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.
Maharashtra
Admissions sought for Junior KG to Grade 4 in Govind BMC ‘Mumbai Public School, Shivaji Nagar English School No. 01’

Mumbai: The Education Department of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started an English medium school named ‘Mumbai Public School, Shivaji Nagar English School No. 01’ in a newly constructed building at Mumbai Public School, Shivaji Nagar School Complex No. 4, Baji Prabhu Deshpande Marg, Near Shivaji Nagar Market, Mumbai (04W), Govind 04, Mumbai Public School, Shivaji Nagar School Complex No. 4, Mumbai (04W).
The school follows the Maharashtra State Board curriculum and will conduct classes from Junior KG to Grade 4. It is worth noting that priority admission will be given to students currently studying in unauthorized schools in Govind and surrounding areas. Due to the limited number of seats, the BMC Education Department appeals to as many parents as possible to avail this facility.
Interested parents should contact the following address for admission: Address: 1st Floor, Mumbai Public School, Shivaji Nagar School Complex No. 4, Baji Prabhu Deshpande Marg, Near Shivaji Nagar Market, Govind (West), Mumbai – 400 043.
Maharashtra
Action taken by Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s ‘F-South’ and ‘H-East’ wards, 15 shops removed in Dadar and Santa Cruz areas

Mumbai: Municipal Corporation is taking strict action as part of its ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, which aims to remove obstructions from footpaths and make them walkable for pedestrians. Under this initiative, 15 unauthorised shops and 15 unauthorised hawkers obstructing footpaths in Dadar area (from ‘F-South’ ward) and Santacruz area (from ‘H-East’ ward) were removed today (August 13, 2026).
As per the directions of the High Court, under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. Led by Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Vermalawangire, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to immediately remove unauthorised hawkers and encroachments, thus ensuring obstacle-free footpaths.
Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone-2) Prashant Sapkale and led by Assistant Commissioner (F-South Ward), the drive was carried out in Dadar (East) area by the ‘F-South’ ward. During this drive, 04 unauthorized shops, 12 temporary tarpaulin sheds, 06 unauthorized platforms (cut*) and 15 hawkers obstructing the footpath along Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road in Dadar (East) were removed.
Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone-3) Vishwas Mote and led by Assistant Commissioner (H-East), Mrudula Ende, ‘H-East’ ward today conducted an encroachment removal drive in Santa Cruz (East) area. The drive included demolition of six unauthorized shops located along roads 6, 7 and 11 in TPS-3 area as well as five unauthorized shops located on the footpath along Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Marg. The operation also included a food van. The drive has cleared about 500 meters of sidewalk space, making it easier for pedestrians to walk. Meanwhile, the municipal corporation is taking various steps to ensure clean and accessible sidewalks for pedestrians. As a result, the administration has warned against unauthorized construction or placing any material on the sidewalks that obstruct them. Strict action will be taken if such violations are observed.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Murder sparks sensation after dispute over hotel bill payment, police launch major operation, solves murder mystery within 24 hours, two arrested accused confess

A sensational incident of murder of a youth took place in a hotel in Mumbai after a dispute over payment of the bill, after which tension spread here, while the police have succeeded in arresting the accused within 24 hours. On the night of August 11, a man was severely beaten near the Salman Hotel in the limits of Goregaon police station. Aziz Muhammad Atiq Khan, 30, was admitted to the hospital where the doctors declared him dead. The police have started an inquiry into the murder. The victim’s brother told the police that Aziz Khan asked the owner of Salman Hotel, Danish Khan, to pay the hotel bill to two people. During this, both of them argued with the victim and said that we don’t know what you have to do with this. We will see about you … Then they both attacked the victim and hit Aziz Khan on the head with a wooden box, due to which he was seriously injured and the doctors declared him dead during treatment. The police have registered a case of murder and started searching for the accused. Six teams were formed to arrest the accused. After receiving a tip-off, the police arrested the accused and they have confessed to the crime. The accused have been identified as Ajay Mani Upadhyay, 39, and Vikas Devaraj Paswan, 32, an office boy. Within 24 hours, the police have solved the mystery of the murder and succeeded in arresting the accused. This operation was carried out by DCP Parshottam Karad on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti.
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