Maharashtra
Maharashtra: Frantic BJP still woos Ajit Pawar, pats his working style
Not prepared to rest in peace after losing power in Maharashtra, the state BJP is still hoping for a ‘miracle’ that could resurrect it into the driving seat, after dozens of ominous deadlines to topple the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government passed away event-free.
In the latest bid, during a by-election rally, state BJP President Chandrakant Patil suddenly remembered Nationalist Congress Party’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and lauded his “no-nonsense” style of functioning.
Taking a swipe at Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Patil expressed desire to ‘examine’ the CM’s horoscope for the latter’s good fortune of being surrounded by stalwarts like Pawar or Eknath Shinde.
The BJP chief also concurred with the sulking ruling ally Raju Shetti, head of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) who rued that “the CM is barely visible these days and it was Pawar who calls the shots in the MVA show”.
Patil claimed that no Shiv Sena legislators are allowed to hover around the CM and they all troop down to Pawar or Shinde to get their works done or problems resolved, and warned that “the MVA is going to face a lot more” from the various probe agencies.
Earlier, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Patil had ‘invited’ Pawar to rule the state from Pune and recently alleged that earlier Thackeray’s duties were hindered by the lockdown and now hampered by his health.
Apparently flustered by Patil’s utterances, Shiv Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut hit back terming it as the BJP’s “step-motherly love for Ajit Pawar”.
“Praising good work is always welcome… We also have great appreciation for the good work done by Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari…”, said Raut in a return-stroke.
Though the central probe agencies have gone all-out to target Sena-NCP leaders, the BJP has largely refrained from directly attacking Ajit Pawar, who had once strayed to form a two-member government headed by Devendra Fadnavis that took oath in a pre-dawn ceremony on November 23, 2019.
However, it proved to be the shortest-ever regime in the state’s history, crashing in hardly 80 hours.
Barely 48 hours later, the Sena-NCP-Congress coalition MVA government headed by Thackeray took office on November 28 that year, something that the BJP has yet to fully digest.
Yesterday (Sunday), eyebrows went up in MVA circles as senior NCP leader and ace criminal lawyer Majeed Memon paid rich compliments to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the recent sweep in four of the five states’ assembly elections.
“If Narendra Modi wins people’s (mandate) and is also shown as world’s most popular leader, there must be some qualities in him or good work he may have done which the Opposition leaders are unable to find,” Memon declared.
Patil’s fond hopes also stem from the recent admission by NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, who revealed on December 30 how Modi wanted a NCP-BJP alliance government in Maharashtra after the fractured verdict of 2019 assembly polls, but he (Pawar) had firmly rejected it.
But, barely a week later, in early-January, the NCP warmly invited Thackeray – who proclaimed that the Sena had rotted 25 years in alliance with BJP – to join the national secular Opposition alliance and help dethrone the BJP in 2024 elections.
Attempting to drive a wedge among the MVA allies, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis alleged last week that a lion’s share of the budget (nearly 53 per cent) had gone to the NCP, while Sena-Congress had to be content with the left-over, a charge denied by Ajit Pawar, who is also the state finance Minister.
Political observers say that these “verbal duels” will continue as both the MVA and BJP are keen to score brownie points and keep their respective flocks in good humour.
Entertainment
1000 Cops To Be Deployed At Coldplay Concert Venue In Navi Mumbai
Thane: Nearly 1,000 cops will be deployed to maintain law and order during the Coldplay concert in Navi Mumbai, police said on Friday.
As part of their ‘Music of the Spheres World Tour’, the British rock group has three shows scheduled at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 18, 19 and 21.
Nearly 45,000 fans are expected to attend the event, for which elaborate security arrangements have been made, said a release by the Navi Mumbai police.
The release said 70 officers and 434 policemen will be inside the stadium as part of their bandobast. Also, 21 officers and 440 policemen will be deployed outside the stadium each day, it said.
Heavy vehicles from Uran, Nhavasheva, Pune and Thane have been banned in the area during these days. The Thane city police have also issued similar directives, restricting the movement of heavy vehicles within their jurisdiction.
There are designated parking areas during the event, the release added.
Maharashtra
Police Issues Traffic Advisory Ahead Of TATA Mumbai Marathon 2025; Check Details
Mumbai: The Mumbai Traffic Police department has issued a traffic advisory for residents ahead of TATA Marathon 2025 which will take place on January 19. The Mumbai Traffic Police has issued an advisory, to inform commuters about the traffic arrangements and road closures. The authorities have appealed to citizens to cooperate and plan their travel accordingly to avoid any inconvenience.
According to the advisory issued, a total of 63 routes have been blocked by the Mumbai traffic police issuing ‘no entry’ to vehicles on the route due to marathon.
The TATA Marathon is all set to take place on January 19, 2025, across Greater Mumbai with thousands of runners participating in the event. To ensure a seamless and safe experience for the runners, the authorities have made special traffic arrangements along the marathon route.
The Marathon will take place from 3 am to 2 pm on January 19, Sunday. The marathon route will be closed to regular traffic, providing a free way for the runners to complete their journey.
The traffic restrictions will be in place to prevent any disruptions or congestion that might hinder the progress of the runners. The police has informed about alternative routes that can be taken to avoid congestion.
In their advisory, Mumbai Traffic Police has informed about the categories of marathon and the routes that are to be taken for each category leads to closure of a few routes.
The TATA Marathon 2025 will have seven categories, Full Marathon (Amateur) which will take place from CSMT Dr D N Road to OCS Junction covering 42.195 kilometers, Full Marathon (Elite) which will take place from CSMT Dr D N Road to CSMT Junction covering 42.195 kilometres, Half Marathon and Police Cup will take place from Mahim reti bunder to OCS junction, 10 KM Run starting from CSMT to OCS Junction, Senior citizen run starting from CSMT to OCS Junction covering 4.2 kilometers, champions with disability run covers 1.30 Kilometers from CSMT to OCS junction and Dream Run Marathon from CSMT to Metro Junction covering 5.9 kilometers.
Maharashtra
Coldplay Mumbai Concert: Bombay HC Dismisses PIL, Says Only State Can Act On Ticket Scalping
Mumbai: Though, there is a ‘need for robust regulatory mechanisms’ against the unethical practices in the online ticketing ecosystem, the responsibility for creating a statutory framework lies with the legislature, the Bombay High Court has said in its order dismissing the a public interest litigation (PIL) against black marketing and ticket scalping at major events.
The division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar had on January 10 dismissed the PIL filed by a city based lawyer Amit Vyas alleging foul play during the online ticket sales of British band Coldplay scheduled in Navi Mumbai later this month.
Vyas had sought directions to the state government to frame laws, rules and regulations to prevent the practices of ticket scalping, touting and black marketing concerning the sale of tickets for major events.
Additionally, a request was made to the court to order the formation of a committee to conduct an inquiry into the matter and to issue directions to online ticketing companies to cooperate with the committee.
Dismissing the plea, the HC observed that the power to enact a law doesn’t lay with the judiciary. “In keeping with the constitutional scheme, courts can only guide the executive to comply with duties explicitly cast by constitutional provisions. They cannot assume a supervisory role over lawmaking powers, which remain within the exclusive domain of duly elected legislative bodies,” the court said.
The HC said they can, however, issue such directions only in case of violation of fundamental rights. “However, the practices of ticket scalping, hoarding and resale by private entities and individuals, without any direct or substantial involvement of the state or its instrumentality, do not per se violate fundamental rights of citizens,” HC observed.
“While Article 19(1)(g) guarantees the freedom to practise any profession or to carry on any occupation, this provision neither creates a fundamental right to access privately organised events nor does it prohibit all profit-driven endeavors,” the court further said adding, “No unreasonable restriction has been shown to be imposed by the state in relation to ticket scalping or resale activities by private entities.”
-
Crime2 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra3 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra4 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News3 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra3 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Crime3 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
Maharashtra2 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News4 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface