both brothers coming together for the BMC polls, only Mahayuti’s flag will fly across Mumbai, as well as the entire state,” he said.

Questioning the political relevance of the Thackeray name, the BJP MLA remarked, “The Thackeray brand no longer exists. Thackeray was a brand only during the time of Balasaheb Thackeray; now, it’s only a surname. If there were a ‘Thackeray brand’ in reality today, they would not have lost the municipal elections. There is no point in making headlines now.”

BJP leader Navneet Rana also called out the alliance and said that it was formed out of “self-interest” and not for the family.

“I want to point out that the way Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are coming together today as a family may look good on the surface, like two brothers uniting, but it is driven by self-interest, not love or familial affection. This alliance is purely for political gain and to revive their influence. Uddhav Thackeray’s party, which once had the strength to form the Chief Minister, now ranks last in municipal and local body elections, with very few chairpersons elected,” she told Media.

Meanwhile, political observers describe the tie-up as a “make-or-break” move for both parties. The electoral strategy seeks to combine Raj Thackeray’s influence among core Marathi voters — estimated at around 26 per cent of Mumbai’s electorate — with Uddhav Thackeray’s expanded support base, including Muslim-majority pockets, following his more inclusive positioning during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Thane: The Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Tuesday said it has kept open the option to contest the upcoming Thane municipal council elections separately as it was being kept out of the seat-sharing discussions by its allies in Mahayuti.

Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Anand Paranjape claimed that while local leaders of the BJP and Shiv Sena have already initiated talks to finalise seat sharing in the TMC polls, the NCP has not been invited for these deliberations.

“Even though meetings of the alliance partners are underway, the NCP has not been invited. Therefore, we have begun preparations to contest the elections independently,” he said.

Our Thane district president, Najeeb Mulla, has not been contacted by either the BJP or the Shiv Sena, Paranjape claimed.

He said the NCP would declare its seat expectations only after being formally invited to the alliance talks.

He said 380 aspirants have been interviewed over the past two days.

“If the NCP is offered respectable representation in the alliance for the Thane Municipal Corporation, we are ready to contest together. Otherwise, the NCP is fully prepared to contest all 131 seats on its own,” he added.

Paranjape said the NCP favours contesting as part of the grand alliance wherever possible, but local tie-ups or independent contests would also be considered if necessary.

Referring to the recent elections to 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, Paranjape said mayors from the grand alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP were elected in around 215 bodies.

“People of Maharashtra have reaffirmed their faith in the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde,” he added.

The long-awaited polls to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including cash-rich Mumbai, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted on the following day.