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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Govt Formation: Top Leaders Locked In High-Stakes Portfolio Battle Ahead Of Ministers’ Swearing-In Ceremony On Dec 5

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2 years ago

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra jigsaw puzzle is falling in place: the first indication of this came with the BJP outreach and the Devendra Fadnavis-Eknath Shinde ice-breaker at the caretaker CM’s official residence Varsha. The outreach – just before the BJP legislative party was due to elect its leader — was immediately seen as an attempt by the elder brother (read BJP) to retrieve the situation, which had almost veered to a point of no return.

Although the details of the meeting that lasted close to 45 minutes were not known, both the leaders were meeting for the first time after their photo op with Home Minister Amit Shah. Though for Devendra Fadnavis the meeting was a necessary prelude to formally staking claim and reclaiming the Chief Minister’s chair, for Shinde and his bruised ego it was a much-needed political balm.

If the meeting with Shah was all about optics, this one was all about political symbolism and the message the Shiv Sena chief wanted to send to his political constituency. With the decks cleared for the coalition government, it is now a matter of reconciling differences over the sticking points – the key portfolios and Shinde’s ‘face-saver.’

By nighttime, a tentative list of ministerial candidates was doing the rounds, giving a glimpse into the possible composition of this fragile coalition. While Ajit Pawar of the NCP is almost certain to take the Deputy Chief Minister’s post, questions loom over whether Eknath Shinde will accept a similar role.

Shinde’s faction has staked its claim to significant portfolios, including Home, Revenue, and Public Works, making it clear they will not settle for anything less. The Sena has some names up its sleeve, including stalwarts like Shinde himself, Dada Bhuse, Shambhuraj Desai, and Sanjay Rathod. Meanwhile, the BJP’s prospective lineup boasts of heavyweights like Ashish Shelar, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, and Pankaja Munde. Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction has its own ‘stars’ – leaders like Aditi Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Hasan Mushrif.

Demands Turn The Allocation Process Into A Test Of Political Brinkmanship

Each party’s demands have turned the portfolio allocation process into a test of political brinkmanship. The NCP is lobbying for 11 ministerial positions, including seven cabinet berths and a central post for Praful Patel. Simultaneously, the BJP—holding a majority in the alliance—is adamant about retaining critical departments like Home and Finance, deeming them as non-negotiable. Shinde’s lieutenants like Deepak Kesarkar and Uday Samant are pressing hard for plum posts including control of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation and Urban Development.

Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar has leveraged his enviable position to secure assurances from Amit Shah. Pawar’s deft maneuvering is aimed at ensuring his faction retains the Finance Department, a portfolio critical to the NCP’s relevance in the government. As the December 5 swearing-in ceremony approaches, the power-sharing formula is beginning to crystallize. The BJP’s takeaway is 21-22 ministries, including Home and Revenue, and the Speaker’s post; for Shiv Sena, it is 12 ministries, including Urban Development, with eyes riveted on the Legislative Council Chairman’s position; for NCP, the bait is 9-10 ministries, including Finance and Deputy Speaker.

Eknath Shinde Softens His Stance Following Intense Back-Channel Negotiations

Shinde, after initial reluctance to accept the Deputy Chief Minister’s post, appears to have softened his stance following intense back-channel negotiations. The BJP, given its pre-eminent position, has played the kingmaker’s role with calculated precision. Fadnavis’ insistence on retaining the Home and Revenue ministries underscores his intent to keep Maharashtra’s administrative levers firmly in his hands. His political acumen has been instrumental in balancing the competing demands of the alliance partners. Shinde’s maneuvers—from retreating to his village citing ill health to sending emissaries for last minute negotiations—have highlighted his determination to safeguard the Shiv Sena’s clout. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar has proven yet again why he is regarded as one of Maharashtra’s sharpest political operators, securing critical gains for his faction while keeping up the pretense of coalition dharma.

As preparations for the grand ceremony at Azad Maidan reach a crescendo, the Mahayuti alliance is seeking to project a united face. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior NDA leaders are expected to attend, lending weight to the coalition’s legitimacy. Yet, beneath the veneer, the warts are showing. The Maharashtra chessboard has seen brilliant gambits marked by ambition, negotiation, and compromise. As Fadnavis, Shinde, and Pawar prepare to take their oaths, the state’s political landscape has changed its contours. The ensuing months will test the Mahayuti’s resilience, with each partner continuing to maneuver for greater spoils on this high-stakes chessboard.

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Maharashtra

Kasturba Marg Police recover 100 stolen mobile phones, return them to their original owners

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1 day ago

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October 3, 2026

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Acting on complaints regarding stolen and lost mobile phones within the jurisdiction of the Kasturba Marg Police Station in Mumbai, police analyzed data from the CEIR portal and conducted technical investigations. By verifying device details, IMEI numbers, and user information, officers from the Kasturba Marg Police Station tracked down and recovered a total of 100 mobile phones from locations across Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.

The total estimated value of the 100 recovered mobile phones is ₹2,270,658. Of these, 18 phones have already been returned to their respective owners/complainants, including: 1) Rajendra Puri, 2) Khush Saw, 3) Kripa Lodhiya, 4) Shreya Satam, 5) Atul Sathe, 6) Priyanka Mistri, 7) Banu Tarang, 8) Prem Gupta, 9) Adya Shaikh, 10) Shweta Shah, 11) Sandhya Pandit, 12) Deepak Sawdekar, 13) Saurabh Jhangar, 14) Ketan Shete, 15) Onkar Raut, 16) Jayalal Yadav, 17) Lakshmi Appa Kripagiri, and 18) Praveen Dubey. The process of returning the remaining phones to their owners is currently underway.

This operation was carried out under the supervision of the DCP (North, Zone 3), Mumbai, by the team at Kasturba Marg Police Station, led by Balasaheb Bunkar.

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Crime

CBI books Mumbai firm, officials in Rs 93.44 crore loan fraud case

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1 day ago

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October 3, 2026

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Mumbai, Oct 3: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at multiple premises in Mumbai and registered a Rs 93.44 crore bank fraud case against officials of Hanjer Biotech Energies on the complaint of Punjab National Bank, an official said on Saturday.

The CBI conducted searches on Friday at multiple premises linked to the directors of Hanjer Biotech Energies in Mumbai, the CBI said in a statement.

The CBI registered the instant case on September 30, 2026, on the complaint of Punjab National Bank, SAM Branch, Mumbai, against Hanjer Biotech Energies, its directors and guarantors, unknown public servants and unknown private persons.

The accused were booked for offences of criminal conspiracy for cheating and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, resulting in alleged wrongful loss of approximately Rs 93.44 Crore to the bank.

It was alleged that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy, obtained term loan of Rs 135 crore on the invoices of its related party and diverted/siphoned off the funds for other purposes for which it was not sanctioned, causing loss to the bank, the CBI said.

During the searches on Friday, incriminating bank documents and property documents relevant to the investigation were recovered and seized.

Investigation is continuing to ascertain the full extent of the conspiracy, identify the role of all involved persons, including public servants and private individuals, and trace the end-use of the loan funds, the CBI said.

In a separate case on Friday, the CBI arrested an Executive Engineer of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Mumbai, his relative and three officials of a Mumbai-based real estate group, in a Rs 50 lakh bribery case related to the issuance of a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for a land parcel.

Vikrant Verma, Executive Engineer, CPWD Mumbai; Saurav Gupta, Verma’s relative based in Pune; and Arvind Semwal, Vice President, Baya Company, were among those named in the FIR by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday, an official said.

The arrested accused were produced before the Special CBI Judge in Mumbai on Friday, the official said in a statement.

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Maharashtra

Monsoon Withdraws Further from Maharashtra; Hot and Humid Weather Alert Issued for Konkan Region

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2 days ago

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October 3, 2026

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MUMBAI PRESS — The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Saturday, October 3, 2026, that the Southwest Monsoon has withdrawn from parts of Maharashtra, as well as the remaining regions of North India, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

The current withdrawal line of the Southwest Monsoon passes through Harnai, Baramati, Parbhani, and Brahmapuri in Maharashtra, extending northeastward through Raipur, Ranchi, and Supaul. Weather officials stated that conditions are favorable for further retreat from most parts of Marathwada, Vidarbha, and additional areas of Madhya Maharashtra over the next 2 to 3 days.

Hot and Humid Stretch for Coastal Maharashtra
Residents in the coastal belt should prepare for elevated discomfort over the weekend. The IMD has issued a hot and humid weather warning for Konkan & Goa prevailing from October 3 through October 5.
Following this dry and muggy stretch, mild weather activity is expected to return to the region. Isolated to scattered rainfall is forecast across Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra between October 6 and October 9.

Southern and Northeastern Forecast
While monsoon forces retreat from central and northern parts of India, southern states are bracing for heavy downpours. Isolated heavy rainfall is predicted over Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal from October 4 to October 6, with South Interior Karnataka expected to receive heavy spells on October 5 and 6.

In the northeast, isolated heavy rainfall is expected to continue over Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh through October 3.

Advisory for Fishermen
Due to lower-tropospheric cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea, the IMD has urged fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Kerala coast, Lakshadweep, Maldives, and the Comorin area on October 3. Farmers in heavy rainfall zones have also been advised to ensure proper field drainage and move harvested crops to covered storage to prevent crop damage.

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