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Maharashtra

Maha: 3 BJP nominees, one each from NCP and Shiv Sena file nominations for state council bypolls

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Mumbai, March 18: BJP nominees Dadarao Keche, Sandip Joshi and Sanjay Kanekar, NCP candidate Sanjay Khodke and Shiv Sena nominee Chandrakant Raghuvansi on Monday filed their nominations for by-election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

They are set to get elected unopposed as no one from the Maha Vikas Aghadi filed their nomination for want of adequate numbers. Monday was the last date for the filing of nominations. As per the Election Commission notification, the election is slated for March 27.

The by-election was necessitated after the five state council members Praveen Datke, Gopichand Padalkar, Ramesh Karad (BJP) and one each from NCP member Rajesh Vitekar and Shiv Sena member Aamshya Padave elected to the state assembly in the elections held in November last year. While Padavi’s term in the state council was till July 7, 2028, Vitekar’s term was till July 27, 2030. The tenure of Praveen Datke, Gopichand Padalkar and Ramesh Karad will end on May 13, 2026.

BJP preferred the party loyalists for nomination instead of selecting those who have come the party fold from Congress, NCP SP or Shiv Sena UBT. Keche, who was legislator from Arvi assembly constituency from Wardha district during 2019 and 2024, was denied ticket in the last assembly elections after BJP fielded Sumit Wankhede, a former personal assistant of the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

After he was dropped from nomination, Keche had threatened to contest as an independent. However, Fadnavis intervened and took him in a special flight to union Home Minister Amit Shah. After his meeting with HM Shah, Keche was promised his rehabilitation. He later declared he would toe the party line and supported Wankhede.

As far as Sandip Joshi is concerned, he has been a close confidant of Fadnavis.

Joshi is a former mayor of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. He had lost the election to the state council from the Nagpur graduates’ constituency to the Congress nominee. The BJP did not select him for nomination in the state election but now has been nominated for state council by election.

In the case of Sandip Kenekar, he is from Sambhajinagar from Marathwada and associated with the BJP’s OBC cell. BJP had considered his nomination from Aurangabad east constituency during the 2014 assembly elections but denied after party fielded Atul Save. Kenekar could finally get nomination after 11 year’s of wait due to chief minister’s strong recommendation.

As far as NCP nominee Sanjay Khodke is concerned, he is a close associate of party chief and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

Khodke is known to be the backroom strategist of the NCP since its formation and has worked with all party stalwarts including Sharad Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, late RR Patil and now with Ajit Pawar.

Incidentally, Khodke’s wife Sulabha Khodke is the NCP legislator from Amravati constituency.

Shiv Sena’s move to field Chandrakant Raghuvanshi is aimed at increasing its presence in the tribal-dominated Nandurbar district and also in North Maharashtra.

He comes from Nandurbar district and he is an influential leader and instrumental in winning the Congress bastion Akkalkuwa assembly seat to Shiv Sena.

Maharashtra

‘BJP Wants To Make Maharashtra Next Manipur’: Aaditya Thackeray Lashes Out Devendra Fadnavis Govt Over Nagpur Violence

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Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday hit out at Maharashtra government over the violent clashes that broke out in central Nagpur late Monday night.

Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Aaditya alleged, “I think BJP wants to make Maharashtra the next Manipur… Why did no reaction come from the CMO when violence was spreading in Nagpur?”

“If you take a look at Manipur, the state has been experiencing violence since 2023. There are conflicts across the state. Will there be investments there or growth in tourism? No. They want to put Maharashtra in the same situation. I was reading today that Vietnam is a smaller country than India, and the population is also less, but their electronic industry is 3 times more. Our country considers itself strong, but the BJP is trying to divide the country into districts, religions, and castes,” said Worli MLA.

On Monday night, in a post on X, Aaditya responded to the incident, stating, “The law and order situation in the state has collapsed like never before. Nagpur, the home city of the CM and Home Minister, is facing this.”

The incident from last evening has sparked a political uproar in the state, as opposition parties attacked the BJP-ruled state government over the incident.

BJP is trying to turn Maharashtra into Gujarat: Congress

Congress MP Praniti Shinde, daughter of former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, responding to the Nagpur violence, told news agency PTI, “They (referring to BJP) are trying to turn Maharashtra into Gujarat. Since they came to power, they have repeatedly tried to create divisions in society in the name of religion… They keep attempting to provoke violence like they did in Gujarat… The most surprising thing is that the PM (Modi) himself delivers provocative speeches during his visits… There are so many contemporary issues in Maharashtra, but they don’t want to address those. Instead, they are turning a 300-year-old incident, which is a non-issue, into an issue.”

About the incident:

The clash between two groups broke out in central Nagpur late Monday night amid rumours that the holy book of the Muslim community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb.

According to reports, approximately 40 police personnel and five civilians were injured in the violence.

Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal on Tuesday said that over 50 people have been taken into custody, and five FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence.

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Maharashtra

Nagpur violence: Abu Asim Azmi appeals for peace

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has expressed concern over the Nagpur violence and appealed to maintain peace.

He said that Nagpur is a land where there has never been violence or communal violence. I am shocked that violence has taken place here. Action is going on in this matter, but I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and order and show patience and restraint because peace and love in the state is the need of the hour. Only then will hatred end.

He said that the holy month of Ramzan is going on, we should maintain peace and order and remain alert in every way.

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Maharashtra

Appeal to all party leaders for peace after Nagpur violence: Rais Shaikh

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and Assembly Speaker Shaikh has appealed for peace regarding the Nagpur violence and said that the peace of Maharashtra has been disturbed due to the statements of ministers and leaders spreading religious hatred. Therefore, I appeal with folded hands that everyone should avoid rhetoric to maintain peace and order.

He said that what happened in Nagpur yesterday is now under control here. Investigation of the case has also been started. The kind of atmosphere being created in Maharashtra had the danger of violence, in such a situation violence broke out in Nagpur.

He said that to maintain peace and order, an appeal has been made to all parties and all party leaders for peace.

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