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Maharashtra Elections 2024: BJP MP Narayan Rane Fields Both Sons From Konkan, Will Rane Family Retain Stronghold

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Maharashtra Elections 2024: BJP MP Narayan Rane Fields Both Sons From Konkan, Will Rane Family Retain Stronghold

Mumbai: All the candidates for the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections have filed their nomination on October 29. Several key families are in the fray including the Pawars in Baramati and Rane family from Konkan region. After being elected as the MP from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Narayan Rane has now fielded his both sons Nilesh and Nitesh from the Kudal and Kankavali assembly seats.

Both the Kudal and Kankavali assembly constituencies fall under the Sindhudurg LS constituency. The ensuing state polls will determine whether the Rane family retains its stronghold in the Konkan region. However, the contest won’t be easy as the region is set to witness a fierce battle between Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

The Sena V/s Sena Fight

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has fielded BJP MP Narayan Rane’s elder son Nilesh Rane from the Kudal seat against the two-term sitting MLA Vaibhav Naik from Shiv Sena (UBT) Nilesh exited the BJP to join the Sena to be able to contest from Kudal-Malvan as the Mahayuti had left the seat for Shiv Sena in the seat-sharing.

Notably, Naik is not only a Sena UBT candidate but is a staunch opponent of the Rane family. Naik also had defeated Narayan Rane from the Kudal assembly seat in 2014 when Rane contested with a Congress ticket.

After the division of Shiv Sena, it is the first assembly elections where the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will compete against each other. In Maharashtra, the coastal belt, Konkan region has broadly been dominated by the Shiv Sena (undivided). It is not only an electoral contest but a fight to retain their strongholds.

Dominance Of Rane Family

BJP has renominated Narayan Rane’s younger son, Nitesh from Kankavali assembly seat. Nitesh is the two-term sitting MLA from the constituency. In 2019 assembly polls, Nitesh defeated Shiv Sena candidate Satish Sawant with a margin of 28,116 votes. While in 2014 assembly elections Nitesh fought with a Congress ticket and defeated BJP candidate Pramod Jathar. This election, Sena UBT has fielded Sandesh Parker against Nitesh Rane from Kankavali.

While, Nilesh Rane has also been former MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency. Narayan Rane too has been the MLA from Konkan region in the past.

Recent Controversy

Recently, a national controversy erupted from the district of Sindhurdurg, when a newly erected statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s collapsed. PM Modi himself apologized to the people of Maharashtra after the mishap and the government now is in the process of building another statue at the same spot.

However, since then the region has come into the national limelight and the for both Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi it will be a tough contest in the assembly polls, undoubtedly.

Maharashtra

Rohit Arya, who held 20 children hostage, died during treatment after being shot.

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Rohit Arya, the accused who held 20 children hostage inside a studio in Mumbai’s Powai area, has died. The accused, Rohit Arya, had taken the children hostage and also fired at the police. Police retaliated, injuring him, and he died during treatment.

Rohit Arya was mentally ill. He had taken 20 children hostage at RA Studios in Powai. Upon receiving information, police immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to apprehend him. During this, Rohit Arya opened fire on the police, who retaliated, injuring him. He was immediately taken for treatment, but died during treatment.

Earlier, the accused, Rohit Arya, had released a video admitting to holding the children hostage. Police had stated that Rohit Arya was mentally ill. Police had safely rescued all the children from his custody.

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Maharashtra

Making Vande Mataram compulsory is illegal: MLA Raees Shaikh writes to the Chief Minister and Education Minister, demanding withdrawal of the order

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Mumbai: Samajwadi Party’s Bhiwandi East MLA Raees Sheikh has demanded that the Chief Minister and the Education Minister should revoke the ban imposed on all schools in the state on making the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ written by ‘Bankam Chandra Chatterjee’ mandatory on October 31.

In this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that ‘Jan Gana Man’ written by Rabindranath Tagore is the national anthem of India. However, the government’s order to sing the song in all schools in the state on October 31 and organize a song exhibition between October 31 and November 7 in the context of the 150th anniversary of the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ is illegal. Any organization should write a letter to the Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhuyar and the Education Department should immediately declare ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song for all schools in the state, this is not good governance in a progressive state like Maharashtra.

The condition of schools and education in the state is deteriorating. It is the duty of the government to provide quality education. However, the government is discriminating by including religious issues like ‘Vande Mataram’ in the education sector. Making ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song is a violation of the rights granted by the Constitution. There have been many discussions on the issue of ‘Vande Mataram’ till date. MLA Rais Sheikh said in the letter that ‘Jan Guna Man..’ is the national anthem of India and the national anthem should be given a place of honor, sanctity and respect everywhere, it has been agreed upon.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Govt To Scrutinise Vasantdada Sugar Institute’s Funds For First Time; Move Seen As Setback For Sharad Pawar

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For the first time in Maharashtra’s political history, the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), headed by NCP (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, will come under state government scrutiny over the utilisation of its funds. The institute, based in Pune, is engaged in research, development, and training for the state’s cooperative sugar industry.

The VSI’s operational funds are generated through a levy of ₹1 per metric tonne (MT) collected from sugar cooperatives across Maharashtra. These contributions are meant to support the institute’s ongoing research and training activities for the sugar sector.

According to sources, the decision to review the VSI’s funds was taken during a recent meeting of the ministers’ committee, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, which oversees decisions related to the sugarcane crushing season.

The move follows dissent among sugar mills after the BJP-led Mahayuti government decided to impose an additional ₹5 per MT levy on crushed sugarcane to contribute to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Reacting to the reports, Sugar Commissioner Sanjay Kolte confirmed that during the September 30 meeting, instructions were issued to form a committee to examine the utilisation of VSI’s funds. He, however, denied receiving any complaints regarding fund misuse.

Interestingly, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar a member of the VSI’s Board of Trustees was present during the meeting where the decision to review fund utilisation was made. Other key trustees include Dilip Walse Patil, Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, Jayant Patil, and Balasaheb Thorat.

According to data from the State Cooperation Department, VSI has received approximately ₹55 crore over the last five years through the cooperative contributions.

Never before has any state government verified the utilisation of VSI’s funds, despite its significant influence over Maharashtra’s sugar industry.

Political observers view this decision as a setback for Sharad Pawar, who serves as the lifetime chairman and head of VSI’s governing council.

Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the move was not a probe, but a routine request for financial transparency.
“The notice only seeks financial information regarding the funds collected from sugar factories,” he clarified.

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