Politics
Is OBC leader Alpesh Thakor feeling uncomfortable in BJP?
OBC leader and former MLA Alpesh Thakor’s recent statements can’t be ignored. If read between the lines, it seems that Thakor is unhappy in the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Recently while attending a mass-marriage function organised by the Gujarat Thakor Sena, Alpesh Thakor said, “I am going to contest the Radhanpur Assembly seat (Patan district). If any one tries to oust me, I will ensure that those leaders too don’t get chance to contest the elections.”
His remarks were directed at former MLA and BJP leader Lavingji Thakor, who is a contender for the seat in the run-up to the Assembly elections scheduled at the end of this year.
Alpesh Thakor also said, “The state government has failed to strictly implement prohibition.”
Playing down the controversy, Alpesh Thakor told IANS that some party leaders are playing dirty politics and instead of uniting the Koli Thakor community, they are dividing it.
His statements were message to such leaders, and he has no intention of quitting the party, Alpesh Thakor said.
Alpesh Thakor had won from Radhanpur in 2017 on Congress ticket. In 2019, he quit the Congress and joined the BJP. He had contested bypolls from Radhanpur in October 2019, but lost to Congress’ Raghubhai Desai.
Refuting Alpesh Thakor, Lavingji Thakor claimed that if there was any substance in what the former said, people would not have elected him as an Independent MLA from Radhanpur in 1995. He also claimed that he is a local leader, whereas Alpesh Takor is a native of Ahmedabad district.
After 1995, Lavingji Thakor contested from Radhanpur thrice, once each on the ticket of All India Rashtriya Janata Party, Congress and BJP, but lost on all three occasions.
In fact, Radhanpur is a curious constituency. Barring Congress’ Khodidan Zula (1975, 1980 and 1985) and Shankar Chaudhary of the BJP (1998, 2002, 2007), no other leader has ever got re-elected from this seat.
Even veteran leader and former Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who won the bypolls here in 1997, never contested from Radhanpur again.
For the last few months, there were rumours that the Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena is searching for a safe seat for Alpesh Thakor, who though claims that the outfit launched by him has presence in 176 talukas.
“Gujarat Thakor Sena has around 9,200 committees, and at least 50 families in each village with whom I have direct contact. So the question does not arise of looking for a safe seat,” he said.
The OBC leader has also claimed that he is not just leader of Thakors or the OBC community, but members of other communities as well.
“Under my leadership, Patidars have formed the Patidar Sena in 76 villages of Karamsad Taluka, while Patels from Saurashtra also attend my public meetings in large numbers,” he claimed.
There is no doubt that Alpesh Thakor can influence voters from his community and change the results where Thakors are in dominance, feels Suresh Vanol, senior journalist from Mehsana district.
Vanol said the party did not call Alpesh Thakor to campaign for one seat in Satlasana Taluka panchayat elections which it lost. Even in Gandhinagar municipal elections, the BJP had asked Alpesh Thakor to campaign at last moment.
According to Vanol’s assessment, Alpesh Thakor may change constituency and contest either from Becharaji or Kheralu in Mehsana district.
Maharashtra
Clash at Bhiwandi Dindigad Hill Leaves Six Injured; Tension Reportedly Erupts Again at Hospital

Bhiwandi, Maharashtra: A dispute between two groups of youths at Dindigad Hill near Bhiwandi escalated into a physical confrontation on Sunday afternoon, leaving six people injured, according to preliminary information.
The incident reportedly began after a disagreement at the hill area. The dispute is understood to have been linked to objections over non-vegetarian food being brought to the location. What started as a verbal argument soon turned violent, with members of the two groups allegedly assaulting each other.
The injured were taken to Bhiwandi Sub-District Hospital for medical treatment. However, tension reportedly flared again when members of the two groups came face-to-face at the hospital. Police personnel were deployed at the hospital to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and are examining the claims made by those involved. Further legal action is expected after statements are recorded and the facts of the incident are established.
The incident has raised concerns over the need for restraint and peaceful resolution of disputes, particularly in public places where clashes can quickly create tension in the surrounding area.
National News
MP: BJP’s first State Working Committee meeting set for Orchha on Aug 30

Bhopal, Aug 24: The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its first State Working Committee meeting under State President Hemant Khandelwal in Orchha on August 30 and 31.
The two‑day conclave will focus on preparations for the 2028 Assembly elections, plans to strengthen the organisation, and strategies to connect with youth, particularly Gen‑Z and Gen‑Alpha. Approximately 350 to 400 leaders are expected to attend, including Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, both Deputy Chief Ministers, Union Ministers from the state, state government ministers, MPs, MLAs and state party office‑bearers.
The meeting will take place at two hotels, with senior leaders scheduled to arrive from August 29 to finalise arrangements. A core group or “toli baithak” will be held on August 25 to finalise preparations and the agenda. Senior office‑bearers, including State Vice‑President Shailendra Barua and others, recently reviewed arrangements in Orchha.
The programme is set to begin with flag‑hoisting, followed by a visit to a major exhibition showcasing welfare schemes and key achievements of the Central and state governments. Cultural programmes will also be organised for delegates in the evenings. Around 400 rooms have been booked across hotels to accommodate participants, with dedicated transport arrangements from Orchha railway station.
The Working Committee will specifically deliberate on expanding the party’s outreach among youth, including Gen‑Z and Gen‑Alpha members. Officials indicated that programmes may be outlined to broaden the party’s base among younger generations and explore innovative ways of communicating with them.
Discussions will also cover cooperatives, municipal elections and other political issues. The government’s performance and the organisation’s activities will be reviewed.
This will be the first formal meeting of the newly constituted State Working Committee, which comprises 106 regular members and 41 special invitees, supplemented by ex‑officio members such as MPs and MLAs. The gathering is seen as a key organisational exercise to set the agenda for the coming years and gear up for Mission 2028. Party sources described the Orchha meet as an important platform to align organisational efforts with electoral goals under Khandelwal’s stewardship.
Maharashtra
MIDC Police Station operation: Heroin worth Rs 35 million seized, suspect arrested

MIDC Police Station Anti-Narcotics Squad PI Kholam and his team were patrolling the night of August 22 to take action against people using, buying and selling drugs within their limits.
On the 23rd, at around 12:10 am, the police saw a person moving around suspiciously in front of the gate of Hemant Karkare Garden, near Sahakari Bhandar, Poonam Nagar, Jogeshwari (East), Mumbai. PI Kholam found the person’s movements suspicious and the police team tried to stop him. On seeing the police, the said person tried to run away from there, however, with the help of the police team, he was arrested on the spot. During interrogation, the person initially gave evasive answers. Later, after taking him into confidence and conducting further detailed interrogation, a dark colored powder, which was said to be Heroin, was recovered from his possession.
The police searched the said person in compliance with all the legal requirements of the NDPS Act, 1985. Heroin weighing 302 grams, worth approximately ₹3,50,00,000 (Rupees 3 crore 50 lakhs), was recovered from his possession.
In this case, a case has been registered under Section 8(c) read with Section 21(c) of the NDPS Act under Case No. 943/2026 on the basis of a complaint received at MIDC Police Station, Mumbai. During the investigation, it was also revealed that the said drugs were being supplied in the area of MIDC Police Station. Further investigation of the case is underway.
Thus, PI Kholam, Officer of the Anti-Narcotics Team of MIDC Police Station and his team carried out a remarkable operation of timely arresting the accused drug dealer Tauseef Liaquat Qazi (29) and seizing 302 grams of heroin, worth ₹3.50 crores, from his possession. The successful operation was carried out under the guidance of senior police officers, including Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti, Joint Police Commissioner Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Police Commissioner Dr. Abhinav Deshmukh, Deputy Police Commissioner Datta Nalawade and Assistant Police Commissioner Yogesh Shinde. The operation was directly supervised by Senior Police Inspector Ghanshyam Nair and Police Inspector (Crime) Sunil Karande.
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