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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Government Announces Big OBC, SC Outreach

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The Shinde government, hoping to replicate the success in Haryana, has reached out to two key segments – the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The BIP strategy of consolidating the Haryana caste vote by polarising various communities and leveraging its influence with the OBC voters has paid it rich dividends.

With this avowed adjective, the Mahayuti government too appears to be focusing on various small groups and special decisions are being taken tailor-made for these segments.

On Thursday, the Maharashtra cabinet took several key decisions, including approving an ordinance giving constitutional status to the state Scheduled Caste Commission and giving its nod to a proposal urging the Centre to hike the income criterion for inclusion in the creamy layer among OBCs from Rs 8 lakh a year to Rs 15 lakh.

A non-creamy layer certificate, stating that the family income of a person is below the preseribed limit, is needed to get reservation benefits in the OBC category. A statement from the office of Maharashira Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the cabinet has approved a draft ordinance to accord constitutional status to the Maharashtra State Scheduled Caste Commission.

The ordinance, the statement said, would be tabled in the next session of the state legislature and added that 27 posts had been approved for the panel. The state Cabinet has also decided to allocate several allocate economic development corporations to different communities.

These include the Sola Kulswamini Economic Development Corporation for the Vani community, the Brahmlin Acharya Divyanand Puriji Maharaj Economic Development Corporation for the Lohar community, Sant Namdev Maharaj Economic Development Corporation for the Shimpi community, and Shri Krishna Economic Development Corporation for the Gawli community.

Additionally, corporations for the Lohar and Nathpanthi communities will also be established. An outlay of Rs 50 crore will be allocated for this initiative.

These decisions are seen as a part of the Mahayuti’s social engineering efforts to please smaller groups in the Maharashtra elections. Ahead of the elections in Haryana, where the BJP was perceived to be on the back foot after ruling the state for two consecutive terms, the state government had hiked the creamy layer ceiling from RS 6 lakh to 8 lakh.

The decision is seen as having contributed to the party managing to defy exit poll predictions and beat anti-incumbency to win 48 seats, two more than the majority mark in the 90- member Assembly.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Elections 2024: ‘Our Hindutva Is Not Double Standard’, Aaditya Thackeray Attacks BJP

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Maharashtra Elections 2024: 'Our Hindutva Is Not Double Standard', Aaditya Thackeray Attacks BJP

Mumbai: As the dates of the Maharashtra assembly elections come close, the political atmosphere in the state is heated with politicians engaging in verbal attacks. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray once again attacked the BJP saying the it engages in double standard Hindutva. “We are against ‘Fake Hindutva’ and we do not tell people what to eat and what to dress,” Thackeray said.

Aaditya Thackeray, the MLA from Worli, Mumbai said, “I want to ask why India played a bilateral cricket series with Bangladesh when Hindus are being attacked there. We are against this double standards. We protect our religion when we have to.”

“The current CM is a contractor minister, and Maharashtra knows it. My father (Uddhav Thackeray) was backstabbed when he was at his lowest after his two surgeries. But here is about where Maharashtra moves forward. The state known for its law & order, and open society is now forced into BJP ideology. God forbid, even if I lose, I will continue fighting for Mumbai and Maharashtra and its sale to two contractor friends CM Eknath Shinde,” Aaditya Thackeray further said in the interview.

On Tuesday, after the election commission announced the schedule for Maharashtra assembly elections, Aaditya Thackeray had said that, “We have been seeing the loot of Maharashtra for the last 2 years, we (Shiv Sena UBT) now hope to get justice in the court of the people,” he said.

The elections for the 288 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra will be held on November 20 in a single phase and results will be declared on November 23.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Elections 2024: ‘Mahayuti Will Bring More Schemes On Lines Of Ladki Bahin Yojana’, Says CM Shinde; Releases 2-Year Report Card

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Maharashtra Elections 2024: 'Mahayuti Will Bring More Schemes On Lines Of Ladki Bahin Yojana', Says CM Shinde; Releases 2-Year Report Card

Mumbai: Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, Mahayuti leaders Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar released a ‘report card’ of the Mahayuti government’s performance in last 2 years. While, releasing the report, the CM and his deputies said that the Ladki Bahin Yojana was a successful scheme and more schemes on these lines will be introduced. Financial provision will be made to successfully implement the schemes, the leaders added.

The Mahayuti leaders highlighted that the toll tax exemption was in their election manifesto and they have kept their promise. CM Eknath Shinde said that the ruling Mahayuti alliance leaders are working as a team and launching schemes for the benefit of the common man. While, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar slammed the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi for spreading rumours and highlighted successful government initiatives like the Ladli Bahna Yojana, which have significantly benefited women.

The 2-year report card of the 2.5-year-old Mahayuti government was released on Wednesday in the press conference where Mahayuti alliance leaders including Ramdas Athavale, Praven Darekar, Sunil Tatkare had also joined.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis slammed the MVA for criticising the Ladki Bahin Yojana and said, “If the MVA says the government does not have funds to run the Ladki Bahin scheme, on what grounds do they promise to continue the scheme if they come to power.” The MVA will discontinue the scheme, Fadnavis said. Till now at least 4 to 5 instalments have been deposited in the accounts for Ladki Bahin scheme for more than 2.5 crore beneficiaries of our state,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar reiterated that Ladki Bahin scheme is not a temporary scheme, it is a permanent one, while the government will think on increasing the monthly installment.

The political atmosphere in the state is heated as the election dates for the assembly polls are announced. The election commission of India announced the voting schedule on Tuesday and the model code of conduct of conduct has began in Maharashtra.

The elections for 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra will be conducted in a single phase on November 20 and results will be declared on November 23.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Fire In Andheri’s Lokhandwala Complex Claims 3 Lives, Including 2 Senior Citizens

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Mumbai: Fire In Andheri's Lokhandwala Complex Claims 3 Lives, Including 2 Senior Citizens

Mumbai: A residential highrise in Mumbai’s Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West caught fire on Wednesday morning in which three residents have lost their lives. As per information provided by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the blaze was not major, however, three residents, including two senior citizens who were injured in the mishap were taken to Cooper Hospital. The injured were declared dead on arrival by the hospital.

As per the statement issued by BMC, the fire broke in the ground plus 14 floored Riya Palace, Cross Road Number 4 in Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West. The fire was confined to an apartment on 10th floor. The blaze erupted at 8.05 am and was extinguished within an hour of firefighting operations.

The blaze was confined to a residential apartment on 10th floor. The injured: Chandraprakash Soni (74), Kanta Soni (74) and Pelubeta (42) were taken to Cooper Hospital, however the Chief Medical Officer declared all three dead on arrival, the BMC informed.

The cause of the fire is still not known and further investigations are underway.

Second Fire In Lokhandwala Complex In A Month

This is the second fire in the post locality of Lokahndwala Complex in Mumbai’s Andheri within a month. On September 19, a blaze broke out in a ground-plus-one-floor bungalow in the complex. No injures were reported in the incident. However, the video of the fire in the bungalow had surfaced on the internet, showing thick smoke engulfing the area, resulting in a scare among residents of Lokhandwala Complex.

The incident has taken place in Bungalow No.11, Cross Road No 2, Steller Bungalows, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West.

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