Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday said all the party rebels contesting against the official candidates of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have been suspended for six years.

In a press conference, Chennithala stated that district units have been directed to compile a list of rebels still in the race for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls and issue notices to them.

“There will be no friendly contests. All rebels running against the MVA’s official candidates have been suspended,” said Chennithala, the All India Congress Committee in-charge of Maharashtra.

In some constituencies, despite official candidates from both Mahayuti and MVA, candidates from allied parties have been fielded. In other areas, friendly contests are happening. Several leaders have filed nomination papers after rebelling.

Mumbai: In a scathing attack on Sharad Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis referred to the NCP leader as the “owner of a fake narrative factory” during an election rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Fadnavis accused Pawar and opposition leaders of spreading false information about industries leaving Maharashtra for Gujarat, attempting to tarnish the state’s image. He made it clear that Maharashtra remains the top choice for investment, with 52% of the country’s foreign investment flowing into the state.

Addressing a rally in support of Mahayuti candidate Shankar Jagtap, Fadnavis emphasized that Maharashtra is strong industrially and that the information being spread by the opposition is misleading. He stated, “Our government has made Maharashtra an ideal destination for investment.” According to Fadnavis, reports suggesting a shift in the state’s industrial landscape were false and intended solely to mislead the public.

Fadnavis Targets Supriya Sule

Fadnavis also targeted NCP MP Supriya Sule, calling her the “manager of the fake narrative factory.” He accused Sule of spreading incorrect information about IT companies leaving Hinjewadi, a major IT hub in Pune. Fadnavis stressed that both Maharashtra’s industrial and IT sectors are strong, and any challenges faced were the result of the difficulties encountered during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. He labeled Sule’s statements as incorrect and harmful to the state’s progress.

Fadnavis also responded to criticism of Uddhav Thackeray’s “Ladki Behin Yojana” . He said that Thackeray’s approach, focused on opposition for the sake of it, was disconnected from the needs of ordinary people. Fadnavis clarified that the scheme would provide financial aid and educational opportunities to thousands of girls across Maharashtra.

Concluding his speech, Fadnavis reassured the audience about job creation under the BJP government. He announced an ambitious goal of generating employment opportunities for 10 lakh youths and promised to rejuvenate Maharashtra’s economic stability. He urged voters to be cautious of the “fake narratives” being spread by the opposition and to trust in the state’s economic progress.

Throughout the rally, Fadnavis highlighted BJP’s transparency and development-oriented policies, portraying the opposition’s tactics as a strategy to promote “fake narratives” and undermine the state’s growth.

Mumbai: Despite strong opposition from the BJP to NCP candidate Nawab Malik’s candidacy, NCP chief Ajit Pawar attended a massive rally organised by Malik in the Mankhurd area, as well as a rally for Malik’s daughter, Sana Malik, in the Anushakti Nagar constituency. The large gathering received enthusiastic support from attendees.

Ajit Pawar launched the campaign for NCP candidates in Mumbai, starting with the rally in Anushakti Nagar, which began from Govandi’s Tata Nagar, followed by another rally in Malik’s Mankhurd-Shivajinagar constituency.

Addressing the rally, Pawar said, “Nawab Malik has been given a ticket to contest the election. He will contest on the clock symbol. There is not a single offence proven against him in the court, he is not convicted yet. Therefore, I will go for his campaign.”

Speaking to the media, Nawab Mailik said, “Ajit Pawar stood behind me, he showed faith in me and gave me a ticket to contest. He also came and participated in my rally, I expect nothing more than that from him.”

Addressing the media, Pawar said, “I always perform my duties that is why I come here in support of my candidate. Only 13 days left for the election and it is the duty of all alliance parties to get their candidates elected.”

When he was asked about BJP’s opposition to Malik’s campaigning, Pawar said, “I am doing it. isn’t it enough? Abu Azmi is a three time MLA from here. But he didn’t do anything for the constituency.”