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Amit Shah’s Ganeshotsav trip to Maharashtra may be devotional-cum-political

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 Over two months after the alliance government of Shiv Sena rebel faction leader and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took charge, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to visit Mumbai on September 5, at the height of the Ganeshotsav festival.

Shah’s customary annual visit to the state’s biggest festival for the past few years used to be a largely religious affair – visiting the Lalbaugcha Raja and other important venues, and taking ‘darshan’ of Lord Ganesha at the homes of several BJP bigwigs in the city.

This year, however, the devotional menu may be laced with a subtle political docket intended to strengthen the Shinde-Fadnavis regime – currently bedevilled by internal, external and legal hassles, plus other political ghosts.

Fadnavis acknowledged all the possibilities with a grin, indicating “there will be a political agenda” during Shah’s visit on Monday, but declined to elaborate.

The Shinde-Fadnavis government has been struggling to attain credibility among the masses after it toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, led by Uddhav Thackeray.

The MVA has viciously targeted and vituperatively lampooned them for the manner in which the government came to power, with embarrassing choruses of “Khoke Ok” (boxes, implying Rs 50 crore), “traitors”, etc. haunting the “ED sarkar” and needling the 40-odd legislators of the rebel group who sneaked out from June 10 onwards.

The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena even went a step ahead comparing them with a famous Arabian Nights tale of 40 dubious characters, attracting howls of protests and bitter counter-attacks from the “turncoats”.

Shinde faced flak for the massive delays in the cabinet expansion with 18 Ministers – which took place 41 days after he and Fadnavis took oath on June 30 – followed by the hiccups in allocating portfolios, and the hanging swords of the legal tussle in the Supreme Court.

Now, he confronts discontent afresh with many MLAs from his and BJP side clamouring for ministerial berths, and while a second round of expansion may take a while, Shah may cast a benign “glance” and placate the restless legislators.

There is the pending issue of the proposed tie-up with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, which the BJP has been hoping for since the past over a couple of years.

Once a sharp BJP-baiter, Raj Thackeray apparently sobered up his pilgrimage to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in August 2019, and now the “ED sarkar” is “after” him for a much-anticipated partnership, ahead of the upcoming crucial civic polls.

After recovering from a hip surgery, Raj Thackeray has been the flavour of the season for the BJP with a host of leaders calling on him, like Shinde, Fadnavis, state and city party heads Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Ashish Shelar, respectively, and others.

There’s intense speculation that Shah may home in on the reluctant Raj Thackeray and nudge him into a cooperative alliance – for the mutual benefit of MNS-BJP-Shinde Group – in the civic elections, to begin with, and get a “Thackeray” on the BJP side.

In recent weeks, some prominent Congressmen like ex-CM Ashok Chavan, have been doing multiple rounds of several BJP leaders, rattling the party’s state unit.

However, Congress leaders and Chavan have been claiming that these meetings pertain to “official or constituency-related works”, but the political grapevine is furiously spreading into a vineyard!

It is not immediately clear whether Shah will devote any attention to this new political development – that may well spell further doom for the MVA.

Maharashtra

Govandi is changing: Successful Talent of Govandi Festival filled with children’s artistic talents

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Govandi: With the aim of changing the negative image of Govandi, notorious for drug addiction and crime, and providing a bright future for the children here, the Abu Asim Azmi Foundation, led by local MLA Abu Asim Azmi, has taken a big step. The foundation recently successfully organized the “Talent of Govandi Festival”, which was going on for the past one month.

The festival organized various competitions related to education, sports, skills and talents. Thousands of children from Govandi, Mankhurd, and Shivaji Nagar enthusiastically participated in more than 17 competitions, including singing, dancing, drawing, speech, mehndi, recitation, naat, handicrafts, rangoli, carom, boxing, cricket, volleyball, badminton, karate and poetry. The children performed brilliantly by showcasing their talents and hard work. The new and hidden talents of Govandi were introduced not only locally but also internationally. On this occasion, those IAS officers who added to the glory of Govandi were also honored. MLA Abu Asim Azmi, motivational speakers Sir Awadh Ojha and Sana Khan, and social media influencer Faizo among other dignitaries were present at the event. All of them encouraged the children and gave them prizes. The main objective of the festival was to encourage children to stay away from drugs and choose a better life and make their future bright, through which the talents of the children of Govindi were introduced to the whole world.

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Maharashtra

Accused wanted in Madhya Pradesh murder arrested after 7 years from Dhoni

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Mumbai: Paidhoni Police Station has traced the accused who was absconding for 7 years in a murder case in Madhya Pradesh and handed him over to the Madhya Pradesh Police. 6 November
‎From Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, Police Sub-Inspector Rishabh Singh Baghel, Dilip Kaul of Barhi Police Station informed Paidhoni Police that a case has been registered under sections 302, 294, 323, 324, 506, 147, 148 of the Indian Penal Code at Barhi Police Station, Katni district, Madhya Pradesh. The accused in this case is wanted for the last 7 years and is still hiding in the limits of Paidhoni Police Station in Mumbai, help has been sought from the police to trace him. This was informed to Hon. After which the higher officers were informed about this and the above wanted accused was searched and he was detained from the footpath near Balgi Hotel, P.D. Melo Road, Masjid Bunder East, Mumbai. Later he was brought to the Paidhoni Police Station and interrogated regarding the crime. Since there was evidence of his involvement in the crime, the said accused was handed over to the police team at the above police station, district. Katni and they took him to the Barhi Police Station. Where further investigation is underway. The accused has been identified as Raja Ram Ramadhar Tiwari, 35 years old. With the cooperation of the Mumbai Police, the Madhya Pradesh Police solved the case and the wanted accused has been arrested on charges of murder.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Weather Update: City Wakes Up To Clear Skies, Mild Breeze; Overall AQI Stays In Moderate Range At 78

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Mumbai: After weeks of unsettled weather and intermittent showers, the city finally woke up to clear skies and crisp air on Thursday, marking what appears to be the end of the monsoon season. For the past two days, no rainfall was recorded across Mumbai, signalling that the retreating monsoon clouds have made way for the onset of post-monsoon conditions.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city is expected to experience clear skies through the day, with only a minimal chance of isolated light showers or thunderstorms in select pockets. Daytime temperatures are likely to hover around 33°C, while the minimum will settle near 23°C, conditions described as pleasant and comfortable for early November.

The recent spell of short but intense showers had not only brought temporary relief from humidity but also helped wash out accumulated pollutants, leading to an overall improvement in air quality. Prior to this, the withdrawal of monsoon winds had caused a spike in pollution levels due to stagnant air and increased vehicular emissions, resulting in a hazy skyline and reduced visibility.

Fresh data released by AQI.in on Thursday morning reflected this improvement. Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 78, placing it in the moderate category. While the figure marks a slight dip from the good air quality recorded earlier in the week, it still represents a substantial improvement compared to the smog-filled conditions observed after monsoon withdrawal.

Residents across various parts of the city reported clearer skylines and visibly better air. Among the city’s monitoring stations, Wadala Truck Terminal recorded the highest AQI reading at 92, followed by Parel-Bhoiwada (90) and Mulund West (88). Santacruz East and Bhandup West both registered an AQI of 87, keeping them within the moderate range.

Cleaner air was observed in several western suburbs, where Kandivali East recorded an AQI of 45, falling in the good category. Malad West (59), Powai (62), Jogeshwari (65), and Borivali East (67) were all categorised as moderate, suggesting a consistent improvement across the city’s landscape.

As per AQI.in’s classification, an index between 0–50 is considered “Good,” 51–100 “Moderate,” 101–150 “Poor,” 151–200 “Unhealthy,” and anything above 200 is deemed “Severe” or “Hazardous.”

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