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Maharashtra Gram Panchayat polls: Despite losing power MVA claims gains; BJP single-largest party

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Despite losing power nearly four months ago, the Opposition Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) claim to have made huge gains while the ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest entity in the recent Gram Panchayat elections held in 18 districts.

The elections were held to 1,079 of the total 1,165 Gram Panchayats (DPs) where the Maha Vikas Aghadi has claimed to have trumped the ruling BJP-Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena combine, based on the purported political affiliations of the winning candidates.

However, authoritative sources in the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) reiterated to IANS that “the GP elections are not contested on party symbols” and declined to comment on the claims of various parties.

After the final results emerged late on Monday, the BJP has contended it has bagged more than 230 GPs, while ally Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena got some 110 seats, totalling to 340.

On the other hand, the NCP claimed to have bagged 155, Shiv Sena (UBT) 150 and the Congress 140 – tallying to 445 seats, and the remaining seats went to independents and others.

Additionally, candidates in 86 GP’s were declared elected unopposed and the polls were held for the remaining 1,079 GPs on Sunday.

Trashing the BJP’s assertions, NCP’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar asked sharply, “How did they arrive at their so-called victory figures… when the polls are not fought on party-lines, adding that all such claims are ‘false’.”

Referring to the rebels led by Shinde, Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said the ‘gaddaars’ (traitors) have been taught a sound lesson in the GP elections.

Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londe said that the party has been on a constant winning spree in the past few months in all the local elections, including the Nagar Panchayat, Panchayat Samitis and now the GPs.

NCP Chief Spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said that the MVA allies have made inroads even into areas where they had no presence till now.

“The people have totally dumped the leadership of the Shinde Group MLAs in their own constituencies in the GP polls… The MVA has performed exceedingly well and the NCP has picked up around 190 GPs,” Tapase said.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: ‘All New Local Trains To Feature Automatic Door Closers,’ Says Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Mumbai: All newly manufactured local trains will be equipped with automatic door closing systems to enhance passenger safety, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday in Mumbai.

The Minister was speaking to the media on the occasion of a breakthrough in a 4.8 km tunnel for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.

Highlighting the importance of Mumbai’s suburban rail network, which is often referred to as the city’s lifeline, Vaishnaw said, “In view of passenger safety, we are working to install automatic door closers on all local trains.” He added that efforts are underway to retrofit existing local trains with the automatic door closing system.

“In the future, all newly built non-AC local trains will come with provisions for automatic door closers,” he confirmed. He also noted that all AC local trains already feature this system.

The Minister further stated that the tendering process to procure 238 new AC local trains for Mumbai has already been initiated. “Soon, the face of Mumbai’s suburban rail network will be completely transformed,” he said.

“The move is expected to significantly improve passenger safety and convenience, particularly during peak hours when overcrowding can lead to accidents related to open train doors” said an official.

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Maharashtra

Government money is not anyone’s father’s, Abu Asim Azmi is angry at Muslims being told that salt is forbidden, BJP leaders’ hatred, Bihar and the secular public need to consider

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has strongly condemned BJP leader and MP and Union Minister Giriraj Singh for calling Muslims as salt haram and traitors and has appealed to the secular people and Muslims to teach the BJP a lesson in the Bihar elections. He said that the way hatred against Muslims has become common in the BJP government, communalism is on the rise and the situation is so bad that BJP leaders are sowing the seeds of hatred against Muslims and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent on it and does not even open his lips.
Giriraj Singh, who called Muslims traitors, should understand that government money does not belong to anyone’s father. I want to tell the Muslims of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh that Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu are supporting a government whose ministers have such hateful views about Muslims. Azmi said that the BJP government looks for an opportunity to humiliate Muslims and its hateful leaders constantly spread venom against Muslims. Nitish Rane in Maharashtra and Mumbai also spreads venom against Muslims. In such a situation, it is necessary to restrain the language of these ministers. It is because of such ministers and leaders that communalism is on the rise. Along with calling Muslims as forbidden salt, Giriraj Singh said that Muslims take advantage of government schemes and do not even vote. They are forbidden salt and traitors. On this, Azmi said that the government collects money by collecting taxes on everything, therefore government money does not belong to anyone’s father. The minister should keep this in mind.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Indian Coast Guard Conducts Beach Cleanship Drive At Girgaon Chowpatty And Juhu On International Coastal Cleanup Day 2025

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Mumbai, 20 Sep 25: On the occasion of International Coastal Cleanup Day, observed worldwide on the third Saturday of September, the Indian Coast Guard, Regional Headquarters (West) spearheaded a Beach cleanship Drive at Girgaon Chowpatty and Juhu beach, Mumbai.

Being a central coordinator for the marine pollution response, the Indian Coast Guard with a motto We Protect, has been coordinating the Coastal clean-up activity since 2006 wherein approx. 75,000 kgs of waste is cleared from the Indian shores annually.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from numerous organisations including NCC, NSS, NGOs, Schools, Colleges, other government agencies alongside media personnel and people from various walks of the life, who voluntarily contributed to the noble cause of cleaner seas.

During the four hour drive, approximately 3000 Kgs garbage/litter was collected and subsequently disposed off with the assistance of the BMC.As part of the awareness campaign, a painting competition was also organized by the Indian Coast Guard for children in the age group of 6 to 8 years, with over 50 students showcasing their creativity on the theme of environmental conservation.

The outstanding paintings were appreciated and felicitated in the presence of Dr Bhushan Gagrani, IAS, Municipal Commissioner BMC, who graced the noble cause as a special guest of the Indian Coast Guard and Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, PTM, TM, Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).

In total, around 1000 participants actively took part in the Beach cleanship, reiterating the collective commitment towards Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar.

The annual activity of the Indian Coast Guard taking along the civil populace has once again reaffirmed the resolve to safeguard the oceans, protect marine life and bequeath a cleaner, healthier environment to the generations yet to come.

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