Maharashtra
Maharashtra Elections 2024: State To Go For Polls On November 20; Counting Of Votes On November 23
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.
Maharashtra
High Court To Decide On Nawab Malik Bail Plea
Taking cognizance of the allegation that former state minister and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader Nawab Malik seems fit and healthy, ashes freely roaming around and campaigning for the assembly election, the Bombay High Court will decide on his bail plea on merit, Justice Manish Pitale said he will decide on the main bail plea while hearing a petition filed by one Samson Pathare, seeking the cancellation of Malik’’s medical bail.
Pathares plea contended that Malik had neither undergone any surgery nor hospitalisation. “He has prima facie misled the court and is misusing the liberty granted to him” the plea added.
Malik was arrested on February 22, 2022, by the Enforcer Plea in HC says NCP leader, out on medical bail, seems ‘fit & healthy’ ment Directorate (ED), in an alleged money laundering case related to underworld fugitive Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.
He was granted interim medical bail by the Supreme Court in August 2023 to undergo treatment for his failing kidneys and needing ‘hospitalisation and continuous treatment.
He is currently competing in the assembly election from the Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency. Pathare’s advocate, Chandrakant Mishra, argued that, apart from misleading the court about his medical condition, Malik has violated the conditions imposed on him while being granted bail.
He has stayed outside the jurisdiction of the PMLA court for more than four days. Mishra pointed out that Malik has been giving statements to the media, holding election rallies, and “roaming the whole of Maharashtra.” After going through the order dated August 5, 2023, by which Malik was granted bail, Justice Pitale remarked that one of the conditions was that if he went outside the jurisdiction of the PMLA court for four days, he would have to inform the trial court about the itinerary.
And if the stay was going to be for more than four days, he would have to obtain prior permission. Malik’s advocate, Taraq Sayed, asserted that the NCP leader had not stayed outside the PMLA court’s jurisdiction for more than four days. Remarking that it was a serious allegation, the court questioned Mishra about the evidence to support his claim.
“It’s a serious violation that he is remaining outside PMLA court jurisdiction for more than four days. What is the material filed to support allegations?” asked Justice Pitale. Mishra responded by saying he would submit videos and photographs to prove that Malik had violated bail conditions. Justice Pitale noted there was no urgency to hear the plea seeking the cancellation of Malik’s bail, but said, he would decide the NCP leader’s bail plea on merit, instead.
The court, in its order, noted that the application seeking cancellation of Malik’s bail, “falls short of supporting allegations” by Pathare. The court has granted liberty to Pathare to place on record, in two weeks, material/ documents to support his allegation of the violations of bail conditions by Malik. “Since the allegation is that the interim bail was granted on medical condition and after order, said respondent (Malik) is freely roaming around, indicating that he is fit and healthy, it will be appropriate that the main bail application is listed for hearing at the earliest,” Justice Pitale noted. HC has kept Pathare’s plea for hearing along with Malik’s main bail plea on December 9
Crime
Mira-Bhayandar: Police Busts Illicit Liquor Brewing Den In Nallasopara
Mira Bhayandar: Further tightening their screws against illicit liquor mafia ahead of the assembly elections scheduled to be held on 20, November, the Mira Road-based central crime branch unit attached to the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai (MBVV) police busted yet another massive illicit liquor brewing unit which was operating from a hillock in a dense jungle area in Nallasopara on Thursday.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by assistant police inspector- Dattatray Sarak marched 2-kilometre-deep inside the jungle area located in the Dhaniv Baug area of Nallasopara (east) at around 8 am.
The team seized multiple barrels of hooch along with ingredients including 2,800 litres of fermented jaggery wash, 140 litres of liquor, chemicals and other manufacturing equipment collectively worth more than Rs. 1.42 lakh.
However, the den operator identified as- Prabhakar Bhoye and his employees managed to evade the police dragnet. The entire material and equipment were destroyed on the spot.
An offence under the relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act-1949 for construction/works of any distillery or brewery and manufacturing intoxicants has been registered in this context at the Pelhar police station.
The consumption of illicit liquor which is unscientifically manufactured by using toxic chemicals like methanol and rectified spirit can cause deaths and other serious ailments including loss of eyesight. Further investigations were underway.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Weather Update: Lowest Temperature Recorded In Dream City; Check Out AQI & More
Mumbai: The winter season in Mumbai has always been ever-changing in nature due to topography and climate change. While the temperature rises during the noon, mornings and nights are comparatively pleasant. The lowest temperature was recorded this year in the city’s Santacruz area, giving hope of winter’s arrival. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a rise in temperatures in the upcoming days.
Lowest Temperature Recorded
As per a Hindustan Times report, Mumbai experienced a minimum temperature drop below 20 degrees Celsius for the first time this year on Thursday, with Santacruz registering a morning low of 19 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees lower than usual. According to a prediction from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), temperatures are expected to increase in the upcoming days.
Today’s Weather Report
Today, on November 15, 2024, the weather in Mumbai shows a temperature of 29°C, with a forecast of 23°C as the minimum and 36°C as the maximum. The humidity level is at 54% with a wind velocity of 6 km/h. The sun will rise at 06:46 AM and set at 06:00 PM.
The forecast for today predicts morning fog with a chance of partly cloudy skies later on. Please organise your day based on the temperature and expected weather patterns. Have fun in the sun, but remember to bring your sunscreen and sunglasses when you enjoy the nice weather.
Tomorrow’s Weather Forecast
The forecast for Mumbai on Saturday, November 16, 2024 is a low of 27.54 °C and a high of 30.53 °C. The humidity is expected to reach 52% tomorrow.
Mumbai AQI Today
Today, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai is at 119, categorised as moderate. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted foggy skies today. It is advised to wear mask as you head out to start your day.
IMD Predictions
The IMD attributes the weather disturbances to easterly winds and a cyclonic circulation in the southeast Arabian Sea. According to the forecast by IMD, the temperature will reach a high of 34-35 degrees Celsius over the next few days, with a low of around 24-25 degrees Celsius, before decreasing once more.
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