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Maharashtra

Mumbai bypolls a cakewalk for Shiv Sena-UBT nominee as BJP opts out

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In a major last-minute political development, Maharashtra’s ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday stepped out of the fray in the by-elections to the Andheri East Assembly constituency.

This paves the way for a smooth election for Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party nominee Rutuja Ramesh Latke on November 3.

Hours after the announcement by state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, candidate Murji Patel withdrew his nomination papers on Monday evening – the last date for withdrawal.

Bawankule also assured that Patel would not contest as an independent or rebel, while Latke welcomed the development.

The BJP’s change of heart came after appeals from a MLA of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, and other leaders from different parties.

Latke thanked the BJP, NCP MNS and others for the move, saying that after the elections, she would work wholeheartedly for the development of Andheri East and fulfil her late husband Ramesh Latke’s dreams.

State Congress President Nana Patole, NCP President Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sushma Andhare and others took jibes at the BJP for deciding to withdraw from the contest.

Patole wondered whether it was linked with the ensuing BCCI elections, Patil said that the BJP was scared of defeat, and Andhare claimed Latke’s victory was guaranteed prompting the BJP to leave the contest.

However, Raj Thackeray thanked the BJP for its move saying it will uphold the old political traditions in Maharashtra.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that after getting the requests from various quarters, he discussed the matter with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Bawankule and other state and central BJP leaders before deciding to bow out.

He and other BJP leaders dismissed the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders’ contentions and emphatically said that its nominee (Patel) would have romped home to victory by a huge victory margin.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Police helpline on Eid-ul-Adha

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Mumbai: In view of Eid-ul-Azha, Mumbai Police has launched a special helpline to ensure that there is no problem in the transportation of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha. Despite the BMC allowing the purchase and sale of animals, if any problem or difficulty arises, animal traders and traders can contact the above helpline numbers 8976754100 and 02222623054. The Deonar Mandi for Eid-ul-Azha will begin from May 26, but the arrival of animals and goats in the market has started from today i.e. Saturday. Animal market police in Mumbai city and suburbs have made necessary security arrangements at the border. Mumbai Police has also issued a helpline. The purpose of this helpline is to curb animal smuggling and harassment by traders. Therefore, the helpline has been set up so that there is no problem of any kind during Eid-ul-Azha.

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Maharashtra

After loudspeakers in mosques, now Kirit Somaiya objects to Qurbani too, demands ban on open Qurbani in Mumbai

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Mumbai: Before Eid-ul-Azha, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has shown mischief and now has objected to the open sacrifice on Eid-ul-Azha. Kirit Somaiya has said that Muslims are forced to sacrifice in the open on Eid-ul-Azha. Its purpose is to create fear and terror among non-Muslims, Hindus and Jain community. Along with this, he has alleged that land mafias perform such sacrifices to create an atmosphere of fear and panic in the area. In this regard, Kirit Somaiya has announced to visit police stations and BMC wards from Monday against open sacrifice and to put pressure on the police and administration to stop this practice.

Kirit Somaiya, while giving an inflammatory speech, said that just as Mumbai has been made loudspeaker free, loudspeakers have been removed from 80% of mosques, but loudspeakers are still installed in 20 slums and mosques including Antap Hill, Truck Terminal and Wadala. These loudspeakers will be completely removed within a month. Similarly, Kirit Somaiya has also demanded action against illegal mosques and madrasas in housing societies. Kirit Somaiya said that now bullying will not work. If anyone sacrifices in the open, action will be taken against him. That is why this campaign has been started from Monday. In 100 settlements, sacrifices are being made in the open without any permission, which is completely illegal. Its purpose is to create an atmosphere of fear in the area so that no one can raise their voice against these goons.

Abu Asim Azmi of Samajwadi Party met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue of loudspeakers and sacrifice and discussed with communal elements. He had demanded action and alleged that only Muslim mosques are being targeted in the name of noise pollution, which is completely wrong. The police have sent notices to mosques and forbidden them from doing so so that a peaceful atmosphere is maintained. On this, Kirit Somaiya said that this action is being taken on the orders of the High Court. Abu Asim Azmi and Uddhav Thackeray should go to the High Court or make a law.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai braces for heavy rain today, orange alert in several other Maharashtra districts

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Mumbai: An orange alert is in place for Mumbai and nearby areas with forecasts of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds up to 60 kmph.

After warning of thunderstorms in Delhi and issuing an orange alert for Mumbai, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rain in some areas of Konkan and Goa.

The weather department also predicted very heavy rain for a few places in Assam, Meghalaya, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Mahe, and Madhya Maharashtra.

With a red alert in place, authorities have advised people to stay alert for any worsening weather conditions and be prepared to shift to safer locations if necessary.

Orange alert for Mumbai

An orange alert is in place for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Sindhudurg, and the ghats of Pune and Satara, with forecasts of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds up to 60 kmph.

Mumbai is under an orange alert for May 24.

IMD predicts moderate rainfall in Goa

The weather department has predicted widespread light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds blowing at speeds of 40-50 kmph over Konkan and Goa from May 23 to 29. 

There is also a forecast for very heavy rainfall at a few places between May 23 and 25, with chances of extremely heavy rain on May 25.

The IMD had issued a red alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri on May 23, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.

Pre-monsoon showers likely in Delhi 

As part of the pre-monsoon activity, Delhi is expected to see partly cloudy skies with chances of rain and thunderstorms on Saturday.

According to the IMD:

May 24: Thunderstorms and rainfall likely

May 25 and 26: Partly cloudy skies with possible thunder and lightning

May 27: Rain or thundershowers predicted

Kerala: Heavy rains trigger red alerts, fishing banned

Normal life was disrupted in several parts of Kerala on Friday as heavy rains lashed the state. The IMD issued a red alert in Thiruvananthapuram for three hours in the evening due to the likelihood of intense rain and surface winds reaching up to 50 kmph.

Earlier, the IMD announced that the monsoon is likely to hit Kerala within the next two days, with widespread rainfall expected throughout the week.

Coastal and inland regions are expected to experience strong winds. Fishing has been banned along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts from May 24 to 27.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has forecast high waves up to 3.5 meters along the coast on Saturday.

Thunderstorms, gusty winds till May 27 in Andhra Pradesh

The IMD has predicted five consecutive days of thunderstorms in Andhra Pradesh from May 23 to 27, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds up to 60 kmph.

Thunderstorms are likely in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP), Yanam, South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP), and Rayalaseema

Heavy rainfall is also expected in isolated areas of NCAP and Yanam on May 27.

“No major change in maximum temperatures is expected from Day 1 (May 23) to Day 7 (May 29) over Andhra Pradesh and Yanam,” the IMD said.

The state has already recorded ‘large excess’ rainfall between May 1 and 21, with an average of 88.5 mm, compared to the normal 39.2 mm.

Jharkhand braces for thunderstorms, strong winds

The IMD has forecast widespread thunderstorms, rainfall, and gusty winds across Jharkhand for the coming days, with below-normal maximum temperatures expected to continue until May 29.

The IMD has also forecast “cumulatively large excess rainfall” from May 30 to June 5.

“Thunderstorms with surface wind of 40-50 km per hour accompanied by rain are likely to occur at a few places over Chatra, Garhwa, Gumla, Hazaribag, Koderma, Latehar, Lohardaga, Palamu and Ranchi on Friday,” Anand added.

The met official siad, “An orange alert of thunderstorms and winds with maximum speed up to 60 kmph was issued for southern, central and north-east parts of the state.”

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