Mumbai: After the Babri Masjid, now it is Kashi Mathura’s turn, the slogan and provocation has been given by Dhirendra Shastri Bageshwar Dham Baba here in Mumbai. While answering the question of journalists in Andheri, Bageshwar Dham said that the temple is ours and we cannot give it up. When Baba was asked that the dispute had ended after the Babri Masjid, then why is the process of finding temples in mosques going on, to which he said that there are temples in many places and the dispute here is old. On Hindu Rashtra, Bageshwar Dham made it clear that there is also room for Muslims in Hindu Rashtra, his aim is to strengthen Sanatan, while a pilgrimage for Hindu Rashtra will start in Maharashtra to promote Hindutva. He said that it is wrong to declare India a secular country because India has never been secular. He said that there is a need for brotherhood and unity in this country and for that he goes on pilgrimage. Baba, while spewing venom, said that if efforts are not made for Hindu Rashtra and Hindus are not united, then the time is not far when the invasion of India will take place. He said that highly educated doctors in the country are becoming terrorists. If there is a Hindu Rashtra, then a Muslim youth will become Abdul Kalam. Will the mayor of Mumbai be a Muslim or a Hindu? On this, Bageshwar Dham said that he is away from politics, so a candidate should be selected who is useful for the people.

Mumbai: (Press release)The Aam Aadmi Party today announced its decision to contest the upcoming BMC General Elections 2026, on its own strength. The youngest national party, ruled out any possibility of an alliance and stated that they will field AAP candidates on all 227 wards.

“Despite being India’s ‘Urbs Prima’, Mumbai is in a mess. BMC has a whopping Rs. 74,447 Crore annual budget- the largest in Asia. Mumbaikars pay the highest taxes in the country and yet get shoddy public services.

The BMC is a cesspool of corruption and monumental ineptitude. BMC schools are shutting down and education quality remains poor, primary health care centres are non-existent, hospitals are overburdened and BEST is being systematically killed and it’s bus fleet has been starkly declining.Some of the world’s most expensive real estate is surrounded by squalor.

Garbage disposal is poor and filth is lying all around and our ecology has degraded with tree cover rapidly depleting. Pollution is at an all time high, Our AQI levels are as high as Delhi, despite us being on the coast and we are the only city in the world which releases untreated sewage in the open sea.

In the name of Dharavi Redevelopment, we are witnessing the biggest land grab in the history of independent India. For the last 4 years, the BMC has been without public representation and our once 90,000 Crore Fixed Deposits, have fallen sharply and reached its nadir.

All of this is nothing but ‘avoidable suffering’ inflicted on Mumbaikars, by a lumpen political class. Every political party has looted Mumbai, prioritising their selfish interests over public good. “, said Preeti Sharma Menon, Mumbai President, Aam Aadmi Party.

“The AAP is not just the alternative but the solution. Few good people in the BMC, is what Mumbai desperately needs. We know how to fix governance, under Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, we have done so in Delhi and Punjab, provided world class education, healthcare, water and electricity, without corruption and without debt.

We need the broom, to sweep the corrupt and inept away. With just 7 corporators, AAP will have a house leader and representation on all statutory committees (Standing, Improvement, Health, Education and BEST). When we last contested in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, we got 5.16% of the vote share and over 2,73,000 votes. We will better this feat this time round and are getting tremendous support on the ground.

Mumbai needs AAP. We are India’s youngest National party and will contest on all of Mumbai’s 227 seats on our own strength.”, said Sanjay Singh, MP, Aam Aadmi Party.

Mumbai Municipal Corporation Mumbai Municipal Corporation has directed the Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to ensure strict implementation of the code of conduct during the elections and to ensure the process.

The Returning Officer should take necessary precautions to ensure that the general elections of the Municipal Corporation are held in a fearless, free and transparent environment. Before preparing the final list of polling stations, a live inspection of the polling stations should be carried out. Officers and employees related to the election process should be appointed within the stipulated time and they should be trained. Municipal Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani have given various instructions to keep various teams working in connection with the elections. Gagrani has also directed that security measures be taken for effective implementation of the code of conduct by the police, excise and other departments. As per the direct election programme for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation General Elections 2025-26, a joint meeting of the officers of the Municipal Corporation, Returning Officers, Police, Excise Department officers was held at the Municipal Corporation Headquarters. Municipal Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer Mr. Bhushan Gagrani was also present as Chairman.

Additional Municipal Corporation Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Special Duty Officer (Election) Mr. Vijay Balmwar, Joint Commissioner (Tax Assessment and Collection) Mr. Vishwas Shankarwar, Deputy Commissioner (Reforms) Mr. Sanjog Kabre, Deputy Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Kishore Gandhi, Additional Commissioner (General Administration) Mr. Ambekar Gandhi, Deputy Commissioner (General Administration). Konkan Division Mrs. Farogh Mukadam, District Election Officer Mr. Vijay Kumar Suryavanshi and 23 Election Officers were present.

Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani said that the State Election Commission has fixed the criteria for the determination of election polling stations. According to this, there are about 10 thousand 111 polling stations in the limits of Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Facilities like electricity supply, drinking water supply, toilets, ramps etc. have been provided at these polling stations. The Election Officer will inspect and confirm it. After that, the final list of polling stations should be prepared. A ‘Voter Assistance Centre’ should be set up near the polling station to help voters find their names. He directed that information boards should be put up at polling stations to inform the voters.

The process of appointing officers and employees required for the election process is underway. Training will be given to the officers and employees appointed for election work. Detailed guidance will be given on the voting process, election laws, model code of conduct, EVM handling and responsibilities at the polling station. Training of all employees is mandatory for the success of the election process. The above instructions should be strictly followed. The Returning Officer should contact the Deputy Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation Circle, Assistant Commissioner of Administrative Departments. Gagrani also directed that action should be taken in a coordinated manner.

To ensure effective and strict implementation of the model code of conduct, all necessary precautions should be taken in collaboration with the Police Department, Excise Department and other concerned departments. A strict watch should be kept on the malpractices committed to influence the voters during the election period. Special vigilance should be taken in sensitive and highly sensitive areas to maintain law and order. Regular patrolling, check posts, checking of vehicles and immediate action should be taken on suspicious movements. If any violation of the model code of conduct is found, immediate and strict action should be taken against the concerned as per the rules, Gagrani has directed.