Maharashtra
Thackeray calls for scrapping Election Commission, warns of anarchy after 2024
In a stunning statement, Shiv Sena-UBT President and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said the party name-symbol verdict of Election Commission was “unacceptable” and demanded that the poll panel must be “disbanded”.
Thackeray’s shocker came at a media conference when he termed the EC ruling of last Friday as “incorrect” and said his party has challenged it in the Supreme Court, while apprehending a “dictatorship” in the country after 2024.
“Such undemocratic decisions cannot be made on the basis of money power… It’s an unconstitutional verdict. We demand that the ECI should be dissolved, an impartial EC should be elected like the judges, and till then its work should be handled by the Supreme Court,” roared Thackeray.
He sought for the need to “elect” and not “appoint” election commissioners with a proper procedure, on the lines of the procedures of appointing judges in the Supreme Court.
Thackeray warned that if the scenario is not halted, then the 2024 elections may be the last in the country and after that anarchy will begin, and called upon all parties to remain vigilant.
He termed the latest political developments as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strategy to systematically destroy the Shiv Sena for which it had contracted (Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde.
Last Friday, the EC had declared the faction led by CM Shinde as the “real” one and awarded it the original party’s name Shiv Sena and election symbol of bow and arrow, sparking howls of protests from the Thackeray side.
Questioning the haste in the matter, Thackeray pointed out that his group had requested the EC to defer its ruling till the matter of suspended MLAs is pending in the SC.
If the EC wanted to select who would get the party name-symbol on the basis of their legislative strength, “then why did they ask for affidavits, certificates and other documents for which we spent lakhs of rupees”, he said, adding that they should have taken into consideration the timeline of the chain of events in the matter.
“Everything has been stolen from us… The name and symbol of our party, even the (temporary) symbol of ‘Flaming Torch’ may be snatched, but they cannot steal the name Thackeray. We have challenged the EC ruling in the SC and the matter will come up tomorrow (Febeuary 21),” said Thackeray.
After the EC’s order, a livid Sena-UBT chief spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut claimed on Sunday that an amount of over Rs 2,000 crore was spent to grab the party’s name-symbol and has threatened to make more exposes on this in the coming days.
Thackeray held discussions with his top leaders and district party heads to decide the future course of action, the upcoming Budget Session of Maharashtra Legislature, the upcoming cases in the SC, etc., even as his party units protested in different parts of the state against the EC.
Maharashtra
Robbery in Mumbai Saki Naka, 4 arrested, stolen goods recovered

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

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.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Maharashtra ATS takes action against MD vendors, MD worth Rs 9 crore seized, factory exposed, two foreign women and one person arrested

Mumbai: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has claimed to have seized MD worth Rs 9.4 crore during an operation in Bandra, Mumbai. A suspect was found in front of a tipper at Amber Hotel Bandra. When he was searched, 2050 grams of MD Mephedone was recovered from his possession, after which the Kala Chowki ATS has registered a case and started investigating him. The ATS has also arrested two foreign women suspected of this. During the progress of this operation, 2688 grams of Mephedone was seized from Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and two women were also arrested in this case. In this case, with the help of UP Police, the factory from which MD was purchased was also cracked down on and MD worth Rs 5 crore was seized. The police is taking further action in this case.
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