Mumbai: The Mumbai Traffic Police have announced road closures and diversions around Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on November 30, in light of Dua Lipa’s highly anticipated performance at the MMRDA Grounds. The pop sensation will perform at the Zomato Feeding India Concert 2024, a key event aimed at raising awareness about hunger and malnutrition. Given the massive turnout expected, authorities are taking proactive measures to manage traffic and ensure public safety.

Traffic restrictions will be in effect from 1 PM to midnight. Several key routes will be closed and vehicles will be diverted to maintain smooth traffic flow. Motorists are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and use alternative routes to avoid delays.

Roads Affected:

– Bharat Nagar Junction: Vehicles coming from the Western Express Highway (WEH), Dharavi, and the Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) towards Kurla will be restricted at this junction.

– Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar: Traffic heading towards Kurla will face restrictions near Bharat Nagar Junction.

– Kherwadi Government Colony and Kanakia Palace: Vehicles moving towards BKC, Chunabhatti, and Kurla will be prohibited.

– Kurla and Razzak Junction: Traffic from these areas heading towards WEH, Dharavi, and BWSL will be redirected via Platina Junction to Bharat Nagar Junction.

– CST Road: Vehicles will be restricted from entering MMRDA Grounds and JSW Building and will be rerouted towards UTI Tower and Kanakia Palace.

– Ambani Square and Laxmi Tower: Traffic towards Diamond Junction and NABARD Junction will also be blocked.

The traffic police will be stationed throughout the area to guide vehicles and ensure a smooth flow of traffic. Motorists are encouraged to follow their directions and use suggested alternative routes.

Dua Lipa’s Visit To Mumbai

Dua Lipa arrived in Mumbai on Thursday and later stepped out with her boyfriend, British actor Callum Turner, for a dinner date in the city. This marks her second performance in India, following her debut at the OnePlus Music Festival in 2019 in Navi Mumbai.

The Feeding India Concert 2024 is expected to attract several Bollywood celebrities and a massive crowd. Fans are eagerly awaiting Dua’s performance, which will undoubtedly be the highlight of the event.

Mumbai: The suspense over Maharashtra’s next Chief Minister is nearing its end, with final decisions revolving around cabinet allocation and leadership. Reports suggest the cabinet will include 42 ministers, distributed as 22 for the BJP, 12 for the Shiv Sena and 10 for Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.

The BJP is crucially negotiating key portfolios, including Home, which signals its intent to solidify control following its election dominance. It is yet officially unclear that who gets what in the Maharashtra cabinet.

A decisive meeting in Delhi between Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah was aimed at resolving outstanding issues. The meeting, seen as pivotal, concluded with expectations of an imminent announcement pending approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shinde Hints At Leaving CM Post For Fadnavis

Eknath Shinde earlier on Wednesday cleared the way for Fadnavis to take the top post, stating that he will abide by the BJP’s central leadership’s decision. “I will not be an obstacle. We trust whatever PM Modi decides,” Shinde reassured reporters. His comments showed his willingness to prioritise coalition stability over personal ambition.

Shinde’s role within the new setup remains uncertain. Several reports suggest he may be appointed as Deputy Chief Minister or offered a central role. However, other reports quoting Shiv Sena sources indicate he may stay in the state cabinet.

The BJP’s insistence on Fadnavis for the Chief Minister position comes after its strong performance in the recent Assembly elections, where it secured 132 out of 288 seats. However, the decision is not without challenges.

Challenges Ahead Of Making Fadnavis Maharashtra CM

Caste dynamics are at play, with Fadnavis being a Brahmin, while most MLAs are from the Maratha community. The BJP is navigating these complexities, with Amit Shah consulting senior leaders, including Vinod Tawde, to address potential backlash. Maratha leader Manoj Jarange-Patil’s past remarks against Fadnavis add to the sensitivities.

Beyond leadership, the shape of the cabinet is critical. The proposed allocation mirrors the alliance’s electoral strength, reinforcing the BJP’s dominant position. Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction and the Shiv Sena will also secure substantial roles, maintaining a balance within the coalition.

With all key players in alignment and assurances given, the focus now shifts to formalising these decisions. Today’s developments are expected to shape Maharashtra’s political landscape majorly, with the BJP keen to consolidate its position both through leadership and strategic control of key ministries.

New Delhi: After meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda, Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the meeting as “good and positive.” He added that another meeting would be held, which is expected to decide who will assume the role of Chief Minister.

“The meeting was good and positive. This was the first meeting. We had a discussion with Amit Shah and JP Nadda…There will be another meeting of the Mahayuti. In this meeting, a decision will be taken about who will be the Chief Minister. The meeting will be held in Mumbai,” he said.

Eknath Shinde, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, NCP chief Ajit Pawar and other Mahayuti leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Thursday. After the meeting, Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar left the national capital at late night. The leaders gathered to deliberate on the formation of the new government in Maharashtra.

‘There Are No Obstacles Regarding The CM’s Post,’ Says Eknath Shinde

Earlier, Shinde reiterated that there were no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister’s post and that “Ladla Bhai” is a title that holds more significance for him than anything else.

“I cleared my role in the press conference yesterday that there are no obstacles regarding the Chief Minister of Mahayuti. This ‘ladla bhai’ has arrived in Delhi and the ‘ladla bhai’ is a designation higher than anything else for me,” Shinde told the meeting.

Shinde had stated on Wednesday that he would accept any decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the CM face for the state.

“I have told the Prime Minister that if my presence creates any obstacle in forming the government in Maharashtra, there should be no hesitation in making a decision. Whatever decision you take will be acceptable to me,” Shinde said during a press conference in Mumbai.

‘Mahayuti Alliance Has No Internal Differences,’ Says Devendra Fadnavis

Fadnavis also asserted that the Mahayuti alliance had no internal differences and that a decision on the Chief Minister would be made soon after consulting the leaders.

Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said, “In our Mahayuti alliance, there has never been a difference of opinion. We have always made decisions collectively. Before the elections, we announced that the decision regarding the Chief Minister’s post would be taken collectively after the results. A few people had doubts, but Eknath Shinde ji has clarified those today. We will soon meet our leaders and finalise the decision.”

The Maharashtra Assembly election results were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalise its choice for Chief Minister.

The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats in the 280-member Maharashtra Assembly, while its allies–the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and the NCP, led by Ajit Pawar–won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.