Maharashtra
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis Likely To Claim CM’s Post If Mahayuti Forms Govt Again
With most of the exit polls predicting a majority for the Mahayuti led by the BJP, the saffron party is preparing to occupy a central position post the results which will be declared on Saturday. The main question is who will be the BJP’s candidate for chief ministership. The party had assiduously avoided projecting anyone as the CM candidate and has preferred to wait for the results to be declared. However, considerable significance is assigned to Fadnavis’ meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the Sangh’s headquarters in Mahal, Nagpur, on Thursday. Officially it is being said Fadnavis called on Bhagwat to thank for the massive voter mobilisation that the Sangh Parivar did during the assembly poll of November 20.
Sources in the BJP told that in June, 2022 the party made a big blunder in agreeing to have Eknath Shinde, the rebel Shiv Sena leader, as the CM. Fadnavis (54) had played a crucial role behind the scenes in vertically splitting the Shiv Sena and pulling down the Uddhav Thackeray government. He staged a coup right under the nose of Thackeray by weaning away Shinde and his pack of 36 MLAs away from Uddhav Thackeray. For all his efforts, it was widely assumed in BJP circles that Fadnavis would be rewarded with the CM’s post, especially since the party had the maximum number of MLAs at 105.
However, the cadres and Fadnavis himself was stunned when the BJP high command wanted Shinde to be the CM. In fact, Fadnavis publicly made his disappointment public by asserting that he was not interested in joining the Shinde-led government. It required a lot of cajoling from PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah to get him to work under Shinde.
The central leadership’s calculation was that by anointing Shinde as the CM the Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray would be politically emaciated. However, the past two years’ experience has proved the BJP central leaderships’ calculations wrong. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is not only strong but in fact put up a rather impressive performance in the Lok Sabha elections early this year at the cost of the BJP.
Several persons in the BJP are saying, in retrospect, that had Fadnavis been made the CM after the eclipse of the MVA government led by Thackeray the party would have politically become stronger and done well in the LS polls. “We hope that the central leadership of our party will learn a lesson from the mistakes committed by it in the past and this time around recommend Fadnavis for the CM’s post. He has already served as CM from 2014 to 2019 and acquitted himself well as a good administrator,” a senior BJP leader observed.
There are a few other contenders for the CM’s post like Pankaja Munde, Chandrakant Patil and Vinod Tawde. But none of them have the political stature of Fadnavis who is keen on working only in Maharashtra. The only minus point is that he belongs to the Brahmin caste which is traditionally distrusted by the Marathas. But then it was Fadnavis who took the initiative to pass a law providing for reservation for Marathas.
All these calculations are based on the surmise that the psephologists have got it right this time around vis-a-vis the assembly poll outcome. Also, the increase in voting percentage is expected to help the BJP. However, the BJP has kept a Plan B ready lest its calculations go awry. The party is not averse to taking the help of Sharad Pawar if the Mahayuti falls short of numbers. The Central government has already put tremendous pressure on Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule in the Rs 250 cr bitcoin case. It might politically weaponise the case to make Pawar fall in line. It may even agree to accommodate Supriya as the deputy CM.
It may be recalled that Pawar, for all his secular posturings, has as early as 1978 joined hands with the Janata Party (of which the major component was the Bharatiya Jana Sangh) to become the CM. More recently, he was part of the plot to let his nephew Ajit Pawar join hands with the BJP to form a government in November, 2019. Also, industrialist Gautam Adani is a common link between Pawar Sr and the BJP.
Maharashtra
Two men arrested for forcibly pulling a woman’s gold chain and fleeing in Kandivali, a case of theft registered against both

On October 6, in the jurisdiction of the Kandivali Police Station, an elderly woman was walking home from the market. Under the pretext of helping her cross the road, unidentified thieves followed her close to her home; while she was seated, they forcibly snatched the gold chain from her neck and fled. Based on the complainant’s statement, the Kandivali Police registered a case (Case No. 1450/2026) under Section 309(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The stolen item was an antique gold chain, weighing approximately 17 grams and valued at Rs. 2,00,000.
Under the guidance of the DCP (Zone 2), the Kandivali Police formed three teams to track down the suspects. The officers and personnel conducted a technical investigation at the crime scene and the surrounding area. During this process, the Kandivali Police team learned that a case of motorcycle theft had been registered at the Kasturba Marg Police Station (Case No. 760/2026, under Section 303(2) of the BNS). A police team was subsequently formed at the Kasturba Marg Police Station to investigate that case as well.
Following this, four separate teams from the Kandivali and Kasturba Marg Police Stations—utilizing technical investigation methods and information from informants—identified the suspects wanted in connection with these crimes. On November 9, information was received that the wanted suspects were expected to arrive in the vicinity of Dadar Railway Station that night. Acting on the aforementioned information, police set a trap at Dadar Railway Station and, following a skillful investigation, took both suspects into custody. The suspects are Pramod Prabhakar Jatar (43, unemployed, residing at Room No. 07, 4th Floor, Sunshine Garden, Nalasopara East, Palghar District) and Mohammad Shahid Alauddin Khan (47, a tempo driver, residing at Azad Nagar, Gate No. 08, Ambojwadi, Malwani, Malad, Mumbai). Further interrogation regarding the crime revealed their involvement, leading to their formal arrest. During the investigation, police recovered a gold chain (weighing approximately 17 grams, valued at Rs. 2,00,000) that had been forcibly stolen, as well as the motorcycle used to commit the crime—a vehicle that had previously been reported stolen from the jurisdiction of the Kasturba Marg Police Station.
The investigation teams from the Kandivali and Kasturba Marg Police Stations demonstrated commendable performance; through tireless effort and professional skill—from the initial registration of the case to its resolution—they have fostered a sense of security among the public and enhanced the image of the Mumbai Police.
This operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner Shashi Kumar Meena, and DCP Sandeep Ghuge.
Crime
‘Conspiracy, not accident’: NCP on Ajit Pawar death

Amid ongoing political allegations and counter-allegations surrounding the plane crash involving late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief National Spokesperson Umesh Patil on Wednesday made a sensational statement.
Patil claimed that it is his “gut feeling” that Ajitdada’s death was not merely an accident, but a suspected conspiracy. He also clarified that Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar are actively pursuing this matter.
Earlier, senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam had directly demanded an inquiry into NCP Maharashtra President and MP Sunil Tatkare over Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, levelling serious allegations against him.
While NCP leaders were responding to these allegations, Umesh Patil’s expression of doubt regarding the tragedy has once again given a new political turn to the case.
Expressing suspicion over Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, Patil said, “Based on my close association and observations of various things, and considering the sequence of events during the tragedy and the potential reasons behind it, I feel that this was not an accident, but a conspiracy.”
He added that appropriate follow-up is underway on the right platform, with Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar also making efforts in this regard.
Speaking on the investigation into the plane crash, Patil noted that the incident involves multiple technical aspects and stated that it would not be appropriate to comment further until the reports from relevant investigative agencies are released.
Following Ramdas Kadam’s allegations, Patil’s raising of suspicions regarding the crash is likely to heat the political atmosphere in the state once again.
Meanwhile, NCP SP MLA Rohit Pawar announced that he will address a major press conference in Mumbai on November 14 or 15 to unveil crucial findings regarding the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The statement comes amidst heightened political tension and allegations of foul play following the crash of the VSR Ventures Learjet 45 near Baramati Airport on January 28, 2026.
Calling his scheduled November 14/15 press conference his “most important presentation,” Rohit Pawar stated that he plans to present key evidence, phone records, and technical observations surrounding the final moments of the flight.
He reiterated that a large segment of the public in Maharashtra suspects the crash was not a mere accident, but a potential case of foul play.
He criticised the state government and investigating agencies for moving at a “saintly pace” and failing to register a formal FIR to resolve growing public suspicion.
Responding to a question about the allegations made by senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam against NCP state president Sunil Tatkare in connection with the plane crash, Rohit Pawar reacted to these allegations.
“I have not heard what Ramdas Kadam has accused. But some people called and told me that Ramdas Kadam has linked Sunil Tatkare’s name to Ajit Pawar’s accident. My only opinion is that the investigation into Ajit Pawar’s accident is not being done in the way it should be,” he alleged.
“We suspect that Ajit Pawar’s accident was a case of sabotage. But the people in power are not dispelling that suspicion,” he said.
He added that the investigation is not going in the right direction, adding that the investigation of Ajit Dada is going on at a snail’s pace.
“We are also starting to have doubts about the investigation. The people in power are deliberately not investigating properly. Still, let Diwali happen once. On November 14 or 15, I will give my last and most important presentation of many days in Mumbai. The revelations I am going to make in that regard will definitely be surprising for you,” he said.
He further added that every person in Maharashtra has doubts about Ajit Pawar’s accident.
Saying that 90 per cent of people suspect that Ajit’s accident was not an accident but a hit-and-run, he added, “We also have the same opinion.”
He said that if an FIR is not filed in this case in a state like Maharashtra, then the ruling party is saving the person responsible for Ajit’s accident.
Maharashtra
Kurla: Police alert after Vinod Pawar shot at Halaupal, personal enmity suspected. Additional Commissioner and DCP also at the scene, investigation underway.

Panic gripped the McDwala Compound in the Halavpul area of Kurla, Mumbai, when unidentified assailants opened fire on Vinod Pawar. The attack, carried out by unknown assailants—identified as his rivals—occurred at 12:40 PM, leaving Vinod severely injured. He was admitted to the nearby Bhabha Hospital, where his condition is reported to be critical. The assailants did not target Vinod alone; they also fired shots into the ground. Following the incident, the police registered a case and launched an investigation. DCP Ganesh Shinde and Additional Commissioner of Police (East Region) Dhananjay Kulkarni inspected the crime scene, and a forensic team has been called in to assist with the investigation. Preliminary inquiries suggest that the shooting was the result of an old enmity involving Vinod Pawar; the police are now examining every aspect of the case. DCP Ganesh Shinde stated that the incident took place within the jurisdiction of the V.B. Nagar Police Station at 12:40 PM, where 40-year-old Vinod Ellappa Pawar was fired upon by his rivals due to a long-standing feud. The injured Vinod Pawar has been admitted to a nearby hospital. Police sources stated that a shooting incident had occurred here previously as well, and now a second such incident has taken place; consequently, the police have issued an alert. The matter is being investigated from every angle. DCP Ganesh Shinde has begun questioning individuals in the area, including eyewitnesses. Since the incident took place in broad daylight, evidence—including CCTV footage and other relevant documentation—has been collected.
-
Crime4 years agoClass 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra2 years agoFalse photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 years agoMinistry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMaharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News2 years agoJ&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime2 years agoBaba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
