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Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Scramble For Seats In Both Alliances; All Partners Eyeing 100+ Seats

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Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024: Scramble For Seats In Both Alliances; All Partners Eyeing 100+ Seats

Mumbai: Preparations for the state assembly polls are going none too smoothly, neither for the ruling Mahayuti nor for the Maha Vikas Aghadi. In both cases, alliance partners are seeking to contest close to 100 seats or more.

On Thursday, the mood in the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was that the party should contest 110 seats. In a meeting at Shinde’s official residence Varsha, where ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior leaders were present, it was announced that party observers had been appointed for the purpose. According to sources, Shinde directed his party members to start preparations for 100 assembly seats. Along with observers, the party will also appoint an in-charge for every assembly seat it wants to contest.

This is in tune with a demand raised at the party’s anniversary day function, where former minister Ramdas Kadam demanded 100 seats in the presence of CM Shinde. The party’s resolve is likely to evoke strong reactions in the Mahayuti as the Ajit Pawar-led NCP is also keen on contesting 85 to 100 seats in the upcoming elections.

Ajit Camp To Contest On 100 Seats

Dharmarao Atram, a senior cabinet member, said the Ajit Pawar-led NCP was keen to contest 100 seats and had started working on it. When a similar demand had been raised by NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal some time ago, it had raised hackles. With Shinde and Pawar both vying for such a big share, the situation appears grim as the BJP will have to reserve its right to contest the maximum number of seats, say Mahayuti sources.

Meanwhile, Shinde has directed his party leaders to spread the word about the state government’s schemes in every home. He has also directed the induction of new members in the party and their enrolment before the election.

Party leaders must also ensure that no clashes take place with any Mahayuti leader, warned Shinde, cautioning that there were likely to be a few seat exchanges among the alliance partners. This message caused unhappiness, as it evoked the runup to the recent Lok Sabha polls, where the party had to change faces in some constituencies.

Apart from this, Shinde said sitting MLAs would be given first preference for tickets. A coordination committee of the Mahayuti would be set up to resolve disputes were they to arise during the elections.

On the other hand, reports from the BJP said two central observers – Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw – had a meeting with senior leaders to discuss poll-related issues.

Yadav, who is the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Vaishnaw, who is the Union Railway Minister, are the in-charge and co-incharge of the party in Maharashtra, respectively. Members of the core committee of the state BJP, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the party’s state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, were present, party sources said.

The meeting assumes significance in view of a report that appeared in the RSSlinked publication ‘Vivek’ that blamed the BJP’s decision to forge an alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP for the party’s bad performance in the Lok Sabha elections.

100-Plus Race Within MVA Partners Too

MVA partners too firm on big share UBT Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, in a meeting with his party leaders, discussed contesting 100-plus seats, of which 25 would be in Mumbai. The city and suburban district has 36 assembly constituencies, of which 14 were won by the Shiv Sena last time. Only eight MLAs from Mumbai are currently with Thackeray, with the rest of them having crossed over to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

NCP Sharad Chandra Pawar too is keen to contest close to 100 seats. With a major chunk being demanded by state level players, it will be interesting to see how many seats the BJP and Congress – both national parties, are going to contest.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Relief For Marathwada As Jayakwadi Dam Reaches Full Capacity, Lakes Supplying Water To Mumbai Cross 98% Mark Amid Heavy Rainfall

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Mumbai: In a major relief to the drought-prone Marathwada region, the Jayakwadi dam reached 100 per cent water storage on Saturday, September 7. The dam, located in Paithan, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) is a major water supplier for Marathwada. Jayakwadi dam on the same day last year had mere 32.60 per cent water storage, according to the data by the Maharashtra Water Resources (WRS) Department.

What State Water Resources Data Says

Amid heavy rainfall this monsoon, all 2,997 dams in Maharashtra (including major and minor) have reached total of 83.15 per cent water levels, which is almost 20 per cent more than last year, the WRS data says.

If only major 138 dams are considered, which cover all regions- Konkan (including Mumbai), Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambjajinagar (Marathwada), the total water storage as of Saturday has reached 92.63 per cent. On the same day last year, the water level were mere 70.92 per cent, WRS’ live storage comparison report says.

It is the first time since 2018 that almost all major dams in Maharashtra have reached 100 per cent water storage, indicating that the state may not face severe water shortage up to next monsoon.

Water Level in Mumbai Lakes

Amid heavy rainfall in last few days, the seven reservoirs supplying water to Mumbai have crossed 98 per cent water storage. As of September 6, the water stock in seven lakes including Upper Vaitarna, Middle Vaitarna, Bhatsa, Tansa, Tulsi, Vihar and Modak Sagar was 98.06 per cent. On the same day last year, water stock in these seven lakes was 90.39 per cent.

Rainfall in Maharashtra

Last week, parts of Maharashtra, particularly the Vidharbha and Marathwada regions received intense rainfall. Several districts in Marathwada went under water and lakhs of hectors of crops were damaged. The flood-like situation took 12 lives and thousands of villagers were relocated to safer locations.

This monsoon, Maharashtra has witnessed above normal rainfall, with the state receiving more than 126% of average rainfall from June 1 until last week.

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Maharashtra

‘Cannot Say Who Will Be CM After Election’: Devendra Fadnavis Says ‘Authority To Decide Is With Parliamentary Board’

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Mumbai: At a time when the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is grappling with the issue of its chief ministerial candidate, the picture in the ruling Mahayuti is not different either. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that while the Mahayuti will contest Assembly elections under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, he cannot say who will be the Chief Minister after the election.

Participating in a conclave organised by a regional news channel, Fadnavis said, the authority (to decide on CM) was with the parliamentary board of our party and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). There was no dispute among the alliance partners over the chief ministerial face, he added further.

Eknath Shinde is heading the state government and the person who holds the post of Chief Minister leads the election, said Fadnavis adding, the assembly election will be contested under the leadership of Eknath Shinde.

Fadnavis also made it clear that there were no differences among the partners in Mahayuti on the issue of CM. The BJP parliamentary board will take a decision on it after the assembly elections and it will be acceptable to all of us. Eknath Shinde is the head of the state, so we will go before the people under his leadership, Fadnavis reiterated.

When asked about any assurance given to Shinde by the central leadership on the CM’s post after the elections, the reply given by Fadnavis was that if they have any discussion about this, it will come before us after some time and we will decide accordingly.

A Snipe At Uddhav Thackeray And The Reply By Aaditya

Fadnavis took some potshots at his arch political rival Uddhav Thackeray also. If there have been three-four faces in the mind of Sharad Pawar it surely not be that of Uddhav Thackeray, said the Dy CM. He was camping in Delhi for 3-4 days to get his name announced as the CM candidate but nothing was achieved.

Moreover, the Congress senior leader Sonia Gandhi did not allow him to click the picture of the meeting he had with her, Fadnavis claimed. Participating in the same conclave Aaditya Thackeray offered his reply on this. Taking a jibe, the former minister said, if it was not for Uddhav Thackeray, even Fadnavis’s face is not before the Mahayuti leaders as the next CM.

When asked about his reaction Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde said, do your duty and do not worry about the results. I work hard, and don’t think about the outcome. I do not think what I have achieved but rather what the state has received, he said. We are working as a team and will continue to do so, said the CM.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: PIL Filed In Bombay HC Seeking Ban On DJs, Dance, Music, & Laser Lights During Eid Milad-Un-Nabi Processions

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Mumbai: PIL Filed In Bombay HC Seeking Ban On DJs, Dance, Music, & Laser Lights During Eid Milad-Un-Nabi Processions

Mumbai: A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on use of DJs, dance, music, and laser lights during the upcoming Eid Milad-un-Nabi processions.

About The Plea Filed In The Bombay HC

The PIL filed by four businessmen from Pune – Zuber Peerzade, Siddiqui Alam, Amran Shaikh and Gousemoddin Shaikh – has urged the high court to direct municipal corporations to refrain from granting permission to use DJs, dance, music, and laser lights during the processions.

Neither the holy Quran nor Hadith prescribes the use of DJ sound systems and laser lights for celebrating Eid Milad-un-Nabi, nor did the Prophet himself advocate such forms of celebration, the plea asserts. 

The plea, filed through advocate Owais Pechkar, has urged that all religious festivals celebrated in public places must adhere to the provisions of the Noise Pollution Rules, and no religion or sect can claim a fundamental right to use DJs, speakers, or noise-creating instruments as part of their rights under Article 19(1)(a) and 25 of the Constitution of India.

“The petitioners are distressed by the use of DJs and Laser Lights beams during Eid-e-Milad un- Nabi celebration processions, which results in excessive noise pollution, violating regulations and disturbs the practice of a Muslim that affects the morality of Islam and infacts are against the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW),” the plea said.

Point Highlighted By The Plea

It highlights that despite high court directions to the State government, it has failed to control noise pollution during festival celebrations. Further, no grievance redressal mechanism has been created to address complaints regarding the use of DJs and laser lights during festivals on public roads.

No one is entitled to hold religious functions on the streets with loud systems and laser light beams, the plea emphasizes.

“No, one is entitled to claim that holding of religious functions / ceremonies on streets and footways is protected by Article 25 of the Constitution of India. No one has the fundamental right to play loud DJ sound systems and use hazardous laser light beams on a street, public road or footway by obstructing free flow of traffic as it is not an essential part of any religion and in particular of Islam,” the plea reads.

The petitioners made a representation to the authorities raising the issue, however considering that the Eid E Milad is round the corner, they approached the HC. 

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