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Maharashtra

Likely pitfalls that could derail the Shinde-Fadnavis combination

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After hijacking the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) 3-party �auto-rickshaw, new Chief Minister Eknath Shinde converted it into a �two-wheeler with an over zealous pillion-rider in Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Over 3 weeks after they were sworn-in, instead of zooming off, the government is still �parked’ on the road, but is busy clearing the route ahead by yanking off the MVA’s decisions, policies, schemes and projects.

Relegated to the pavement, the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress looked on gleefully as Fadnavis once snatched the microphone as a startled Shinde cast a brief bewildered stare at the audacity.

Many in the Opposition are wondering aloud �how soon’ before the Bharatiya Janata Party heavyweight Fadnavis grabs the reins of power to jump into the driving seat sidelining the ex-autorickshaw driver Shinde.

The challenges before the new regime are both daring and daunting, starting with the much-awaited Cabinet expansion, amid a storm raised by Shinde’s 40-strong band of restless rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.

Then, the Independents or fringes like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to ensure a �Thackeray’ on board and the frightful prospects of humouring the BJP legislators, with many bigwigs ready to draw first blood at the first slight.

All these would test the best of Shinde’s balancing skills and Fadnavis’ claimed �Chanakya-esque’ mastery to ensure a turbulence-free ride for the new regime.

Among the secret worries are whether the Brobdingnagian BJP with 106 MLAs looking down, would try to grab the cake and leave only crumbs for the rebels, with at least 20 prime portfolios up for grabs and coveted by all.

The next concern for the breakaway group would be the Supreme Court verdict which could make or break the new government, with both sides of the Shiv Sena proclaiming they are the �real’ party.

While winning the trust vote in the House was easy, the next formidable challenge for Shinde would be to win the confidence of the masses and establish his own credibility — a dismaying proposition as many in the past, like Raj Thackeray of the MNS, and others who revolted in different parties all over India have experienced.

A major battle – legal and political – waiting to erupt between the Thackeray and Shinde sides, is over who will ‘conquer’ the Shiv Sena Bhavan (the party headquarters), bag its �Tiger’ logo, the iconic Bow and Arrow election symbol, the well oiled 56-year-old party apparatus, and most important, convincingly delink it from the magical Thackeray surname�

Shinde would have to prove his supremacy over the Thackeray side in the upcoming civic body elections but hurdles are already cropping up with a section of his group reportedly against allying with the BJP.

Retaining the CM’s traditional stronghold of Thane may be a cakewalk, but dislodging the MVA hold over many other civic bodies like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nanded, etc could pose problems, with or without the BJP’s overbearing shadow.

Top MVA leaders like Thackeray, Sanjay Raut (Sena), Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar (NCP), Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat (Congress), have already predicted that the �E.D.’ (Eknath-Devendra) government could fall on its own and the state would be pushed to a mid-term election in a few months.

After Shinde-Fadnavis clear these teething hurdles, they have a table-full of major governance issues like the OBC quotas, handling Covid better than the MVA did, and fast-track or complete several big ticket ongoing projects, estimated to cost over Rs 5 lakh crores.

They are the Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway, the Borivali-Thane Tunnel, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, the Mumbai Coastal Road, the southern and northern extension to the Worli-Bandra Sea Link, the Navi Mumbai International Airport, and more than 375-kms of Metro Rail spanning the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Other mega projects are the Pune Ring Road, Marathwada Water Grid, the Jalna-Nanded corridor linking the Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway, augmenting the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, kickstarting the Konkan Expressway, the Sagari (coastal) Highway, Palghar-Raigad Multimodal corridor, and the long pending Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in the Arabian Sea and the Dr B. R. Ambedkar Memorial in Dadar.

Maharashtra

“Batti Gul protest” against Waqf Amendment Act today, strong appeal from scholars and Mashaikhs

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Mumbai, April 30: A “Batti Gul Protest” will be observed today, April 30, in collaboration with Muslim religious, national and social organizations across the country. The aim of this protest is to oppose the controversial Waqf Amendment Act introduced by the government, which the Muslim leadership has termed as an attack on Waqf properties.

Famous Islamic leader and leader and head of Raza Academy, Alhaj Muhammad Saeed Noori, said in two words, “We will not accept the Waqf Amendment Act, which is currently under discussion in the Supreme Court, under any circumstances.”

An important meeting was held in this regard at Khanqah Sharh Bukhari, Govindi, in which the Ulema discussed the strategy to make the protest successful. Hazrat Pir Maulana Waliullah Sharifi appealed to the heads of all mosques, madrasas, khanqahs and universities across the country to stand united against this controversial act.

Hazrat Maulana Ijaz Ahmad Kashmiri said in an emotional tone, “There is an attempt to loot the waqf properties of Muslims. If we remain silent today, our future generations will not forgive us.”

Prominent scholars who attended the meeting included:

Hazrat Maulana Alauddin Rizvi

Hazrat Maulana Jahangir Al-Qadri

Hazrat Qari Muhammad Tawfiq Azmi Misbahi

Hazrat Maulana Rizwan Ahmad Alimi

Hazrat Qari Muhammad Saeed Ashrafi

Hazrat Maulana Tawakul Hussain Sharifi

Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ali Sanai

Hazrat Maulana Mahmood Ali Ashrafi

Hazrat Maulana Raziullah Sharifi

Hazrat Hafiz Junaid Raza Rashidi

Apart from this, Shahid Bhai, Mukhtar Bhai, Rizwan Bhai and other friends were also present.

The scholars emphasized that the waqf properties are the collective trust of Muslims and no government occupation or interference in them will be tolerated. The “Bati Gul Protest” conveyed a peaceful and effective message to the government that the Muslim people are ready to go to any extent to protect their religious, educational and charitable institutions.

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Maharashtra

Pahalgam terrorist attack Samajwadi Party protest against communalism Action should be taken against those who spread hatred and Minister Nitish Rane Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: In the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Samajwadi Party today organized a movement under the leadership of Mumbai/Maharashtra State President MLA Abu Asim Azmi at Azad Maidan Mumbai and demanded action against sectarians who are spoiling the social atmosphere by making hateful statements against the Muslim community.

Addressing the Jam Ghafir, Abu Asim Azmi said that we condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam but in such a sensitive context, the state minister is continuously making anti-Muslim statements and creating division between the two religions. Apart from this, Muslim hawkers were beaten up in Dadar and other parts of Mumbai. Due to which there has been a problem of law and order. Therefore, we demand strict action against Minister Nitish Rane and people like him who make statements against Muslims. According to the Supreme Court’s decision in the 2023 hate speech case, strict legal action should be taken against the guilty individuals and organizations, those who do not care about secularism, those who spread hatred, those who incite violence, those who give public threats, those who call for economic boycott, those who create division among people on the basis of religion, caste, region or language. The state, as per its duty, protects the fundamental rights and freedom of every citizen to do business, trade, and business. The state should protect the freedom and belief of every citizen, according to the articles of the Indian Constitution, there should be an environment of peace and justice in the state. It is demanded that the rule of law and justice should be established in the most transparent manner by implementing the law and by sternly admonishing the enemies of peace, law and constitution who violate the law.

The Samajwadi Party delegation submitted a protest request to Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Pansalkar. Hundreds of Samajwadi Party workers were present at that time, including Meraj Siddiqui, Yousuf Abrahani, Rahul Gaikwad, Kabir Maurya, Saeed Khan, Zeba Malik.

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Maharashtra

Deven Bharti Appointed as Mumbai Police Commissioner Following Vivek Phansalkar’s Retirement

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Mumbai, April 30, 2025: ( Kamar Ansari ) In a significant leadership transition, senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Deven Bharti has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Police for Mumbai, succeeding Vivek Phansalkar, who retired today after nearly three years in the role.

Phansalkar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, took charge as Mumbai Police Commissioner on June 30, 2022, during a period of political change in Maharashtra. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize the police force following a series of leadership changes. Prior to his appointment, the Mumbai Police saw a turbulent period with multiple commissioners serving brief terms .

Deven Bharti, a 1994-batch IPS officer, brings extensive experience to his new role. He previously served as Mumbai’s first Special Commissioner of Police, a position created in January 2023 to enhance administrative efficiency within the force . Bharti’s career includes key postings such as Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), and head of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Notably, he was involved in the investigations of major incidents, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks .

The appointment of Bharti as Commissioner is expected to bring continuity and a focus on law and order in Mumbai. His familiarity with the city’s challenges and his established rapport with various stakeholders position him to lead the force effectively.

As Mumbai navigates complex urban security dynamics, Bharti’s leadership will be pivotal in steering the police force to address emerging challenges and maintain public safety.

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