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Maharashtra

‘Anarchy’ in Maharashtra Congress’, change party chief, demands state leader

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 In a jolt for the Congress, a party leader in Maharashtra on Tuesday claimed that there is “anarchy” in the state unit for which state President Nana Patole is responsible, and has sought his removal.

The demand has been in a letter penned to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge by former legislator from Nagpur Dr Ashishrao R. Deshmukh – the son of Congress strongman, former state party chief minister Ranjeet Deshmukh.

Without mincing words, Deshmukh has blamed Patole for all the ills plaguing the party after he took over as the state chief in February 2021, and claimed that it has gone into “anarchy”.

“The recent rebellion by Dr Satyajit Tambe (in Nashik) has brought disgrace to the Congress. During Patole’s tenure, the party has been facing constant upheavals. Vidarbha (from where Patole also hails) was once known as the stronghold of the Congress, but it has slipped out of the hands,” he alleged.

Citing other lapses, Deshmukh said that belying Patole claims of making Congress No. 1 in the state when he was made party chief, the party has slid to the No 4 position, and now with Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (BSS), it will be pushed down to No 5.

He recalled the examples of how Dr. Ravindra Bhoyar was the Congress candidate for the 2021 MLC polls from Nagpur, but after dramatic political developments, at the last minute, the party supported independent Mangesh Deshmukh, due to which the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Chandrashekhar Bawankule won overwhelmingly.

Similarly, in June 2022 MLC polls, official Congress candidate Chandrakant Handore was defeated while another party leader Bhai Jagtap bagged more votes and won.

Another instance was the floor test of the newly-appointed government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in July 2022, when the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi unity’s was of importance.

Deshmukh said that instead, during the confidence vote, 10 Congress MLAs remained absent which greatly improved the government’s majority.

Patole had promised to investigate all these cases and submit a report to the party high command, but till date no action has been taken nor anybody held responsible though many people continued to do anti-party work even when they were in the party, he said in the letter to Kharge.

On the upcoming MLC’s polls on January 30, Dr. Deshmukh warned that its outcome could have a bearing on the election of the Chairman of the Legislative Council.

He rued that in the erstwhile bastion of Maharashtra, today, there are many leaders but no dedicated workers left, the Congress is struggling for survival, its ideology is not respected by the leaders, and the party is viewed as one without a competent state leadership.

This is the reason why people from the Congress are moving out to other parties like Shiv Sena-UBT, Nationalist Congress Party or Bharatiya Janata Party, there are no anew faces’ in Congress, rampant factionalism and the party is left without a backbone, he alleged.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Elections 2024: Excise Department Tightens Grip On Liquor Trade, Mandates CCTV Cameras At All Vending & Manufacturing Establishments In Thane

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Mira Bhayandar: As part of efforts to crack down on illegal distribution of freebies including alcohol, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, the excise department has tightened its grip over the liquor trade by mandated all vending establishments and manufacturing units in Thane district to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

About The Rule

The CCTV cameras have to mainly focus on the delivery points and sale counters. Additionally, all liquor vending license holders have been directed to share a photo of their establishments closure to confirm adherence to stipulated closing timings. This apart from updating their establishments opening purchase and sales data on a daily basis before closure. The updates need to be uploaded on the official portal of the excise department by using individual login-ids assigned to each license holder.

All these steps are in accordance with guidelines laid down by the state election commission (SEC) to ensure that movement is regulated and controlled to thwart any attempts of providing liquor to influence voters. 

“Any sudden spike in sale or closing stock at the end of the day will be audited and reported to the EC for further investigations. We are regularly monitoring the data. However, no such irregularities have been detected so far,” said an excise officer.  

Resolution About Installation Of One AI Powered CCTV Camera

Notably, a couple of days before the model election code of conduct (MCC) came into force on 15, October, the state government issued a resolution mandating installation of at least one Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered CCTV camera to keep a check on underage youth buying liquor. Although the GR states that it was an experimental step which was apparently taken in the wake of the hit-and -run cases reported from Worli and Pune, the license holders were upset over the decision as the cost of each AI camera is pegged at more than Rs 4 lakh.

The AI-powered camera armed with machine learning (ML) system not only facilitates in determining and detecting underage buyers (below 21 years) but also track those with criminal antecedents. The officials monitoring the footage will receive a notification which can lead to strict action against the vendors/bar managements who will think twice before dispensing or allowing underage youth to consume liquor at their establishments. 

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Maharashtra

‘Disgraceful Man’: BJP Slams Uddhav Thackeray For Asking EC Officials To Check His ‘Urine Pot’ During Bags’ Inspection

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'Disgraceful Man': BJP Slams Uddhav Thackeray For Asking EC Officials To Check His ‘Urine Pot’ During Bags' Inspection

Mumbai: A day after infuriated Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray released a video of social media showing the officials frisking his bags in helicopter as a security check, the BJP has taken a jibe at Thackeray for his language. BJP’s Amit Malviya slammed Thackeray saying,”His language is worse than a street lout.”

Thackeray’s bags were inspected on Monday on a helipad in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal under the model code of conduct for Maharashtra assembly elections. Thackeray was on his way for an election rally.

Posting on X, BJP’s Amit Malviya said, Uddhav Thackeray threatening election commission officials for doing their job is the worst thing you will see today. His language is worse than a street lout. He asks them to check his ‘urine pot’ too. This disgraceful man was Maharashtra’s Chief Minister till sometime back. This is the ugly face of MVA.”

In the video released by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, he is heard asking the officials if they check bags of PM Modi, HM Amit Shah, or CM Eknath Shinde among his other rivals. He further mockingly asks them to also inspect his ‘urine pot’ along with other luggage and fuel tank of his helicopter.

Although Thackeray did not stop the officials doing their job, however he was upset that his luggage was frisked unlike the leaders in power. He also angrily demand to send him videos of officials inspecting bags of PM Modi, Amit Shah and his other rival politicians.

After the incident, addressing the election rally, Thackeray said, “I am not angry at the system. They are doing their work, I am doing mine.” Thackeray’s son and Worli MLA Aaditya reacted to the incident slamming the authorities for taking actions only against opposition leaders. 

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Maharashtra

Baba Siddiqui Murder Case: Main Accused Shiva Kumar, Four Others Sent To Police Custody Till November 19

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Mumbai: Mumbai’s Killa Court on Monday sent Shiva Kumar, the main accused and shooter in the Baba Siddiqui murder case, along with four other accused, to police custody till November 19.

All accused were arrested by a joint team of UP Special Task Force (STF) and the Mumbai Crime Branch from Nanpara area of Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) Bahraich on Sunday.

NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s, office in Mumbai’s Nirmal Nagar on October 12. The gang led by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility for the murder.

About Another Leader Who Was Also On The Radar

Meanwhile, in the backdrop of NCP leader Baba Siddique’s murder, the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that another Pune leader was on the radar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which was planning to eliminate the latter and had given the responsibility of carrying out the crime through its shooters.

According to the information received from a senior officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch, the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that after the murder of Baba Siddiqui, a big leader of Pune was also on the radar of the Bishnoi gang.

“The Lawrence Bishnoi gang was planning to kill the Pune leader too and the responsibility of carrying out the crime was given to the shooters involved in Plan B,” said the official.

As per the official, the matter came to light after the Mumbai Crime Branch recovered a pistol which was going to be used to carry out the crime.

The Crime Branch has not disclosed the name of the leader.

After the Bishnoi gang’s plan was exposed, the Crime Branch shared the inputs and information with Pune Police.

The police are also investigating whether the recce was done by the accused in this case or not.

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