Maharashtra
In big statement, Pawar says he will ensure MVA contests assembly and Lok Sabha polls together
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said the people in Maharashtra are looking for a change and he will ensure that constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) contest the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections together.
Pawar was speaking to reporters after the newly-elected Congress MLA from Kasba Peth Assembly constituency in Pune city, Ravindra Dhangekar, visited the NCP chief at his residence here.
Dhangekar elected by common people of Kasba: Pawar
He said Dhangekar was elected by common people in the bypoll in Kasba Peth, a BJP bastion, as he has been working for them for the last several years.
Queried whether a formula of contesting elections jointly will be repeated by MVA in the upcoming civic elections, Pawar said his colleagues in NCP are looking into this aspect.
“However, my efforts will be to ensure that the constituents of MVA remain together, take joint decisions, and face the state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections together,” he said.
People in Maharashtra looking for change: NCP chief
The former Union minister also said the people in Maharashtra are looking for a change.
“I am roaming in the state and the people are telling me that they want a change. They want us (the Opposition) to come together. These are people’s sentiments,” he said.
The MVA, formed after the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections when Uddhav Thackeray fell out with old ally BJP, comprises the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), NCP, and Congress.
In the Kasba Peth byelection, results for which were declared on March 2, Congress-MVA candidate Ravindra Dhangekar trounced BJP’s Hemant Rasne by more than 10,800 votes.
Pawar said initially the victory in Kasba Peth looked distant given BJP MP Girish Bapat’s hold on the constituency.
“Bapat’s speciality is he had strong relations within the party cadres and also enjoys cordial relations with non-BJP groups. So we assessed that Kasba Peth would be difficult for us as Bapat’s concentration in the constituency was good. But in the end, we realized that there were murmurs about whether his suggestions were considered while deciding on the BJP candidate,” he said.
He credited the victory to the work done by Dhangekar and the hard work of MVA constituents.
Traditional BJP voter didn’t like money being distributed: Pawar
Queried about the BJP allegedly trying to bring a Hindutva element in the last phase of the election, Pawar said he had heard that people spoke highly about Uddhav Thackeray who headed the erstwhile MVA government.
Speaking on the allegations that money was distributed by the BJP ahead of the polling, the NCP chief said that he was shown some pictures of bundles of notes but he didn’t go deep into the matter.
“These pictures were shown to me by people who are not in politics. They told me that they have been voting for a particular ideology but said that when they saw the distribution of money, they decided to go away from these people. The traditional voter didn’t like it and it was revealed in the election that people didn’t accept these things,” Pawar said.
The BJP had denied allegations of any links to the purported distribution of money to voters.
Pawar speaks on burning issue of onion prices
Speaking on the crash in onion prices and complaints by farmers about procurement from NAFED, the former Union agriculture minister said some cultivators from Nashik informed him that the purchase of onions is not happening properly.
“Prices of onions have decreased but no care is being taken to handle them. The state and the Centre governments had not taken any decisions. Farmers say that whatever decisions that have been taken by the government are not appropriate,” he added
Crime
Mumbai Shocker! Man Shot, Stabbed To Death In Kurla; 3 Arrested

Mumbai: A shocking incident has come to light from Mumbai’s Kurla, where a man was shot and stabbed to death. According to the Mumbai Police, three accused have been arrested in the case.
the incident took place on April 29 at around 10 pm near Pipeline Block No. 3 in Kurla’s V B Nagar. The deceased, identified as Baba Pawar, was shot by one person while two others stabbed him.
After the information was received, Pawar was rushed to Bhabha Hospital for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
A case was registered at V B Nagar police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act for murder and other offences. Later, it was reported that the police arrested all the three accused involved in the crime. Currently, further investigation is underway to determine the circumstances and motive behind the gruesome killing.
Meanwhile, in another recent incident, a man allegedly stabbed a shopkeeper five to six times after thinking that he and his brother were laughing at him. The incident occurred in Agripada’s Baby Garden area, where two brothers were chatting and laughing over something in their shop.
When the accused arrived at the shop, he thought the two brothers were laughing and mocking him and in a sudden outburst, Mansuri pulled out a knife and attacked one of the brothers multiple times.
Prior to this, another stabbing incident took place in Mira Road’s Naya Nagar, where a 31-year-old man, Zaib Zubair Ansari, attacked two security guards after being questioned about their religion. The attack took place near Asmita Grand Mansion in Mira Road East, where two security guards were on duty when Ansari approached them, initially asking for directions to a nearby mosque. Later, Ansari questioned one of the guards about his religion before attacking him with a knife. He then entered the security cabin and allegedly asked the second guard to recite the ‘Kalma’.
Ansari was arrested within hours after police reviewed CCTV footage. He was later produced before a Thane district court, which remanded him to police custody until May 4.
Maharashtra
Marathi language requirement: Senior drivers should be given concessions for their language skills, no one’s permit should be cancelled immediately on the basis of language: Abu Asim

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has requested Transport Minister Pratap Sarmaik to provide relaxation to rickshaw and taxi drivers in the matter of Marathi language mandatory from May 1 and give them time to learn Marathi. In a letter, Azmi said that the new Marathi mandatory law will come into effect from May 1, 2026. This has created a wave of concern among rickshaw and taxi drivers, especially the elderly. The purpose of any law is reformative, but it should not take away anyone’s livelihood. Maharashtra is a state that provides employment to citizens across the country, and this is the real identity of our state. Many drivers who have settled here from other states have received education in their mother tongue, so we cannot deny the fact that they need time to learn Marathi. From a scientific point of view, it becomes difficult to learn a new language after the age of 45 to 50. Therefore, I demand that this rule be restricted to the youth between the ages of 18 and 45 and that experienced and senior drivers be completely exempted from it. For such drivers who are the sole breadwinners of their families, the government should appoint a special officer and give them an extension of at least two years so that their livelihood is not disrupted. Moreover, the language test format should be simplified and made online, with drivers getting at least four chances every year. It would be unfair to cancel permits just because of language. Another important point is that there is no such strictness on the use of Marathi in the corporate sector, as this sector is considered a major source of income for the state. However, we should not forget that rickshaw and taxi drivers are also an important part of the state’s economy. They serve the public from morning till late at night. When big corporate houses can get relaxation and flexibility in language regulations, why burden these low-income drivers, who toil all day in the sun and rain, with strict regulations? Justice should be equal for all. Therefore, instead of imposing regulations, the government should set up free training centers at the ward level. We should understand that if thousands of drivers become unemployed, the possibility of an increase in crime due to economic hardship in the society cannot be ruled out. According to Article 21 of the Constitution of India, every citizen has the right to live with dignity and earn his livelihood. The Supreme Court has also clarified in the Olga Telles vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation case that the right to livelihood is an integral part of the right to life. Therefore, cancelling someone’s permit just because they do not know the language would be a violation of the Supreme Court’s decision. Azmi requested Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to consider this principle not as a mere political issue but as an educational and social campaign to maintain the inclusive tradition of Maharashtra by giving adequate time to drivers from migrant migrant states to learn Marathi and by giving appropriate concessions to senior citizens.
Maharashtra
Bhiwandi Samadia School road in dilapidated condition, Eknath Shinde assures of resolution of public issues and redressal of complaints

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi met the Deputy Chief Minister of the state Eknath Shinde and gave him a memorandum and demanded the completion of the project related to public interest and to take necessary steps regarding the problems and development projects of Bhiwandi. He gave details of the problems faced by the people of Bhiwandi and demanded their solution. Azmi said that the main road from Samadia Bagh to Samadia School is completely dilapidated and only potholes and mud tracks are visible on the road. More than 1,000 children are studying in Samadia School, due to which the students, their parents and passers-by are facing a lot of problems. Keeping in mind the rainy season, Azmi requested that all the work be completed before the rains to avoid mud and accidents. He said that the VP Stadium of Bhiwandi West is a big stadium for local players and senior citizens, but today it is also in a dilapidated condition. The condition of the ground is very poor, the jogging track is broken, and during the rains it becomes difficult to practice due to waterlogging. Therefore, the Sports Department should be directed to immediately provide necessary funds for the reconstruction and repair of the stadium, so that the youth can get better sports facilities. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured positive steps on public interest issues.
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