Maharashtra
Maharashtra Gram Panchayat polls: Despite losing power MVA claims gains; BJP single-largest party
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.
General
Thane Tragedy: Environmentalist-Lawyer Sarita Khanchandani Dies By Suicide In Ulhasnagar, Family Alleges Harassment By Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader

Thane: In connection with the death of environmentalist-activist-lawyer Sarita Khanchandani, who allegedly died by suicide on Thursday after jumping from the seventh floor of Roma Building where she lived in Ulhasnagar, her husband Purshottam Khanchandani has leveled serious allegations against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and his associate accusing them of harassing his wife and trying to implicate her in a fabricated case.
He claimed that the harassment drove her to suicide and demanded that the case be probed by a senior officer under judicial supervision.
Purshottam, along with other family members, addressed a press conference to present his side of the story. He said Sarita had been helping Jiya Goplani, a woman whose domestic case she was handling. After being ousted by her in-laws, Goplani had no shelter, and Sarita allowed her to live in one of her homes for six years, providing food and support.
Although the court awarded Goplani a monthly maintenance of Rs 15,000, Sarita eventually asked her to vacate the house. Goplani assured her that she was looking for a house in Badlapur and would leave within two months.
According to Purshottam, on Wednesday, Goplani called Sarita claiming she was unwell. When Sarita went to meet her around 11:45 p.m., she found nearly 20 people present. Purshottam alleged that this was a conspiracy to trap Sarita, and a video of the incident later surfaced on the social media.
Although the police were called to the spot, both Sarita and Goplani told officers they had no complaints, after which Sarita returned home.
However, Purshottam alleged that later the same night, Goplani, along with a politician and others, went to the police station and registered a case against Sarita. Shocked by the development, Sarita went to the police station on Thursday but later returned home and jumped to her death from the terrace.
He also accused the Vithalwadi police station of facilitating the conspiracy to falsely implicate her. He clarified that Goplani was not a tenant but was staying at their residence purely on humanitarian grounds.
Purshottam linked the incident to an earlier dispute, alleging that the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and his associate had encroached upon a government toilet block. Sarita had filed a petition in the High Court against the encroachment, after which the Shiv Sena Shakha on the premises was shut down and the property handed back to the municipal corporation.
In response to Purshottam’s allegations, Jiya Gopalani refused all allegations and stated that she was his wife’s tenant and that Sarita forced her to work according to her instructions; otherwise, she would not fight her domestic case in court.
“On Wednesday, Sarita came to my home because I was not picking up her call. Sarita arrived at my home and assaulted me badly, after which I visited the police station and filed a case against her.”
DCP Sachin Gore of Ulhasnagar said “Based on Jiya Goplani’s complaint, we filed a case of trespass and assault against Sarita. In Sarita’s suicide matter, no note was found. So far, we have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) . We will record the statements of witnesses. Further investigation is underway, and if anyone’s role emerges, action will take accordingly.”
Sarita Khanchandani, a practicing lawyer, was known for her environmental activism and had played a significant role in getting DJs banned in Maharashtra.
She also ran the Heerali Foundation, an organization dedicated to cleaning up the Ulhas and Waldhuni rivers that flow through Ulhasnagar. She was a prominent figure in pollution activism in the city, petitioning police to act against violators and raising awareness of environmental issues affecting the rivers.
Crime
Maloney arrested with 7.2 million worth of ganja and pistol, five others

Mumbai Maloni Police has claimed to have arrested five accused including ganja worth Rs 72 lakhs and a country-made pistol and live cartridges. In Maloni, the police had arrested Ashiq Hussain Khan with 1 kg 60 grams of ganja. He said that he buys this drug from Nashik. After that, Santosh More of Nashik was arrested. After that, a total of four accused were arrested in this case and a case was registered against them under the NDPS Act. A car was searched in Maloni Madh in which a country-made pistol and ganja were recovered. This operation was carried out by DCP Sandeep Jadhav on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. The police is investigating the matter further.
Maharashtra
The application date for Mumbai students’ education scholarship should be extended till September 1: Abu Asim Azmi

Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has written a letter to the state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Minister of Minority Affairs demanding extension of the application date for scholarship 2025-26 for students pursuing higher education abroad through the Minority Department and Ministry of Minority Affairs. The last date is August 28, 2025. Azmi has demanded an extension till September 1. He said that there is a three-day holiday in Maharashtra in view of Ganpati festival and other festivals, so students will have difficulty in submitting applications. Therefore, keeping in mind the convenience of the students, the date for submission of applications should be extended till September 1 and the government should take a positive decision on this.
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