The former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday returned to his residence ‘Matoshree’ in Mumbai after undergoing an angioplasty at Sir H N Reliance Hospital.

As per reports, Thackeray was admitted to HN Reliance Hospital for an “extensive” heart checkup on Monday.

Giving an update on Thackeray’s health, his son Aaditya Thackeray, in a post on X later said that the checkup was a pre-planned one and that his father was ready to go back to work.

“This morning, Uddhav Thackeray ji did a pre planned detailed check up at the Sir HN Reliance Hospital. With your best wishes, All is well, and he is fully ready to get to work and serve the people,” wrote Aaditya in a post on X.

This morning, Uddhav Thackeray ji did a pre planned detailed check up at the Sir HN Reliance Hospital.

With your best wishes, All is well, and he is fully ready to get to work and serve the people.

Earlier in 2016, Thackeray was discharged from the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai where he underwent angiography.

Thackeray underwent the procedure in a follow-up to the angioplasty which he had had on July 20, 2012, when doctors put in 8 stents to remove the constrictions for multiple blockages in three main arteries in his heart.

The former Maharashtra CM underwent a second angioplasty in November 2012 to remove the blockages in the left anterior descending artery (LAD), which was blocked by almost 60 per cent.

Mumbai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced the schedule for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, setting the stage for a high-stakes political battle in the state. The elections will be conducted in a single phase, with the polling date on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23.

The announcement brings Maharashtra, one of the country’s most politically crucial states, closer to determining its next government. With 288 Assembly seats up for grabs, the elections are expected to be a crucial contest between the ruling Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Tough Fight Between Both Alliances

The ruling Mahayuti, a coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), also includes the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar. This alliance currently holds power in the state, with Eknath Shinde serving as Chief Minister and Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Ministers.

On the other side, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is gearing up for a tough contest. The MVA consists of the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). The coalition, which previously governed the state until political shifts in 2022, is positioning itself to challenge the ruling Mahayuti on various fronts, including economic and social issues.

Key Battles & Major Concerns

The key battlegrounds for the election will be the state’s urban centres like Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, as well as rural regions where agrarian issues, unemployment and infrastructure development remain major concerns. Both coalitions are expected to focus heavily on these issues during their campaigns, with the Mahayuti likely to emphasize continuity and development and the MVA focusing on governance and policy critiques of the current administration.

The Maharashtra Assembly’s term is set to conclude on November 26. The last Assembly elections in Maharashtra were held in 2019 and the state has since witnessed major political shifts, most notably the splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP along with their alliance with the BJP.

Mumbai: Ahead of the assembly elections, the state government wants to resolve the longstanding issue of 12 Governor-nominated MLC seats, which has been pending for the past four years.

7 Names Recommended

The state cabinet has recommended seven names for the MLC quota and has sent the list to Governor CP Radhakrishnan for approval. Sources said that the list includes three BJP members, two NCP (Ajit Pawar) members, and two from the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde). Chhagan Bhujbal’s son Pankaj and Idris Naikwadi of Sangli are the two front-runners from the NCP camp.

However, names proposed by the BJP and Shiv Sena are still under wraps. Moreover, the chairmanship of the women’s commission will also be allotted to the NCP. The MLC quota matter is still in court and the verdict has been reserved until October 23. By recommending these names, the state government risks the possibility of further legal challenges.

Appointments On Recommendation Not Made

In June 2020, the then Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari did not make the appointments on recommendation from the then Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Alleging deliberate delay by Koshyari, Sunil Modi from Kolhapur filed a petition in the Bombay High Court.

In July 2022, after Eknath Shinde’s rebellion in the undivided Shiv Sena, the government changed and Maha Vikas Aghadi was replaced by the Mahayuti government. As a result, the previous list of MLCs was set aside. The court has reserved its verdict on the matter. With the government now recommending new names before the verdict, questions are being raised on whether this decision will face another legal challenge.