Mumbai: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah is set to hold his first rally in Maharashtra on Thursday in the Kolhapur South constituency, where Congress leader Satej Patil’s nephew, Ruturaj Patil, is contesting. Shah will also conduct rallies in Sangli, Satara, and Pune on the same day.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will arrive in Maharashtra on November 6 to hold rallies in Washim, Murtijapur, and Mozari-Tivsa in Amravati district. Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to kick off his campaign today from Nagpur. There are only 12 days left for campaigning.

Mumbai: In anticipation of a potential complete loan waiver announcement by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in its manifesto during Rahul Gandhi’s Swabhiman Rally at BKC, the Mahayuti alliance preemptively unveiled ten guarantees for the citizens of Maharashtra.

The announcement was made during launching of its election campaign on Tuesday in Kolhapur. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were present for the rally. They together launched a scathing attack on the opposition parties and highlighted various schemes they have launched in the last two and half years. Before starting joint campaign, the Sena, NCP and BJP leaders visited Mahalaxmi temple and offered prayers to Amba Mata.

During his speech, Shinde expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would secure a decisive victory with the maximum number of seats. He assured the people of Kolhapur that they would return to celebrate their triumph together.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Satara in support of Shambhuraj Desai, Shinde said the higher ‘strike rate’ of the Shiv Sena led by him in the Lok Sabha polls proved ‘whose Shiv Sena is the real one’.

“Some people abandoned the principles of Bal Thackeray,” Shinde said, taking a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray, who joined hands with the Congress and NCP in 2019 to form the MVA government.

“The party was put up for sale, Shiv Sena workers and the party were suppressed. Seeing this, the workers got restless. Shambhuraj Desai used to ask me, when should we act (rebel against Thackeray). I asked him to wait for the right time as the prey should come in sight. Once it comes, we will act,” said Shinde.

The MVA government of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress was formed against the wishes of the people, Shinde claimed.

The Shiv Sena and BJP contested the 2019 assembly elections together with photos of Bal Thackeray and Prime Minister Narendra Modi featuring prominently during the campaign, he said.

“But after the elections, you (Uddhav) went with Congress. Balasaheb would have never accepted this, and that was why we took this step,” said Shinde, who was a minister in the Thackeray-led MVA government until his rebellion. He and his supporters did not leave the Shiv Sena, Shinde asserted.

10 guarantees of Mahayuti

1. To raise monthly assistance for women from Rs1,500 to Rs2,100, alongside a plan to recruit 25,000 women into the police force to enhance safety

2. Farm loan waiver and expanded Shetkari Samman Yojana. To hike annual financial assistance from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 for farmers and adding a 20% subsidy on the MSP

3. To ensure access to food and shelter for every individual in need.

4. To increase monthly pension for senior citizens from Rs1,500 to Rs2,100

5. To maintain stable prices for essential commodities throughout the state

6. To create 25 lakh jobs, with a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 for 10 lakh students through specialised training programs.

7. To Develop pandan roads in 45,000 villages to improve connectivity in rural areas across the state

8. To increase monthly wages of Anganwadi and ASHA workers to Rs15,000 and to provide security coverage

9. To reduce electricity bills by 30% by investing in solar and other renewable energy sources

10. Committing to bring about major changes within 100 days of taking office to achieve a transformative Vision for Maharashtra by 2029

Nalasopara: A ticket collector at the Western Railway was suspended after he forced a Marathi couple to speak in Hindi and was detained in the office of Railway Protection Force (RPF), the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti said. The couple was also forced to write on a paper, “We will never demand to talk in Marathi.” The incident has now sparked controversy and the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti members are protesting at Nalasopara station.

Commenting on the incident, the Western Railway spokesperson said that the TTE has been booked off duty and further actions will be taken after due investigation. Vasai GRP has registered an FIR under relevant sections and further investigation is on.

The incident came to light on Monday. However, the exact date of the incident is yet to be ascertained.

As per the initial information available, a couple with valid railway ticket was forced by an immigrant, non-Marathi speaking TTE , identified as Rakesh Maurya, demanded the couple to speak in Hindi and said, “If you are India, you should know Hindi.”

The couple was also forced to write on a piece of paper that they will never demand to speak in Marathi. The wife had recorded the incident on her phone, however she was forced to delete it. The couple was made to sit in the office for long time and later arrested by RPF, the media statement released by Marathi Ekikaran Samiti said.

The Marathi Ekikaran Samiti has called the incident a “disrespect to Marathi language” and have staged a protest at Nalasopara station’s railway master’s office.

The Western Railway said, “For us passengers of all religions, languages, regions are equal and our aim is to provide them with the best service. The matter will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken if any fault is found.”