Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at his residence, ‘Shivtirth’, at Shivaji Park on Monday. This was Fadnavis’s first visit to Raj Thackeray’s residence since the former became CM. Accompanying him was BJP leader Mohit Kamboj, while the MNS was represented by senior leaders Bala Nandgaonkar, Nitin Sardesai, and Sandeep Deshpande.

Meeting Triggers Intense Speculation In Political Circles

The meeting has triggered intense speculation in political circles, amid buzz of a BJP-MNS alliance for the upcoming local corporation elections. The speculation comes on the heels of reports of internal conflict within the stateʼs ruling bloc, the Mahayuti. In the Lok Sabha elections, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had extended unconditional support to the Mahayuti. However, in the assembly elections, the MNS contested independently but failed to win a single seat.

With the upcoming local body elections on the horizon, this meeting between the two leaders is being seen as significant. Speculation is also rife that an offer could be made regarding Rajʼs son Amit Thackeray’s political future, as part of this strategy.

Statement Of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Speaking about his meeting with Raj Thackeray, CM Devendra Fadnavis clarified that it was not a political meeting but a personal one. He said, “Raj Thackeray had called to congratulate me when I became chief minister. At that time, I had told him that I would visit him at his home. I had an event in Dadar, so before that, I went to meet him at his residence. The speculation about this being a political meeting is only in the media. It was purely a personal visit.” Fadnavis also mentioned that he had had breakfast at Raj Thackeray’s residence.

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Criticises The Assembly Election Results

Before this meeting, Raj Thackeray had criticised the assembly election results during a gathering of MNS office-bearers. He questioned the outcome, saying, “Even those who won called me, shocked by the results. The BJP secured 132 seats, compared to 105 in the previous election and 122 in 2014. But Ajit Pawar’s party won 42 seats. Does that even seem believable? Just four months ago, he had only one MP. How can the results change so drastically in such a short time?”

Thackeray had also remarked that people often advised him not to meet BJP leaders. However, he countered this by saying, “If someone visits my home for tea, should I refuse?” Interestingly, just a week after these statements, Fadnavis and Raj Thackeray met on Monday morning.

In the coming months, the date for the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are expected to be announced. For the BJP, the key challenge will be to defeat Uddhav Thackeray. Since Eknath Shinde does not have a strong influence in Mumbai, there is growing curiosity about whether the BJP will once again seek Raj Thackeray’s support, as they did in the Lok Sabha elections.

Mumbai: Indian Railways will soon begin using Virtual Reality (VR) technology to train workers responsible for the maintenance of Mumbai local trains. The Kurla Car Shed has adopted this technology on a trial basis, with plans to roll it out next month.

What is a Virtual Reality (VR) System?

This VR-based system will allow workers to monitor every part of the local trains, providing detailed information about the bogies.

The technology will offer in-depth details about the train’s features, such as lights, fans, seats, doors, windows, roofs, and more, as mentioned by railway officials.

In the final process, the module known as Virtual Reality (VR) will be in action to get the repairing done, everything from small to large detailing of the Mumbai local train.

Indian Railways expects the training module to be ready in about 15 days. This model will provide detailed information about the Mumbai local train, making the maintenance and repair process easier for workers when they are physically present at the bogies.

The old barrack car shed is being refurbished into a training centre. It will include classrooms, each with 40-60 trainees and every piece of equipment will feature the new Virtual Reality Training System. This system will be fully installed and live once everything is ready.

Indian Railways recently marked the 100th anniversary of its first electric-powered local train, which ran between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kurla Station. This historic journey took place on February 3, 1925.

New Delhi, Feb 10: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi strongly criticised the delay in Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, following a two-year-long period of violence and unrest in the state and taunted that eyes opened quickly and Biren Singh resigned only after political embarrassment.

She criticised the political motivation behind the resignation. Speaking to media Chaturvedi remarked, “The resignation came after a No Confidence Motion was to be raised in the Assembly. The CM knew that his own MLAs might support the motion, and he realised that he was losing political support. To avoid embarrassment, the resignation was forced.”

Chaturvedi added, “After that the eyes opened quickly, and it became clear through the ears.”

“Two years have passed, and Manipur has been waiting all this while for the Chief Minister to resign. Over the last two years, so many incidents have occurred. Two factions in Manipur have been divided, leading to violent clashes among the public, many lives lost, and women subjected to exploitation,” she added.

Chaturvedi pointed out the continued violence and division in the state that escalated over time.

“There was so much violence, so many lives lost, and women were subjected to exploitation for two years, but only after all this did the government act,” she said, expressing her frustration over the government’s delayed response.

Earlier on Sunday Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh submitted his resignation to Governor A.K. Bhalla.

The ethnic violence between Meitis and Kuki-Zos that broke out in May 2023 in the state had cast a cloud over his second term and on Sunday he submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla a day before the crucial Assembly session.

A Raj Bhavan official said that the Governor accepted the resignation letter and requested Biren Singh to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are made.

He was accompanied by BJP’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra who came to Imphal from Delhi. In the national Capital, he held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president, J.P. Nadda.

Regarding Congress and Aam Aadmi Party’s recent Delhi election results, she emphasised, “This fight is between AAP and BJP, with Congress in the middle. In the process, we’ve allowed others to benefit. While Congress may have gained some ground, ultimately, the BJP managed to win, and they did so with a focussed campaign.”