Pune, Sep 4: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday hit out at the Opposition, saying some of its members tried to gain political advantage out of the recent Maratha reservation protest, but fell silent after the government resolved the issue.

Speaking at an event in Pune, he said the Mahayuti government was focused on working for the welfare of people.

Activist Manoj Jarange, who launched his hunger strike to press for the Maratha quota demand in Mumbai on August 29, called it off on Tuesday after the Devendra Fadnavis government accepted most of his demands. The government even issued an order announcing the formation of a committee to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members with historical evidence of their Kunbi heritage.

Pawar said, “People voted us to power with a big majority and it is our constant endeavour to work for them by giving all the benefits. Sometimes issues do crop up, but we always strive to resolve them amicably.”

“The opposition, which received fewer votes, is always on the lookout for opportunities to target the government. Some of them even tried to derive political advantage out of the situation that unfolded in Mumbai over the last three to four days by going to the press and airing their views,” he said, referring to the Maratha quota agitation.

But since the state government responded efficiently to the agitation, the opposition fell silent, the deputy CM, who heads the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said.

“Some are still expressing their views, but I would like to say that everything will be alright and there is no need to worry,” he said.

Speaking about the upcoming local bodies elections in the state, Pawar said, “With civic polls around the corner, elections to Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis are also likely to take place. As per our estimate, some of these local body elections might be held in January. This is just an estimate as the authority to announce elections lies with the Election Commission,” he added.

Navi Mumbai: In a significant milestone for India’s maritime industry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong jointly inaugurated the country’s largest container cargo terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Uran, Maharashtra.

The container cargo terminal, developed with an investment of $1.3 billion by the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA International), boasts a capacity of 4.8 million TEUs and features the longest wharf in the country at 2,000 meters.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his excitement, stating, “Today is a very historic day… Maharashtra will play an important role in the business of the world.” With this inauguration, Maharashtra has surpassed Gujarat’s capacity of 8.2 million TEU, reaching 10 million TEU and solidifying its position as the leading state in container handling capacity.

The terminal is expected to significantly enhance India’s trade efficiency and global connectivity. CM Fadnavis highlighted the importance of the Vadhavan Port, stating, “The port of Vadhavan will keep Maharashtra ahead of any other state by 20 years.”

Once completed, the Vadhavan Port will catapult Maharashtra to the forefront of maritime business globally, generating substantial employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.

The development of the JNPA terminal and the Vadhavan Port project underscores Maharashtra’s commitment to becoming a trillion-dollar economy. The state government has emphasized sustainable development, with plans to double its power generation by 2030 while ensuring 52% comes from renewable sources.

In addition to the maritime sector, Maharashtra is also witnessing significant growth in other industries. The state has been at the forefront of tax collection since the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), with CM Fadnavis praising the GST Council’s second-generation reforms for reducing the tax burden on consumers and boosting economic growth.

“The Prime Minister has boldly given second-generation reforms to the country,” Fadnavis said, highlighting the positive impact on trade, demand, production, and employment.

Mumbai: In a move to ensure the smooth celebration of two major festivals, the Maharashtra government has shifted the public holiday for Eid-e-Milad in Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts, shifting it from Friday, September 5, to Monday, September 8, 2025.

The announcement was made through an official notification issued by the Department of General Administration on Wednesday. The decision comes in response to the back-to-back scheduling of Eid-e-Milad and Anant Chaturdashi, which fall on September 5 and 6, respectively, this year.

The official notification, issued in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra and signed by Dilip Deshpande, Deputy Secretary, described the decision as being made “in the spirit of brotherhood” to ensure both Hindu and Muslim communities can celebrate peacefully.

In light of the large-scale celebrations and processions related to both Anant Chaturdashi and Eid-e-Milad, the decision to reschedule the public holiday in Mumbai reflects a thoughtful and cooperative approach to managing public events. By adjusting the date of the Eid-e-Milad procession and holiday to avoid overlap with Anant Chaturdashi, the government and community leaders have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining public order, respecting religious sentiments, and fostering communal harmony.

In other news stories related to the Anant Chaturdashi in Mumbai, to manage the anticipated rise in passenger traffic during Ganpati immersions on Anant Chaturdashi, Western Railway (WR) has announced significant changes to local train operations at Charni Road station on Saturday, September 6. The adjustments are intended to facilitate smoother crowd movement near Girgaon Chowpatty, one of Mumbai’s major immersion sites.

“To accommodate thousands of devotees heading to the seaside for the final day of Ganesh visarjan, WR will operate 12 additional special local train services between Churchgate and Virar during the night of September 6 and 7,” said an official.