Mumbai: For the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly Elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has written to Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) demanding to include common minorities program in the MVA manifesto to provide justice to the minority community. Some of the important demands include staying love jihad committee on interfaith marriages, scrapping government proposal of invadiating admissions of ITI students by linking them with religion, reservation for Muslims, and socio-economic survey of the Muslim community among others.

Rais Shaikh, SP legislator and MVA candidate from Bhiwandi (East), has written to the MVA leaders such as Prithviraj Chavan from Congress, Jayant Patil from NCP (SP) and Anil Desai from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on the same. In his letter to the MVA leaders, Shaikh has highlighted various issues concerning minority community and the need to address them.

Shaikh has said that the MVA, after coming to power, must examine and stay the Love Jihad Committee. BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha had claimed that there are 1 lakh love jihad cases in the state. However, only over 400 complaints came before the committee, but not a single FIR has been registered in any of these complaints. Also, the proposal based on a committee which submitted a report suggesting to invalidate tribal students admissions in ITI by linking it with religion must be scrapped.

Shaikh has also advocated the need for Muslim reservation and stressed on conducting an extensive socio-economic survey of minority communities to ensure proportionate allocation of funds for various welfare schemes. “Minority students should be granted direct 100% scholarships, similar to those provided for SC, ST, and OBC students, instead of the existing educational loan facility,” added Shaikh.

Shaikh further said that like the Lok Sabha elections, the minority community will stand firmly behind the MVA in assembly elections. “The MVA government will come to power in the state and should implement these crucial issues concerning the minority community within the first 100 days of government,” said Shaikh.

Shaikh’s letter to the MVA leaders also highlighted other important issues such as implementation of various measures for the powerloom sector, enacting a law for the Gig workers, budgetary allocation of Rs 10,000 crore for the Muslim community, among other issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (November 4) hit out at the Congress party and its alliance partners for indecent remarks against women leaders of other parties. The Prime Minister criticised the comments made against Sita Soren by Congress leader Irfan Ansari and remarks against Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC by UBT’s Arvind Sawant in Maharashtra.

“Abhi Maharashtra mein bhi, ek behen chunav lad rahi hai, kaisi gandi bhasha ka prayog kiya gaya unke liye, ye inki aadat hai…”

(In Maharashtra, a sister who is contesting in the elections, dirty and foul language was used against her, this is their habit…) PM Modi said at the rally in Jharkhand’s Chaibasa.

The Prime Minister also added that the people of Maharashtra were waiting to teach the Congress and its alliance partners a lesson in the poll bound state.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant recently kicked up a row after his “imported maal” comment against Shaina NC who is contesting from the Mumbadevi assembly constituency on Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena ticket. Sawant apologised for his comment after huge controversy broke out over his derogatory remark.

The Prime Minister also hit out at Congress leader Irfan Ansari for his “rejected maal ” comment against Sita Soren and said that Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s silence over the matter showed the truth about the JMM. “For power, the JMM is even ready to accept insults hurled at tribal leaders,” the PM said.

Sita Soren had broken down at a press conference when speaking about the comments against her by Irfan Ansari.

Maharashtra will vote on November 20 and Jharkhand will vote in two phases on November 13 and November 20. The counting of votes in both states will be held on November 23.

Maharashtra DGP Transferred: State DGP Rashmi Shukla has been transferred amidst the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Election Commission took this decision while acting on the complaints of Congress and other opposition parties. The Election Commission of India ordered the transfer of Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla with immediate effect and directed to hand over her charge to the next most senior IPS officer in the cadre in her place.

At present, Mumbai Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar has been given the additional charge of Maharashtra DGP. The Chief Secretary has started the process of selecting the next DGP. In fact, the Chief Secretary has been given time till 05 November 2024 (1.00 pm) for appointment to the post of DGP of Maharashtra. If sources are to be believed, a panel of three IPS officers will have to be sent to the Chief Secretary within this time.

The three most senior officers of Maharashtra cadre are-

1. Sanjay Verma, DG Law and Technology
2. Ritesh Kumar, DG Home Guard
3. Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, DG ACB

Officers were warned to be non-partisan

At the same time, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had earlier warned the officers not only to be impartial during review meetings and announcement of assembly elections in the state, but also warned them to be non-partisan in their conduct while performing their duties.

It is worth noting that the Central Election Commission had received complaints against IPS officer Rashmi Shukla. The code of conduct is in force in Maharashtra in view of the assembly elections. Meanwhile, the Congress had demanded the removal of Rashmi Shukla from the Commission. When the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly election schedule was announced, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar rejected this demand of the Congress. However, now the Election Commission has taken action on this complaint. Congress had expressed apprehension that fair elections are not being held in Maharashtra under the leadership of Rashmi Shukla.

When will the Maharashtra Assembly elections be held?

Voting is to be held in a single phase on all 288 seats in Maharashtra on November 20. After this, the election results will be announced after counting of votes on November 23.