Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) addressed a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday after their two-day visit to review the poll preparedness in Maharashtra ahead of assembly elections. The chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar spoke on several topics including the encouraging rise in first-time voters. There are now a total of 9.59 crore registered voters in Maharashtra, who will pick the new government.

Of the total electors, male voters 4.59 crores and females are 4.64 crores. In an encouraging rise, the first-time voters from 18-19 years are around 19.48 lakhs, Rajiv Kumar said. “Our effort will be to ensure that there is maximum enrolment and voting in Maharashtra assembly elections,” he said, adding that there will be total 1,00,186 polling booths.

The CEC however, expressed his concern over the urban voter apathy, and said efforts are being made to ensure maximum polling in the ensuing Maharashtra assembly elections. Kumar singled out areas like Colaba and Kalyan in and around Mumbai which recorded “among the lowest” voter turnout in the Lok Sabha polls held this year.

“We have asked Maharashtra Government to shift officials who have served in their home district or current posting for over three years,” Kumar said, adding he has asked for a compliance report for the same in the next couple of days.

The ECI did not announce the poll schedule for the Maharashtra state elections, however the CEC said that the polls will be held before November 26 and that the political parties told the ECI to keep in mind festivals like Diwali, Dev Diwali and Chhath Puja before announcing the dates of the elections.

The term of the current government ends on November 26 and assembly elections for the 288 constituencies needs to be held before that. Out of total constituencies, General seats are 234, reserved for ST are 25 and reserved for SC are 29.

Mumbai: In the much-talked-about lately, the Mumbai University’s senate elections’ results were out on Friday late night and Yuva Sena- led by Aaditya Thackeray had a clean sweep winning all ten seats, defeating the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray, who is the President of Yuva Sena, the party’s youth wing, on Saturday had a grand celebrations at Matoshree-his residence in Bandra. “Once again! 10 on 10 it is! We have not only repeated but bettered our performance at the Mumbai University Graduate Senate elections. 100 per cent strike rate. From here we start the election victory stream,” the Worli MLA posted on X.

The 10 out of 10 seat win has reaffirmed Yuva Sena’s stronghold on the senate, which they have maintained for over a decade now. However, the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s win at the senate ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections is a big blow to BJP-backed and RSS affiliated ABVP.

After a delay of over two years, many disputes and a legal battle, election for ten seats was held on September 24 following a Bombay High Court directive. The votes counting took place on Friday at a Convocation Hall in Mumbai University’s Fort campus.

Yuva Sena on Saturday had a grand victory celebrations after their clean sweep against the ABVP’s student wing. The celebrations were seen across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg – the jurisdiction of the varsity through its 850-plus affiliated colleges. Uddhav Thackeray’s younger son Tejas Thackeray and nephew Varun Sardesai also joined the celebrations.

A total of 28 candidates from various students’ wings of mainstream political parties were in the fray to attract the 13,406 graduate voters in the September 24 elections. The poll saw a turnout of 55 per cent.

The eight Yuva Sena leaders who won in senate elections included Pradeep Sawant, Alpesh Bhoir, Milind Satam, Mayur Panchal, Sneha Gawli, Sheetal Devrukhkar Sheth, Dhanraj Kohchade and Shashikant Zore.

Mumbai batter Musheer Khan sustained injuries on neck and limbs after his SUV car met with an accident while travelling from Azamgarh to Lucknow on Friday night. The 19-year-old is currently getting treatment at Medanta Hospital in Lucknow and is likely to miss the remainder of the season for Mumbai.

Musheer, brother of India batter Sarfaraz Khan, was accompanied by his father-cum coach Naushan Khan in the car and the latter also sustained minor injuries in the accident. A source in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) said that the car lost control on a high speed and turned a couple of times on the road.

The doctors are waiting for scan reports to confirm whether he has suffered a fracture in his neck region and the extent of it.

“Musheer is likely out for the season. He has sustained injuries to his neck and limbs as the Fortuner he was travelling flipped a couple of times in the highspeed accident that happened on the way to Lucknow from Azamgarh and has to take three months rest after the initial hospitalisation. He will undergo rehabilitation after that, which means he is likely to be available only after six to seven months. Musheer is currently undergoing treatment at the Medanta Hospital in Lucknow,” the MCA source told IANS.

Musheer, who was training at Azamgarh with his father, was set to join his teammates in Lucknow for the Irani Cup match against the Rest of India at the Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium from October 1.

The MCA officials are also unhappy with Musheer’s decision to train in Azamgarh after the conclusion of the Duleep Trophy matches and not join his home team in Mumbai.

Promising young talent

Musheer last played in the Duleep Trophy for India B, making his tournament debut against India A in Bengaluru earlier this month. He smashed 181 on his debut but failed to perform similar feats in the remainder of the tournament.

Musheer, one of India’s breakout stars from the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, made a strong return to the Ranji Trophy in February. In his first game for Mumbai after nearly two years, he notched up his maiden First-Class double century and later excelled in the Ranji final against Vidarbha with a second-innings century, helping Mumbai secure a record-extending 42nd Ranji title.

Musheer has amassed 716 runs in nine First-Class matches, averaging over 50, with three centuries and a half-century to his name.

Meanwhile, MCA has not named any replacement for the batter yet. MCA is expecting Sarfaraz Khan, who is still in Kanpur with the Indian team but not in playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh, to join the squad.