National News
‘Marathi Manoos save Mumbai’: Final battle for identity and existence, says Shiv Sena(UBT) in Saamana
Mumbai, Dec 17: Invoking the spirit of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Wednesday claimed that the elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in particular, and 28 other civic bodies are a battle to protect Mumbai from being “carved away” from Maharashtra, terming the electoral exercise as a decisive struggle for the “existence of the Marathi Manoos”.
The party, its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said the existence of Mumbai was at stake, and if the city, built through the sacrifice of 106 martyrs, is lost, the Marathi people will face “a lifetime of slavery”. It gave a rallying cry for the Marathi people to “pick up the Bhavani sword of identity” and enter the electoral battlefield with the chant, “Har Har Mahadev!”
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in the Saamana editorial said the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has announced elections for 29 municipal corporations, including high-stakes Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. “After a prolonged seven-and-a-half-year delay, the SEC has scheduled polling for January 15, 2026, with results to be declared the following day, January 16. The announcement follows a Supreme Court directive mandating that all local body elections in the state be completed by January 31, leaving the ‘Rahman Dacoit gang’, which had infiltrated 29 corporations, with no choice.”
The editorial alleged that the current Fadnavis-Shinde government intentionally deferred these elections to facilitate “looting” through the appointment of administrators. It claimed that the ruling coalition only proceeded due to judicial intervention, expressing concern that funds allegedly misappropriated during the administrative period will be funnelled into the upcoming campaigns.
The editorial further said, “While the Model Code of Conduct is in effect, it seems it is only for the opposition. Members of the ruling alliance and their ministers violate the code, laws and rules daily with impunity. Neither the state nor the Central Election Commission pays any attention to these violations because the poll body has become a ‘pet cat’ of the authorities. In such an unequal environment, this electoral struggle will take place, and the Marathi Manoos must win it at any cost.”
A major point of contention highlighted in the editorial is the state of the voter lists. The editorial claimed that the lists are “riddled with scams”, alleging the presence of over 15 lakh duplicate voters across the state, including 1,50,000 in Mumbai alone. “The SEC has reportedly used lists from July 1, 2025, claiming it lacks the authority to add or delete names, though it has implemented a ‘double star’ marking system to flag potential duplicate voters for field verification. If the Commission does not see this as serious, one must admit it wears a collar of slavery and helplessness put on by the government,” it alleged.
Stepping up the attack against the Mahayuti alliance, the Thackeray camp said that just before the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, the state government issued 49 Government Resolutions (GRs) and launched a spree of development projects, which were “deceptive ploys” intended to influence voters.
The editorial questioned the feasibility of election expenditure limits. While limits are set between Rs 9 lakh and Rs 15 lakh depending on the corporation’s grade, it alleged that in recent local polls, ruling alliance candidates spent between Rs 100 crore and Rs 150 crore per municipality, with votes being openly bought for as much as Rs 20,000.
Against this backdrop, the Thackeray camp claimed that the authorities would use “Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed (persuasion, money, punishment, and division)” to carve Mumbai away from Maharashtra or to put it up for auction. However, it appealed to the Marathi people not to lose confidence.
Crime
Suspicious passenger apprehended at Delhi Jama Masjid Metro Station after trying to flee during screening

Alert personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended a passenger at Delhi’s Jama Masjid Metro Station after he allegedly attempted to flee when a suspicious object was detected during his baggage screening.
According to the CISF, the incident came to light when the passenger’s baggage was being screened through an X-ray Baggage Inspection System (XBIS). During the examination, personnel noticed a dense and suspicious object on the scanner screen.
Sensing something unusual, the security personnel attempted to examine the matter further. However, the passenger allegedly tried to escape from the screening area, according to CISF.
Displaying promptness and alertness, CISF personnel immediately chased him and apprehended him near the station’s exit gate before he could leave the premises.
A subsequent examination of his belongings led to the recovery of an unidentified semi-solid substance concealed inside a stitched portion of his undergarment, the CISF said.
According to reports, the passenger reportedly claimed to be a non-resident Indian (NRI) residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Following the recovery, the CISF handed over the passenger, along with his belongings and the suspected substance, to the police for further investigation.
The nature of the semi-solid substance and the reason behind its concealment remain unclear. Police are investigating the matter to establish the identity of the substance and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The CISF’s swift intervention prevented the passenger from leaving the station without further examination.
The force said its personnel remain alert during the screening of passengers and their baggage to ensure compliance with security protocols and prevent any potential threat to metro commuters. Further action in the case will depend on the findings of the investigation, said the police officials.
Crime
Bihar MLC election: Three FIRs filed against Anant Singh, Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh

Amid campaigning for the biennial elections for eight MLC seats on October 23 in Bihar, police have registered three FIRs in connection with alleged violation of election rules during a roadshow in the Mokama Assembly constituency of Patna district.
The roadshow was held on Sunday. The cases have been registered against local MLA Anant Singh and Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh, according to police sources.
Of the three cases, two were registered at Barh police station and one at Mokama police station in Patna district.
The police are investigating the alleged violations and examining the circumstances surrounding the roadshow.
According to police sources, the action followed complaints of violations of the Model Code of Conduct and other applicable regulations during the Member of Legislative Council (MLC) election-related event.
The allegations concern compliance with rules governing political roadshows and public campaigning.
However, the specific allegations against each leader and the legal sections invoked in the FIRs have not yet been independently confirmed.
The registration of the cases has triggered political discussions in the Mokama and Barh areas, where election-related activities have intensified.
During the MLC election period, candidates and political parties are required to comply with the Model Code of Conduct and applicable rules governing public meetings, roadshows, permissions and traffic management.
Authorities can initiate legal action when alleged violations are reported.
However, the filing of an FIR does not establish guilt. The allegations against Anant Singh and Anuj Singh will be subject to investigation and the due process of law.
Police said further action would be taken on the basis of the evidence collected and the findings of the investigation.
Additional details are awaited.
Anant Singh, the JD(U) MLA from Mokama in Patna district, has openly extended his support to Jan Suraaj candidate Anuj Singh and is campaigning against his own party’s official nominee, Neeraj Kumar, in the upcoming MLC election.
Anant Singh said his decision to support Anuj Singh stemmed from a personal dispute with Neeraj Kumar. He clarified that his move had nothing to do with his political relationship with the JD(U).
The election for eight Legislative Council seats is scheduled to be held on October 23, with counting of votes and announcement of results set for October 27.
National News
‘Owaisi, BJP are twins’: Congress MP accuses AIMIM chief of splitting Oppn votes

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday hit back at AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi over his recent remarks, accusing him of acting as an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Tiwari claimed that election results demonstrated how Owaisi’s party had contributed to splitting minority votes, prompting him to describe the AIMIM chief and the BJP as “twin brothers”.
The exchange comes amid political preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, with parties sharpening their positions and trading allegations ahead of the electoral contest.
Addressing a gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur, Owaisi had declared that he would “never make a Nehru, a Gandhi, or a Yadav” his leader. He also stressed the need to provide greater opportunities to young people from the Muslim community.
“Muslim youth have as much potential as people from other communities… However, they are not given a platform,” Owaisi had said, adding that the AIMIM would provide them with opportunities to move forward.
Responding to the AIMIM chief’s remarks, Congress MP Tiwari accused him of working to divide opposition votes in favour of the BJP.
Speaking to media, Tiwari said, “What standing does Owaisi have to even suggest someone like a Gandhi or a Nehru? His sole function, whether intentional or otherwise, is to divide the minority vote at the behest of the BJP. I can say with full confidence that this individual works for the BJP, as evidenced by election outcomes.”
Tiwari further cited electoral results in Maharashtra and Bihar to support his allegations, claiming that the AIMIM’s electoral performance had helped the BJP and its allies by splitting votes that could otherwise have benefited other candidates.
“In Maharashtra, while his party won four seats, it also caused other candidates to lose in 22 constituencies by splitting the vote, ultimately paving the way for a BJP-led government. He did something similar in Bihar … The results clearly show that he operates as an agent for the BJP. Owaisi and the BJP are twin brothers,” he added.
This comes as political parties begin gearing up for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Tiwari also commented on the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
He argued that protecting citizens’ voting rights was essential and called for a change in government through the democratic process.
“The government in the country must be changed. The nation’s economic situation and foreign policy have both failed. The public wants relief from inflation and unemployment, and a change in government is essential to safeguard the right to vote. We want to change the government democratically through elections, and for that right to vote must be safeguarded,” Tiwari said.
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