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Wednesday,12-August-2026
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Maharashtra: Row Erupts As BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani Presides Over Mumbai Mayoral Election

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Mumbai: The mayoral election process was conducted by BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani in the BMC’s historic Committee Hall in his capacity as the state-appointed presiding officer. A confrontation quickly erupted over the appointment of BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani as the presiding officer.

Raising a point of order, Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader Kishori Pednekar objected to the commissioner presiding over the election. “We have many senior corporators, including Shraddha Jadhav, who has been elected for the seventh time. While all corporators will work for the city’s development, the commissioner should not have been placed on the dais as presiding officer, as per the rules,” she argued.

Gagrani responded by citing a recent state government resolution, which authorises commissioners to preside over the election of the mayor and deputy mayor at a special meeting of newly elected corporators. With the ruling clarifying the procedure, the Opposition’s challenge was effectively closed. Shiv Sena (UBT) chose not to field a candidate, following which Gagrani formally declared Tawde elected unopposed.

In a similar uncontested outcome, Ghadi was appointed deputy mayor. The House, however, remained restive. Congress corporators staged a protest over the city’s deteriorating air quality, entering the chamber wearing masks. Amid the din, Tawde proceeded with her maiden mayoral address, underscoring her intent to focus on civic issues despite the disruptions.

Tensions flared again when deputy mayor Ghadi rose to speak. Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators tore up his prepared speech, raised slogans of “50 khoke ekdam okay,” and staged a walkout. Ghadi, once a member of the undivided Shiv Sena, had joined the Eknath Shinde-led faction after the party split, a move that continues to rankle the UBT camp and added to the day’s acrimony.

For the BJP, the moment carried historical resonance. Its first and only mayor before Tawde, Prabhakar Pai, held office in 1982–83. Four decades later, Tawde’s unopposed election marks not just a personal milestone but a watershed in Mumbai’s civic politics, with the BJP firmly staking its claim over the city’s most powerful municipal institution.

Maharashtra

Mumbai : There is no solution to the problem of landslides in the last 15 years, 22,483 families live in dangerous areas in the city and suburbs

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Mumbai: Hill collapses are not new to Mumbai, but the state government has failed to take serious steps to address the problem in the last 15 years. In the last 34 years, 340 people have lost their lives and over 300 have been injured in landslides.

In 25 of Mumbai’s 36 assembly constituencies, 257 places in hilly areas have been classified as dangerous. RTI activist Anil Gilgali said that the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended the relocation of 9,657 out of 22,483 identified slums on priority basis. It had also proposed to make the remaining slums safe by building protective walls around the hills. Gilgali had earlier warned the Maharashtra government about the risk of landslides at 327 places during the monsoon season.

Between 1992 and 2026, 340 people died and over 300 were injured in landslides. The Mumbai Slum Improvement Board had recommended relocation. A comprehensive survey was conducted in 2010. If action had been taken then, the deaths of the residents of these hilly areas could have been prevented. Following the board’s report and Anil Gilgali’s correspondence, the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan ordered the Urban Development Department to prepare an action plan on September 1, 2011. However, 15 years have passed since then, and the Urban Development Department is yet to start working on it. In other words, no one has prepared an ‘Action Taken Plan’ (ATP) as directed by the Chief Minister,

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Maharashtra

Robbery in Mumbai Saki Naka, 4 arrested, stolen goods recovered

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Mumbai: The Sakinaka police have claimed to have solved the mystery of the robbery at the junk shop of the complainant, Mohammed Hussain Abdul Karim, and arrested the accused. 22 kg of silver and cash worth a total of Rs 44 lakh were stolen from the junk shop. The shop was located in Anise Compound. The police had registered a complaint regarding this. On this basis, the Mumbai Police’s detection team tracked down the thieves and arrested four accused and claimed to have seized silver worth Rs 44 lakh and a mobile phone. The accused have been identified as Maqsood Shah, 20, a resident of Sakinaka in Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Zeeshan Abdul Subhan, 20, a resident of Mumbra, Daighar, Akhbar Hussain Ghulam Murtaza, 27, Mumbra, and Irfan Noorullah Khan, 26, Siddharth Nagar, UP. The four accused have been arrested and the stolen goods have been recovered. This operation was carried out by DCP Dutta Nalawade on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.

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Maharashtra

37 unauthorized shops removed from footpaths in Vakola area, action taken by BMC ‘H East’ ward under ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to ensure that pedestrians can walk on the footpaths with ease. As part of this initiative, action was taken to remove 37 unauthorised shops obstructing the footpaths along Rajendra Kamble Marg in Vakola area yesterday (August 11, 2026). The operation was carried out by the ‘H East’ ward of BMC. As per the directions of the High Court and under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide. BMC is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign to clear the footpaths of unauthorised hawkers and encroachments, thus making them free from obstructions. In this backdrop, the footpaths along Rajendra Kamble Marg in Vakola were cleared during an operation led by Assistant Commissioner (H East Ward) Smt. Mr. Mridula Ande, Deputy Commissioner (Zone-3) under the guidance of Shri Vishwas Mote. During this drive, 37 unauthorized shops erected on footpaths were removed, and materials obstructing the walkways were seized.

The operation was carried out with the support of about 31 officers and staff members using 4 vehicles, 2 dumpers, 1 JCB and other machinery. Adequate police security was deployed during the drive.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation continues to implement measures to ensure the availability of accessible footpaths for pedestrians. Therefore, unauthorized constructions or placement of materials obstructing footpaths are prohibited. The Municipal Corporation administration has said that strict action will be taken if such incidents are found.

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