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Maharashtra Elections Results 2024: With Only 48 Hours To Go, Who Will Be State’s New Chief Minister?

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Mumbai: Maharashtra’s political stage is once again pulsating with anticipation. Within the next 48 hours, either Devendra Fadnavis or Eknath Shinde is expected to take the oath of office. However, there are several imponderables. While the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will nominate Fadnavis with eyes shut, Shinde’s claim is buttressed by his remarkable electoral success and coalition dynamics, it gets further reinforced by the caste factor.

The RSS Factor

Fadnavis, a staunch RSS loyalist and the BJP’s golden boy from Nagpur, is the obvious frontrunner. Known for his administrative acumen and clean image, he aligns perfectly with the Sangh’s ideology. For the RSS, Fadnavis symbolizes continuity and trust—qualities vital for navigating Maharashtra’s volatile political terrain. Yet, his path to the CM’s chair isn’t obstacle-free.

The BJP leadership fears that appointing a Brahmin Chief Minister might alienate the electorally critical OBC and Maratha communities. Moreover, sidelining Eknath Shinde could be precarious for the coalition and undo the effort to dismantle Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena.

Stubborn Shinde

Eknath Shinde, who has helmed the government for the past two years, remains unwilling to cede power. His camp credits the alliance’s electoral success to initiatives like the “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin” scheme. Supporters argue that Shinde deserves to retain the top job, with Deepak Kesarkar emphatically stating, “This election was fought under Shinde’s leadership—he deserves the chair.”

A recent rally at Varsha Bungalow saw workers chanting Shinde’s name, almost egging him to hold his nerve and ground. For the BJP, alienating Shinde could create unnecessary irritants, which could put in jeopardy the crucial BMC trophy – Maharashtra’s Crown Jewel.

BMC Trophy

The BMC elections are the hidden undercurrent driving this power struggle. With an annual budget exceeding Rs 59,000 crore, control of the civic body is a political and financial lifeline. Wresting it from UBT Sena is a top priority for the BJP. Shinde’s understanding of the workings of UBT Sena and his faction’s stronghold in Mumbai — bolstered by his Maratha identity — could be invaluable in achieving this goal. Retaining Shinde as CM, at least temporarily, might be a calculated move to wrest control of the BMC. However, this strategy is fraught with risks. Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction reportedly finds Fadnavis a more dependable ally, hinting at potential strains within the alliance if Shinde remains at the helm.

A Complex Balancing Act

Balancing Act For the BJP, the choice isn’t just about naming the next Chief Minister. It’s a complex balancing act—appeasing the RSS, retaining Shinde’s loyalty, maintaining coalition harmony, and addressing caste dynamics. Both Shinde and Fadnavis have reportedly been summoned to Delhi for final consultations with Amit Shah and the BJP leadership. Changing the CM now could help showcase the BJP as a decisive, meritocratic party. But it risks undermining its image as a reliable coalition partner. With the BMC elections on the horizon, any perception of instability could prove politically costly.

Road Ahead the BJP faces a pivotal decision: prioritize long-term stability and ideological alignment with Fadnavis, or opt for short-term pragmatism by keeping Shinde in power. The RSS’s preference for Fadnavis might tip the scales, but sidelining Shinde could backfire. A potential compromise—keeping Shinde as CM while giving Fadnavis a stronger behind-thescenes role—could provide a temporary resolution. However, such a formula would require meticulous management to avoid factional rifts.

Final Countdown As the swearing-in approaches, the suspense remains pulsating. In a state where caste, coalition politics, and civic ambitions intersect, the identity of the next Chief Minister is far from a foregone conclusion. Whether it’s Fadnavis, the Sangh’s favorite, or Shinde, the Maratha tactician, Maharashtra is poised for another dramatic twist. One thing is certain: in this game of thrones, “lock kiya jaye” won’t come easy.

Maharashtra

Ekta Kapoor opens up about global storytelling at WAVES Summit 2025

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Mumbai: Recently seen at WAVES Summit 2025, Emmy Award winner and well-known producer of India, Ekta Kapoor shared some very interesting things about global storytelling. She told how Indian drama and serial formats are no longer limited to the country, but are also making their strong hold in the international market.

When Ekta Kapoor was asked how she views global storytelling after building such a big empire of content on TV and digital platforms, she replied in a candid manner as always, “The way of storytelling should be such that it connects directly to the heart.”

Ekta Kapoor emphasized that today’s audience is adopting stories from all over the world, be it Korean, Turkish, American, Spanish or European. She said, “Global platforms and networks have proved that language is no longer a barrier. People enjoy stories because of dubbing, they actually connect with the story.” She also said that in today’s world of content, the language barrier no longer matters.

Drawing attention to India’s rich heritage of stories, Ekta Kapoor said, “We have the oldest and longest tradition of storytelling. And this is our real capital, it has always been our currency.” She admitted that till now there have been some practical obstacles, which prevented Indian content from spreading rapidly across the world, but now the situation is changing and she hopes that the era of Indian stories has now begun globally.

Pointing to the global identity of the Indian film industry, Ekta Kapoor said, “Now we are getting there.” However, she also said that now we need to move beyond just ethnic stories. “Now it should be non-ethnic i.e. beyond traditional stories. I think we are standing at a turning point.”

Ekta Kapoor concluded her speech by thanking the audience and giving a clear message: Indian content must now tell stories that reach every human heart, beyond borders and subtitles. Meanwhile, she is gearing up for her next production “VVAN – Force of the Forest”, starring Sidharth Malhotra in the lead role.

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Maharashtra

Deven Bharti’s coronation: There is no room for the post of Special Commissioner in Mumbai

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Mumbai: Mumbai After Special Commissioner Deven Bharti was appointed as Mumbai Commissioner, who will be the next Special Commissioner of Mumbai or will this post also be abolished and Deven Bharti will prove to be the first and last Special Commissioner. Before Deven Bharti was appointed as Special Commissioner in Mumbai, this post did not exist in Mumbai and the department worked under the Commissioner and Joint Commissioners in Mumbai, but by making Deven Bharti a Special Commissioner, the first Special Commissioner post was created in Mumbai and before that, the post of Special Commissioner was only in Delhi.

Now who will be the next Special Commissioner in Mumbai or will this post be abolished after Deven Bharti becomes Mumbai Commissioner? Deven Bharti has been appointed by placing 11 IPS officers on site and the main contenders in this were DGP Sadanand Date, Sanjay Verma, Archana Tyagi, while for the Additional DG level Deven Bharti has been made a commissioner by ignoring senior officers. Deven Bharti started his journey as DCP of Mumbai Crime Branch, after which he was made Additional Commissioner Crime, then ATS Chief and Additional DG Corporation. Will the post of Special Commissioner in Mumbai remain or can this post be abolished after Deven Bharti becomes Commissioner? For Deven Bharti’s coronation, the DG level post was converted to Additional DG level. Earlier, this post was assigned only to DGP level officer. This post was downgraded in 2024.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar’s last emotional message on X

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar dedicated 35 years to the police department and now the Mumbai Police Commissioner has thanked all those who were with him on this journey and who also cooperated in every way possible after his retirement. Vivek Phansalkar has said in his emotional message that my family and friends who made countless sacrifices in supporting and cooperating with my duty, my colleagues who stood by me steadfastly in every challenge and all those who trusted me throughout my journey and career, supported and encouraged me. All their support is a blessing for me. I am proud that I got the opportunity to serve in the police force. I am also grateful to the people of Mumbai for giving me important responsibilities in the department.

Deven Bharti has taken charge as Mumbai Police Commissioner, while Vivek Phansalkar’s last farewell tweet was made from Mumbai Police’s Twitter X, in which Vivek Phansalkar thanked the people of Mumbai and well-wishers.

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