Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Late Rajiv Gandhi on his birth anniversary on Wednesday. The birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister of India, Late Rajiv Gandhi, falls on August 20.

The tribute ceremony was held at the Mantralaya in Mumbai, where a floral tribute was offered to his portrait. On this occasion, the ‘Sadbhavna Divas Pledge’ was taken by all those present, reaffirming their commitment to uphold peace, unity, and social harmony in the state and across the country.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Signs MoUs Worth ₹42,892 Crore, Over 28,000 Jobs to be Created

In a significant development for Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis signed eight major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and two strategic agreements on Tuesday, aimed at attracting investments worth ₹42,892 crore to the state. These initiatives are expected to generate over 28,000 employment opportunities.

The MoUs were exchanged at the state secretariat in the presence of CM Fadnavis. The event was also attended by Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, Industry Secretary Dr. P. Anbalagan, MIDC CEO P. Velarasu, Development Commissioner Dipendra Singh Kushwah, and several investors from various sectors.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said, “Investors have shown strong and positive commitment. The state government team will support you throughout the investment process. The Hyperloop project is also gaining momentum, with IIT Mumbai and IIT Madras contributing. This project will bring a transformational change not only in logistics, transport, and mobility in Maharashtra but across India.”

Fadanvis further said, ” Maharashtra is emerging as the ‘Data Centre Capital’ and a hub for solar energy integration. Several companies are entering these sectors, and a major transformation is expected in the manufacturing domain. Strategic agreements with the UK have opened new doors, attracting more investment to India. This reflects investors’ confidence and faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership”.

Mumbai: In a major setback ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the much-hyped alliance between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray has ended in embarrassment.

Contesting together for the first time in years, the Thackeray brothers had fielded their joint ‘Utkarsh Panel’ in the prestigious BEST Workers’ Co-operative Credit Society polls. But the alliance failed to secure even a single seat, dealing a blow to the ‘Thackeray brand’ that once dominated the city’s labour unions and municipal politics.

Results Of BEST Polls

The results, declared late Tuesday, showed a clean sweep by rival panels. Shashank Rao’s faction bagged 14 of the 21 seats, while BJP leader Prasad Lad’s ‘Shramik Panel’ secured seven. The Thackeray brothers’ joint front drew a blank, failing to open its account. This loss is especially symbolic as the Thackerays’ Kamgar Sena had held sway over the BEST union for years, making the society polls a litmus test of their combined strength ahead of civic elections.

The alliance between the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav was closely watched in political circles. Their coming together was seen as a trial run for the BMC elections, where both factions hoped to project unity and revive their influence in Mumbai’s political landscape. Instead, the humiliating defeat has raised serious questions about whether the Thackeray name still commands the same pull among workers and voters.

Prasad Lad Takes Jibe At Thackerays

Prasad Lad, jubilant after his panel’s performance, took to social media to mock the Thackeray brothers. “The bosses of the brand couldn’t win a single seat. We showed them their place,” Lad wrote, in a sharp jibe at the once-powerful family.

The outcome is also expected to influence upcoming local body elections across Maharashtra. For the Thackerays, who pitched this contest as a show of unity and strength, the loss has triggered speculation about their ability to mount a serious challenge in the fiercely fought BMC polls.

Mumbai: Mumbai’s water stock has climbed closer to full capacity after incessant rainfall over the past 24 hours, ensuring a comfortable buffer for the city’s water needs. According to the Hydraulic Engineer’s Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the seven lakes supplying water to the metropolis recorded a combined stock of 13.76 lakh million litres (ML) as of 6 am on Wednesday, August 20. This amounts to nearly 95.12 per cent of their total capacity of 14.47 lakh ML.

The civic data shows that between 8.30 am on Tuesday and 6 am on Wednesday, the Bhandup Complex, which houses most of Mumbai’s water treatment facilities, received 246 mm of rainfall, taking its cumulative seasonal tally to 2,235 mm. All seven lakes, Modak Sagar, Tansa, Tulsi, Vihar, Bhatsa, Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna, reported major inflows.

Details On Water Stock In All Lakes

Bhatsa, the largest contributor to Mumbai’s water supply, holds 7.1 lakh ML of stock, which is 99.6 per cent of its capacity. Tulsi and Vihar, two smaller lakes located within city limits, are also brimming, with storage levels at 98.3 and 99.6 per cent, respectively. Tulsi Lake began overflowing on August 16, while Vihar Lake started overflowing on August 18.

Tansa and Modak Sagar have already touched the 100 per cent mark. Tansa began overflowing on July 23, while Modak Sagar started overflowing on August 9. The Middle Vaitarna lake, which had been lagging earlier this month, has also improved significantly and is now at 96.9 per cent of live storage.

Upper Vaitarna, another key lake, is at 91.8 per cent of its storage. Releases from the lake, which were ongoing until early August, were stopped on August 7 after levels stabilised.

This sharp rise in lake levels comes on the back of heavy showers across Mumbai and its catchment areas since the beginning of the week. On Tuesday alone, several suburbs recorded more than 200 mm of rainfall.

The BMC, however, maintained that while the immediate threat of water cuts has been averted, judicious use of water remains essential as the monsoon season progresses.