Mumbai: The situation is now peaceful after the dispute over the objection to the playing of the song Jai Shri Ram at the Dandoshi Puja ceremony in Mumbai, but tensions remain. The dispute arose last night when objections were raised to the song here, after which Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal workers protested against it. At midnight, the police took action and claimed to have arrested 5 people involved in the matter. They have been accused of inciting riots. Last night, after the clash between the two communities, the police resorted to mild lathicharge to control the situation, on which Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have also demanded action against the policemen who were involved in the action and have also given a 12-hour ultimatum. After the communal violence in Santosh Nagar, Dandoshi, the situation is now peaceful but the tension still persists. After this incident, the BMC also took action and the BMC has bulldozed the illegal construction shop of the accused here, which now raises the question whether the decision will be made by the bulldozer. After UP, now the bulldozing action is being given priority in Maharashtra as well, while the discussion about it is also going on on social media. DCP Mahesh Chamte said that the situation in Dandoshi is peaceful and the police has also started action against the culprits in this matter. He has also made it clear that the culprits will not be spared, while so far 5 people have been arrested in this matter. The police have made strict security arrangements in the area. After this incident, the situation in Dandoshi has once again become tense because today the BMC has also taken action and a heavy police force has been deployed on it. After this incident, politics has also started on it.

Hammad’s father, Jalaluddin Siddiqui, who was arrested on charges of conspiring to shake Mumbai and Delhi, declared him innocent, calling all the allegations baseless and saying that Hammad was certainly active on his mobile phone, but he could not be involved in such illegal activities. He was active on a gaming app on his phone. 18-year-old Hammad lived with his parents and brothers in an old building near Kurla station. Jalaluddin Siddiqui has expressed ignorance about who his son was in contact with and which group he was in contact with on social media. He is not aware of it. He was in contact on the phone, but he is innocent. My thin, weak, frail child stayed away from all evil. He can be inclined towards evil even through his mobile phone. If there is any mistake in this, then he should be forgiven. He said that Hammad has never even seen the police station. The father cried and said that my child should be protected and the police and agencies should have mercy on my child. He said that I have faith in the court. He said that my son is being trapped. My son cannot travel to Mumbai alone, so how can he go to Delhi or any other province? The news of his arrest has shaken us. The ground has shifted under my feet. I work as a daily wage worker and did not have enough money to pay my son’s college fees, so he was trying to give a private exam. My son was good in studies and he was eager to become a lawyer and judge to serve the country after studying, but unfortunately he has been arrested. The arrest of Hammad from Kurla has created a sensation. Hammad was in touch on social media and was a participant in jihadi chats and groups. This allegation has been made by the ATS and Delhi Special Cell, while the father has denied all these allegations. Currently, Hammad is on remand in the NIA’s toy bomb blast case and Mashid Ahmed has also been arrested from Kalyan in this case.

Mumbai: The Indian National Congress on Sunday announced Akash Vijayrao More as its candidate for the upcoming Baramati Assembly by-election, setting up a direct contest against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar.

More, currently serving as secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, has a political lineage. His father, Vijayrao More, was a former Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. A lawyer by profession, More had previously contested the Assembly elections in 2014 and is known for his alignment with Congress ideology. His candidature has been approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

According to reports, More is expected to file his nomination on Monday. His selection is being viewed as a calculated move by the Congress, particularly with an eye on mobilising support from the Dhangar community in the constituency.

The Baramati seat, located in Pune district, is widely regarded as a stronghold of the Pawar family. The by-election was initially expected to be uncontested, with senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare indicating that efforts were underway to reach out to Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, to avoid a direct contest.

However, the political dynamics appear to have shifted. Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut earlier dismissed reports of confusion within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over seat-sharing for the bypolls. He maintained that Baramati traditionally belongs to Sharad Pawar and stated that elections are a matter of political self-respect.

Raut also noted that the final call on Shiv Sena UBT’s participation would be taken by party chief Uddhav Thackeray. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in alliance with the BJP, fielded Sunetra Pawar for the Baramati contest.

The by-election was necessitated following the sudden demise of former Maharashtra Deputy CM and Baramati’s sitting MLA Ajit Pawar. As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, polling will be held on April 23, 2026, with counting slated for May 4. The Baramati bypoll is expected to witness a keen contest, marking a key political battle in one of Maharashtra’s most high-profile constituencies.