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Maharashtra

‘EC should be elected, not appointed’: Uddhav Thackeray on ONOE

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Nagpur, Dec 17: Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday strongly opposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE), saying that the Election Commissioner (EC) should be elected and not appointed before the implementation of ONOE.

“Before the implementation of ‘One Nation, One Election’, the election process should be transparent. I am of the clear opinion that the Election Commissioner should also be elected through the election,” said Thackeray during his interaction with the reporters in Vidhan Bhavan.

He added that if the Election Commissioner is going to be appointed and teach the opposition the election laws, then that practice is not right.

“There should not be ‘One Nation, One Election’ under the rule of such a person. The Election Commissioner should also be elected. Only then should he be considered as an Election Commissioner,” said Thackeray.

Referring to the administration’s decision not to hold mock polling by the Markadwadi villagers to protest against the EVMs, Thackeray questioned why the government was afraid.

“You say that the entire Maharashtra gave us votes, gave us love, then the same votes that were cast on the EVMs will also be cast on the ballot paper. In a democracy, I should know who I am voting for and where is my vote going. That right of mine has now been taken away,” he claimed.

To a question whether he will induct Chhagan Bhujbal, who is upset over exclusion from the state cabinet, in the Shiv Sena UBT, Thackeray said, “I felt very bad for Bhujbal. I also feel bad about others who did not get ministerial berths. They (referring to Shiv Sena and NCP legislators that joined MahaYuti) had gone there with many expectations. I express my sympathy to all those who must be waiting for their induction in the cabinet.”

He added that in light of the fact that many veteran leaders of the MahaYuti did not get a place in the Cabinet, does the government have any plans to appoint beloved MLAs or beloved people?

To a question whether Bhujbal and other disgruntled MahaYuti are in his contact, Thackeray said, “Nagpur is an orange city. It has become a hoarding city. It is not clear who is the architect and captain of MahaYuti’s victory. The MahaYuti has used the allies. The disgruntled are in touch with us. They are sending messages. Let them get experience. There is no better teacher than experience. Let them get lessons. We will see when they improve.”

He claimed that Bhujbal was in his contact not only after he was left out of the Cabinet.

Referring to the decision by NCP and Shiv Sena to give two and half year tenure to the ministers inducted in Sunday’s expansion paving the way for other aspirants, Thackeray taunted, “Whether the posts of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be rotating every after two and half years. Has the decision been taken in this regard?” His reference was to the purported agreement reached between the BJP and Shiv Sena (united) Sharad of the 2019 Assembly election to share the Chief Minister’s post after two and half years.

Maharashtra

Mumbai : There is no solution to the problem of landslides in the last 15 years, 22,483 families live in dangerous areas in the city and suburbs

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Mumbai: Hill collapses are not new to Mumbai, but the state government has failed to take serious steps to address the problem in the last 15 years. In the last 34 years, 340 people have lost their lives and over 300 have been injured in landslides.

In 25 of Mumbai’s 36 assembly constituencies, 257 places in hilly areas have been classified as dangerous. RTI activist Anil Gilgali said that the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended the relocation of 9,657 out of 22,483 identified slums on priority basis. It had also proposed to make the remaining slums safe by building protective walls around the hills. Gilgali had earlier warned the Maharashtra government about the risk of landslides at 327 places during the monsoon season.

Between 1992 and 2026, 340 people died and over 300 were injured in landslides. The Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended relocation. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 2010. If action had been taken then, the deaths of the residents of these hilly areas could have been prevented. Following the board’s report and Anil Gilgali’s correspondence, the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan ordered the Urban Development Department to prepare an action plan on September 1, 2011. However, 15 years have passed since then, and the Urban Development Department is yet to start working on it. In other words, no one has prepared an ‘Action Taken Plan’ (ATP) as directed by the Chief Minister,

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Maharashtra

Robbery in Mumbai Saki Naka, 4 arrested, stolen goods recovered

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Mumbai: The Sakinaka police have claimed to have solved the mystery of the robbery at the junk shop of the complainant, Mohammed Hussain Abdul Karim, and arrested the accused. 22 kg of silver and cash worth a total of Rs 44 lakh were stolen from the junk shop. The shop was located in Anise Compound. The police had registered a complaint regarding this. On this basis, the Mumbai Police’s detection team tracked down the thieves and arrested four accused and claimed to have seized silver worth Rs 44 lakh and a mobile phone. The accused have been identified as Maqsood Shah, 20, a resident of Sakinaka in Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Zeeshan Abdul Subhan, 20, a resident of Mumbra, Daighar, Akhbar Hussain Ghulam Murtaza, 27, Mumbra, and Irfan Noorullah Khan, 26, Siddharth Nagar, UP. The four accused have been arrested and the stolen goods have been recovered. This operation was carried out by DCP Dutta Nalawade on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.

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Maharashtra

37 unauthorized shops removed from footpaths in Vakola area, action taken by BMC ‘H East’ ward under ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to ensure that pedestrians can walk on the footpaths with ease. As part of this initiative, action was taken to remove 37 unauthorised shops obstructing the footpaths along Rajendra Kamble Marg in Vakola area yesterday (August 11, 2026). The operation was carried out by the ‘H East’ ward of BMC. As per the directions of the High Court and under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. BMC is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to clear the footpaths of unauthorised hawkers and encroachments, thus making them free from obstructions. In this backdrop, the footpaths along Rajendra Kamble Marg in Vakola were cleared during an operation led by Assistant Commissioner (H East Ward) Smt. Mr. Mridula Ande, Deputy Commissioner (Zone-3) under the guidance of Shri Vishwas Mote. During this drive, 37 unauthorized shops erected on footpaths were removed, and materials obstructing the walkways were seized.

The operation was carried out with the support of about 31 officers and staff members using 4 vehicles, 2 dumpers, 1 JCB and other machinery. Adequate police security was deployed during the drive.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation continues to implement measures to ensure the availability of accessible footpaths for pedestrians. Therefore, unauthorized constructions or placement of materials obstructing footpaths are prohibited. The Municipal Corporation administration has said that strict action will be taken if such incidents are found.

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