General
Koli community has little voice in Gujarat politics despite one-third vote and population
The Koli community accounts for one-third of the population of Gujarat and has an equal vote share in the state. They can influence election results in 82 assembly seats with their domination over 44-45 seats, yet they have very little say in the leading political discourse and state politics.
As per youth leaders of the community, this is an outcome of the poor literacy rate in the community and socially and economically weak sub-caste based divisions within the community as community bigwigs are focused on their individual progress and not of the upliftment of the entire community.
Community youth leaders are trying to unite community members but the influential ones within are splitting them on the basis of sub-castes like Talapada Koli, Chuvalia Koli, Kedia Koli, Koli Patel etc. But now the youths have decided to fight them because “our existence and political weightage are at stake,” said Ranji Solanki, national president of New Samaj Koli Kranti Sena.
He cited two instances: recently, in the Jamraval municipal elections in Devbhumi Dwarka district, Koli community members contested under Vyavastha Parivartan Party symbol (VPP). It got a thumping majority as out of the 33 seats, 31 went to the Koli community and candidates of VPP. The BJP and the Congress were routed.
Citing the second instance, Solanki said that “On May 18, we will lay the foundation stone of a school funded by a Koli charitable trust in Surendranagar. This will be a primary school and as more funds come, the school will be upgraded to senior levels. The community has decided that no political leaders invited for the occasion will be seated on the stage – they will be in the audience with other ordinary community members.”
“Along the Saurashtra coast in Rajkot, Surendranagar, Ahmedabad, Botad, Morbi districts, and in Bharuch, Surat, Valsad, Navsari cities in South Gujarat, the Koli community has dominance over many assembly seats. If political parties do not field Koli candidates then they can get defeated. But this is not happening because the community lacks unity. Various groups are now working to unite the entire community,” says Ranchhod Ughreja, president of Koli Thakor Sena, Rajkot.
He and other community members realise that “The way to unite the community is by means of literacy and socio-economic development. So, groups within the community are working on it, setting up educational institutes, spreading awareness about the need for education for the next generation. Once this and financial stability is achieved, it will be easy to unite the community,” believes Ughreja.
“The tug of war between two stalwarts, Akhil Bharatiya Koli Samaj President Ajit Patel and former minister Kunvarji Bavaliya has intensified and it will have a detrimental impact on the political weightage in the upcoming assembly elections,” fears Jethabha Jora who has been serving the community for more than three decades.
“Political parties hardly field 15 to 20 candidates. Though the community is decisive in 44 to 45 seats, internal fights between leaders take precedence over fighting for the community’s right and due representation,” said a Koli community leader requesting anonymity.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Additional manpower to be deployed for birth certificate applications: Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajakta Verma Lovengere

Mumbai: Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Varmalawangire has directed the deployment of additional manpower to ensure prompt processing of birth certificate applications in areas falling under Zone 5 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) such as Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar, Kurla and Chembur. He also directed that the working hours of Citizen Facilitation Centres be increased for the approval of these applications. Today (July 25, 2026), Lavangare reviewed the operations of the health department in the administrative wards of Zone 5 at the BMC’s M West Ward Office in Chembur. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Oghade, Deputy Commissioner (Zone 5) Scindia. Assistant Commissioner (M-East) Ujjwal Angole, Assistant Commissioner (M-West) Shankar Bhosale, and Executive Health Officer (Public Health Department) Dr. Daksha Shah. EML Varad East West wards need more effort to process applications related to birth certificates. Varmalawangire directed that applications should be accepted at the Citizen Facilitation Centres from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to provide relief to the citizens. He further directed that these centres should remain open on Sundays for the convenience of the public. Assistant Commissioners at the administrative ward level should depute additional manpower to process the applications of the citizens, thus enabling a large number of applications to be processed. Varmalawangire directed that the applications should be processed and resolved within the shortest possible time after they are submitted. Software is being developed by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to handle applications for new birth certificates and corrections in existing ones. The software will facilitate submission of application details and uploading of relevant documents, while it will also include a dashboard. He directed that the software and dashboard be used to ensure maximum transparency in the birth certificate application process. He also directed that applications related to educational matters be given priority. A large number of applications are being submitted for QR code-based birth certificates required for overseas education and visa processing. He directed that these be resolved immediately.
During today’s meeting, Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajakta Vermalongare reviewed the status of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, monsoon-related disease incidents, and capacity expansion and repair works in maternity homes and suburban hospitals. He issued necessary instructions to the health department. The performance of Lokmanya Tilak General Hospital (Saiyan), Govind Shatabdi Hospital, and Maa Hospital (Chembur) was also reviewed. Prajakta Verma-Lawangire directed the department heads to conduct regular reviews to ensure transparency in the functioning of the health administration and prompt resolution of civic issues. He also directed the Assistant Commissioners within the zones to conduct regular site visits.
Maharashtra
‘Victory celebration’ on students’ victory in Mumbai… Demand for action against policemen who tortured students still incomplete: Uddhav Thackeray

A victory celebration has been announced in Mumbai for the historic victory of the students. The protest will continue even after the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar is met, this stance has been issued by Kakroch Janata Party leader Abhijit Deepke. The victory celebration will now be celebrated with a tricolor march in Mumbai. This was announced by MNS chief Raj Thackeray at a press conference here. He said that now a stage will be prepared near Shivaji Park and the crowd will gather there. There will be no march till Siddhi Vinayak. Raj Thackeray said that this is a big success for the students, this march has been organized to celebrate it. Uddhav Thackeray said that the way Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation was accepted, his department was not changed after his resignation, this has not been clarified yet, along with this, the students are not satisfied with the resignation itself, the demand for action against the police personnel and officers who tortured the students by registering a case has not been fulfilled. The way the students were brutalized is completely wrong, but the students were steadfast and not only that, they endured hardships during the protest and this is the reason why the government had to bow down before these students. Uddhav Thackeray said that the way the government thought that it would not bow down before anyone, but the students forced it, a victory celebration will be celebrated in Mumbai to express sympathy with the students and a traditional tricolor rally will be held. Uddhav Thackeray said that a future plan of action should be prepared after talking to Abhijeet Deepika.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Shivaji Park Tricolor March: Important meeting of senior officers with Police Commissioner, police security arrangements tightened, necessary instructions issued

Mumbai: Police are also ready for the Tricolour rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. To express sympathy with the student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Thackeray brother has organized a Tricolour march in which lakhs of protesters are expected to participate. In such a situation, the police have also claimed to have made strict security arrangements in the area. The police are being vigilant and are monitoring the situation to ensure that no untoward incident occurs during the Tricolour march. Along with monitoring the route for the Tricolour march, a meeting of senior officers including the Additional Police Commissioner was also held today under the chairmanship of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti, in which instructions were also issued to ensure security arrangements related to order and protest demonstration. There is a long series of protests at Shivaji Park in Mumbai city. It has also been identified where protesters can gather in Shivaji Park during the Tricolour March in Mumbai city and suburbs. In addition, protests have started across the state. In the case of NET exam paper leak, students have demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dhirendra Pradhan and the students are standing by their stand. The police are also on alert due to the Tricolour March in Mumbai city and suburbs. Police deployment has also been ensured on the traffic route during the protest demonstration in Shivaji Park, along with necessary orders have also been issued. The police have taken necessary steps due to the protests of students in Mumbai and the state, along with necessary instructions have also been issued to senior police officers in this regard. It is estimated that students from other areas of Mumbai such as Kurla, Chambor, Byculla, Andheri, Malad Maloni, Jogeshwari and other areas are also participating in the protest. Attempts to disrupt or disrupt the Tricolour March are tolerable. If anyone does so, they will be given a response, MNS chief Raj Thackeray has warned, saying that if there is an attempt to disrupt the situation in Mumbai on the lines of Delhi, it will not be tolerated at all. Protests are ongoing in Mumbai, and the police are also on alert.
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