National News
Kejriwal wants to control Punjab, be undercover CM: Oppn parties
Chandigarh, Feb 26: As the buzz over Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s entry into Rajya Sabha through nomination intensified after the party on Wednesday announced that it would field its MP Sanjeev Arora in the Ludhiana (West) Assembly bypoll, Opposition parties in Punjab trained guns on the party.
They said, “Kejriwal wants to control the state by becoming the undercover Chief Minister.”
“Once again, Punjab has been made to surrender before Delhi,” they added.
However, AAP leaders denied Kejriwal was opting for the Rajya Sabha route.
Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira claimed that Kejriwal would replace Arora in the Upper House.
“If Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora is nominated as AAP candidate for the Ludhiana (West) bypoll, I am sure Arvind Kejriwal will take his Rajya Sabha membership!” Khaira said in a post on X.
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa believed that work had started as per the plan made by Kejriwal.
“If Kejriwal becomes a Rajya Sabha member, he will control Punjab by becoming the undercover Chief Minister. The face will be of Bhagwant Mann, but the control will be of Kejriwal,” he said.
After this, he wrote on X, the people of Delhi “will create such a situation that Bhagwant Mann sahib will be removed on some pretext and Arvind Kejriwal himself will become the Chief Minister.”
Joining the issue, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia said power hungry Kejriwal was seeking a Rajya Sabha nomination and this was the reason why the party had forced its sitting MP Sanjiv Arora to vacate a Rajya Sabha seat for him.
In a statement here, former minister Majithia said the AAP’s game plan was to use the government’s might to get Arora elected to the Vidhan Sabha so that a Rajya Sabha seat is vacated in the state.
“Kejriwal wants to get twin benefits including a government bungalow in his name in the national Capital as well as the perks and power of an MP,” he said.
The Akali Dal leader said it was most shameful to see that during the last three years Bhagwant Mann as Chief Minister had completely surrendered at the feet of the AAP high command in Delhi.
He said earlier the treasury of Punjab was looted for preaching the AAP’s failed Kejriwal model throughout the country and now he was seeking a nomination to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.
Saying this bye-election is to prepare cadres for the future polls, AAP’s Punjab spokesperson Neel Garg, dubbed the claims of the Opposition as rumours regarding either party supremo Kejriwal or Sisodia replacing Arora in the Rajya Sabha.
“The BJP rumour mills are working overtime. As of now, the election for Ludhiana (West) has not even been announced. Arora has been chosen as the party candidate because of his popularity in Ludhiana. He has not even resigned from the Rajya Sabha membership. He can’t contest the bye-election without resigning,” Garg told the media here.
Justifying the party’s decision, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Sandhwan said a party can nominate anyone to the Rajya Sabha from anywhere.
“It’s their right. What is the illegality in this? Even Manmohan Singh went to the Rajya Sabha from another state. The party will decide who will be fielded and anyone they field I will welcome it,” Sandhwan said.
The Ludhiana (West) seat fell vacant with the demise of Gurpreet Gogi Bassi, 58, who died after sustaining a gunshot wound in his head at his house last month.
The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the election schedule for the seat.
AAP’s legislator Gogi joined the AAP in 2022 and defeated two-time MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu during the 2022 Assembly elections.
Responding to the nomination, candidate Arora wrote on X, “Humbled and grateful to the leadership @AamAadmiParty for reposing faith in me to contest the Ludhiana West bye-elections. As someone deeply connected to my hometown, I look forward to serving my people with dedication and sincerity.”
The seven Rajya Sabha MPs from Punjab are Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, cricketer Harbhajan Singh, educationist Ashok Mittal, environmentalist-cum-religious leader Balbir Singh Seechewal, entrepreneur Vikramjit Singh Sahney, besides Sanjeev Arora.
Kejriwal lost the New Delhi seat to BJP’s Parvesh Verma in the just-concluded Assembly elections.
Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai police will impose traffic restrictions on the service road near Dr. D. Y. Patil Stadium in Nerul from January 9 to January 17, 2026, to ensure security and smooth movement during the BCCI Women’s Premier League (WPL) T20 cricket matches.
According to the traffic control notification issued by the Turbhe Traffic Division, all types of vehicles will be barred from plying and parking on the service road between Bhimashankar Society and the L.P. Rickshaw Stand from 7 am to 11 pm on match days, as the route has been earmarked for the movement of players and dignitaries.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Tirupati Kakade said the restrictions are being enforced under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to prevent congestion and maintain law and order in the stadium vicinity during the matches.
Commuters have been advised to use the Sion–Panvel Highway, specifically the Uran Phata to L.P. Bridge stretch, as an alternative route to reach their destinations.
The restrictions will not apply to vehicles carrying essential commodities, police vehicles, fire brigade units, ambulances, government vehicles, other emergency services, and vehicles holding official passes issued by the WPL/IPL management.
Mumbai Press Exclusive News
Providing basic amenities to Mumbai is our priority, Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto released, Abu Asim Azmi claims to solve urban problems
Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party released its election manifesto for the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections at a press conference today. The party’s Maharashtra president Abu Asim Azmi presented this manifesto keeping in mind the basic problems of the people of Mumbai. Abu Asim Azmi has also promised free water supply along with basic amenities in the election manifesto. It has been promised to provide 700 liters of clean and free drinking water to every family in Mumbai daily. To raise the standard of education, it has been decided to improve the quality of municipal schools and provide scholarships and free facilities to needy students for higher education. It has also been declared necessary to arrange modern medical facilities, neighborhood clinics and free medicines in every ward of Mumbai in the medical department and health department. In addition, efforts have been made for equal employment opportunities. Creating new employment opportunities for the youth and making special projects to eliminate unemployment are also part of the election manifesto. Providing better facilities for the residents of slums, pucca houses and pothole-free roads in the city, bringing transparency in the functioning of BMC and eliminating corruption are also the main components of the election manifesto. Addressing the press conference, Abu Asim Azmi said that the Samajwadi Party is committed to the development of Mumbai and to providing its people with their fundamental rights. Our aim is not just to make promises but to make Mumbai a better and prosperous city.
National News
BMC Elections 2026: Mumbai Candidates Declare Massive Surge In Assets, Multi-Crore Wealth Revealed In Affidavits
Mumbai, Jan 08: Details of assets, profession and criminal records of selected candidates contesting the upcoming civic elections in Mumbai, as declared in their affidavits, are as follows:
Shaila Dilip Lande – Shiv Sena (Shinde), Ward 163 (Saki Naka)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹8,18,76,134
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹14,27,651
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Kamalakar Naik – Independent, Ward 169 (Kurla Nehru Nagar)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹11,83,36,519
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,92,76,226
Criminal cases: 2
Found guilty: 0
Dhanajay Pisal – Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar), Ward 111 (Kanjur Village)
Profession: Service
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹21,82,57,202
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2019: ₹8,55,21,925
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Sonam Manoj Jamsutkar – Shiv Sena (UBT), Ward 210 (Mumbai Central)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹14,38,84,259
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹7,08,67,928
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Geeta Gawli – Akhil Bhartiya Sena, Ward 212 (Mahalaxmi–Umar Park)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹7,26,92,393
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹3,45,32,902
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Sana Haji Halim Khan – Shiv Sena (UBT), Ward 96 (Bandra East)
Profession: Not mentioned
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹9,46,03,435
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: Not contested
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Nehal Shah – Independent, Ward 177 (Matunga)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹7,04,11,095
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,69,77,255
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Rajul Sameer Desai – BJP, Ward 56 (Goregaon)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹24,28,81,925
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,79,69,000
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Prabhakar Shinde – BJP, Ward 106 (Mulund)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹17,63,01,181
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹57,46,971
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Neil Somaiya – BJP, Ward 107 (Mulund)
Profession: Business
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2025: ₹9,89,21,872
Total movable and immovable assets as of 2017: ₹1,99,37,809
Criminal cases: 0
Found guilty: 0
Navi Mumbai Police Impose Traffic Restrictions Near D Y Patil Stadium During WPL 2026
Providing basic amenities to Mumbai is our priority, Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto released, Abu Asim Azmi claims to solve urban problems
BMC Elections 2026: Mumbai Candidates Declare Massive Surge In Assets, Multi-Crore Wealth Revealed In Affidavits
Major Accident On Ghodbunder Road: Multi-Vehicle Crash Near Gaimukh Disrupts Traffic Between Thane & Mira Road
Plot to shift Mumbai assets to Gujarat: Raj Thackeray in Saamana
Mamata Banerjee announces judicial committee to probe chaos at Salt Lake Stadium over Lionel Messi’s visit
One more accused arrested for vandalism during Lionel Messi’s Kolkata event
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