New Delhi:

Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray is in Delhi to meet the top brass of the INDIA opposition bloc, which continues to lurch from one existential crisis to another – the latest being the BJP thumping the AAP in Delhi, and Sharad Pawar felicitating Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

On NCP boss Sharad Pawar’s actions, the junior Thackeray refused to be drawn, telling reporters, “I will not talk about (that)… it is our (the Sena faction now led by Uddhav Thackeray) to never honour a person like this (Mr Shinde) … (who) not only split our party but also Maharashtra’s spine…”

On the INDIA bloc picture, though, Mr Thackeray said he met the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi last night and will meet AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal later today. He then fired a warning about the “future of India” and tried to rally the grouping, accusing the BJP of plotting to “finish off… democracy”.

Mr Thackeray also raised red flags about election fraud and hacking of EVMs, or electronic voting machines, which the opposition claims – after every defeat – was orchestrated by the BJP.

“I met Rahul Gandhiji last night (and) today I will meet Arvind Kejriwalji. The future of our country is in doubt… today, we don’t know where our vote is going amid voter fraud and EVM fraud…”

“Are elections being held in a free-and-fair manner? We think we are living in a democracy… but it is no longer a democracy. What happened with us and Kejriwalji and the Congress… this could happen with Nitish (Kumar)ji, and Chandrababu Naiduji in the future…” he thundered.

The reference to Nitish Kumar was not lost; the Bihar Chief Minister helped found the INDIA bloc in 2023 before a dramatic jump (back) to the BJP’s camp 12 months later. He now faces a state election later this year, and there is speculation the INDIA bloc is trying to re-flip the JDU boss.

ARCHIVES | INDIA Bloc In Pieces? Amid Turmoil, Architect Nitish Kumar Exits

Mr Thackeray’s reference to Nitish – that the BJP may stack the odds to ensure its ‘ally’ loses the majority, or at least the upper hand, in their relationship, is being seen by many in this light.

Formed in June 2023 to unite opposition parties against the BJP, the INDIA bloc has flattered to impress, with only a few scattered Assembly election wins to show for its efforts.

The bloc has come under criticism – internal and external – with the bulk reserved for the Congress and its apparent inability to work with smaller parties on issues like seat-sharing before elections.

The defeat in Haryana and the BJP’s Delhi triumph have both been held up as examples of the Congress not ‘playing nice’. The Congress, however, hit back firmly; after the AAP’s Delhi defeat, party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said making other parties win is not the Congress’ responsibility.

However, questions over the INDIA bloc’s future are not new; the group’s functioning was also discussed after the 2023 Madhya Pradesh election that the BJP won comfortably.

Then too there was criticism of the Congress, at which time two key group members – Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party – delivered rebukes. Since then there has also been talk of a leadership change, with Ms Banerjee the apparent consensus pick.

Mr Thackeray, though, firmly ruled out any talk of the bloc crumbling or a leadership shuffle, stating, “There are many seniors who will prepare a roadmap. The INDIA bloc has joint leadership… there is no one leader. This is not a fight of egos but for the future of the country.”

The bloc’s next big challenge (assuming it stays together till then) is the Bihar election.

With input from agencies

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Mumbai:

A day after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi said his party would exit the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray said the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra sometimes behaved like “BJP’s B Team”. The Sena (UBT) leader clarified that his comments don’t refer to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. “Akhilesh ji is fighting… but here, they sometimes behave like BJP’s B team. We have seen this before as well,” he said.

Mr Azmi’s announcement followed a newspaper ad and a social media post by a Sena UBT legislative council member known to be close to party chief Uddhav Thackeray. On December 6, which marked 32 years of the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya, Sena (UBT) leader Milind Narvekar put up a social media post with a picture of the demolition and a quote by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray: “I am proud of those who did this”. The poster also had pictures of Uddhav Thackeray and his MLA son Aaditya Thackeray.

In a strong response, Mr Azmi told news agency PTI, “An advertisement was given by Shiv Sena (UBT) in a newspaper congratulating those who demolished Babri masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray) aide has also posted on X hailing the demolition of the mosque. We are quitting the MVA. I am speaking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Yadav.”

“If anyone in the MVA speaks such language, what is the difference between the BJP and them? Why should we stay with them?” he said, adding, “The Congress has to decide whether it can ally with someone who speaks like this.”

Mr Thackeray today said, “Our Hindutva is clear, we have never said we are not Hindutvawadi. Our Hindutva has Ram in the heart and kaam (work) in the hands. Our Hindutva takes everyone together. B teams should not teach us, Maharashtra has seen Uddhav Thackeray took everyone forward together.”

Aaditya Thackeray’s remarks drew a response from Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh. “We have raised two questions. Firstly, are you moving towards a hardcore Hindutva ideology? Secondly, we asked, who gave you the votes? Without clarifying these points, Aaditya has made an accusation we strongly oppose. This is wrong, and we will talk to senior leaders regarding this.”

Mumbai:

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said today that MLAs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will boycott the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected state assembly. alleging tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs).

“Today we have decided that our winning MLA will not take oath today. We have doubts about EMV, we are not taking oath today in protest. Democracy is being murdered,” Mr Thackeray said. 

The move comes amid a special three-day session of the newly constituted 288-member Maharashtra legislative assembly, which began today. The session, overseen by pro-tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar, includes the oath administration for MLAs, the election of the assembly Speaker, a trust vote for the new government, and an address by the Governor. Mr Kolambkar, a senior BJP MLA, was appointed pro-tem Speaker by Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Friday.

“The results have raised questions, the entire process seems tainted. People are unhappy, and something appears wrong,” alleged Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar.

The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, won 230 of the 288 assembly seats in the November 20 elections. This was followed by the swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister, with Mr Shinde and Mr Pawar taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers on December 5.

Mumbai:

A decision on the next Maharashtra Chief Minister will be taken during a meeting of the BJP legislative party tomorrow, Shiv Sena chief and caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said today. “This government is the people’s government. I have clarified my role. The honourable Prime Minister and the honourable Home Minister will take the final decision on (Chief Minister). They (BJP MLAs) are meeting tomorrow. It will be decided. Dont’ worry,” he told the media.

Mr Shinde travelled to his native village in Satara on Friday. The trip had sparked a buzz that the outgoing Chief Minister was not happy with the BJP’s decision to claim the top post after Mahayuti’s sweeping polls victory. Mr Shinde, however, said he was tired after the election campaign and had come to Satara for rest.

“I always come to my village. Why should there be any confusion when I have already made my stand clear last week? I have already said the decision on CM’s post taken by the BJP leadership will be acceptable to me and Shiv Sena and will have my full backing,” he said.

While the Sena chief was in Satara, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule announced that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Mahayuti government will take place in south Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Thursday. The BJP is yet to announce its Chief Minister pick. Devendra Fadnavis, the state’s tallest BJP leader and a former Chief Minister, is being seen as a frontrunner.

In this Assembly election, the results of which were declared last week, the Mahayuti scored a thumping win, scoring 230 seats in the 288-member Assembly. The Opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi managed to win just 46 seats, months after its good show in the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

The BJP, which has won 132 seats, has decided to claim the Chief Minister post. After days of political posturing by a section of Sena leaders, Mr Shinde cleared the air and said he would not be an “obstacle” and would accept the BJP leadership’s decision on the next Chief Minister. The Sena chief’s announcement must be seen against the backdrop of the BJP’s strong score in this election. The BJP now needs only one of its allies to reach the majority mark in Assembly and Ajit Pawar’s NCP has backed it in the Chief Minister’s tussle, leaving Mr Shinde with little leverage.

The delay in announcing the Chief Minister pick has, meanwhile, drawn criticism from the Opposition. Aaditya Thackeray, MLA and leader of Sena (UBT), has said the inability to choose a Chief Minister a week after result day was an “insult” to Maharashtra. He has also said that announcing the swearing-in date without even staking claim to form the government is “pure anarchy”. Maharashtra, he has said, “seems like no priority” for BJP-led alliance. Mr Thackeray has also said that if the Opposition parties had ended up on the winning side, President Rule would have been imposed in the state by now.

To not be able to decide on a chief minister, and form government, for more than a week after result day, is not just an insult to Maharashtra (for taking our state so lightly) but also to the assistance provided by their dearest Election Commission.

It seems that rules only…

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) December 1, 2024

The Sena (UBT) leader also doubled down on his party’s allegations of EVM tampering and termed the poll results “mandate of the ECI”.

“To not be able to decide on a chief minister, and form government, for more than a week after result day, is not just an insult to Maharashtra (for taking our state so lightly) but also to the assistance provided by their dearest Election Commission. It seems that rules only apply to the opposition parties, while rules don’t for some special ones. To declare the swearing in date, unilaterally, without even staking claim to form government and show numbers to the Hon’ble Governor, is pure anarchy,” he said in a post on X.

Mumbai:

Shinde Sena leader Milind Deora spoke to NDTV Monday – over dosa and some chai, a welcome break from a busy election schedule – about next week’s Maharashtra Assembly poll contest against Aaditya Thackeray of the Thackeray Shiv Sena faction, and underlined his ‘local’ credentials to voters. Mr Deora will contest the Worli seat in south Mumbai – a current stronghold of the Thackeray Sena faction and won convincingly by Aaditya Thackeray in 2019.

“For me… I am a south Mumbaikar. I was born here, I live here, I work here. This is my janmbabhoomi and karnabhoomi. No doubt Aaditya Thackeray is an important leader of the opposition and has been MLA for five years. So, in some ways, this is a political challenge.”

“We wanted to mount a serious challenge for this seat… to raise the stakes. We did think about giving the ticket a local leader, but the decision was finally taken that I should contest. It was felt that giving the seat to a local person can swing both ways. What could have happened is that the opposition could say, ‘it is an unknown person’ and there could be conspiracies.”

The fight for Worli, therefore, is set to be a high-profile battle.

In an earlier interview with NDTV Mr Deora had played down any talk of a ‘personal’ contest with Aaditya Thackeray, saying he had known Aaditya Thackeray “since his childhood” and said he would not speak ill of the young politician. He did, however, criticise him and his party’s failure to develop Worli, declaring residents were “tired of speed breaker politics” hampering growth.

Milind Deora is a former Congress leader who left that party in January, weeks before the general election, and joined the Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who led rebel lawmakers into an alliance with the BJP. His candidature for this seat was confirmed late last month, and immediately the headlines were about a Sena vs Sena fight for Worli.

“We have lots of good workers here…” Mr Deora told NDTV when asked about the selection process that led to him getting the Worli ticket, a choice he jokingly called “a left-field decision”.

“This area is different… it is cosmopolitan and has a strong local identity. Many here identify as ‘Worlikars’. Worli also has had local leader serving as MLAs. In that sense, Aaditya was the first ‘outsider’ MLA,” he said, taking a jab at his rival even as he emphasised his local connect.

The Worli seat is in the Mumbai (South) Lok Sabha constituency that is widely seen as the backyard of the Deora family; Murli Deora won this seat four times, including a hat-trick of wins from 1984 to 1991, and his son, Milind Deora, claimed two consecutive wins – in 2004 and 2009.

Yes, since then the Sena has held Mumbai (South).

Back in March the Shinde Sena gave its new recruit, Milind Deora, the responsibility of leading its Lok Sabha election charge in the Mumbai (South) constituency. And he did a credible job; Arvind Sawant’s winning margin dropped from 1.28 lakh votes in 2019 to just about one lakh.

But the margin of Aaditya Thackeray’s win in the 2019 state election – he had a 65 per cent vote share advantage – underlines the magnitude of the task for the Shinde Sena and Milind Deora.

The two will also face-off against Sandeep Deshpande of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray, who is Uddhav Thackeray’s cousin.

Mumbai:

The Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday nominated Rajya Sabha member Milind Deora against ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray’s son and Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee Aaditya Thackeray from Mumbai’s Worli in the upcoming assembly polls.

Mr Deora, a former Congress leader and Union minister of state, joined the Sena before the Lok Sabha polls this year and was subsequently elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Mr Shinde’s decision to pit Mr Deora against incumbent MLA and former state minister Aaditya Thackeray will make Worli a high-voltage contest.

The Shiv Sena on Sunday announced its candidates for 20 seats.

It also fielded BJP Lok Sabha member Narayan Rane’s son Nilesh Rane from the Kudal constituency. His younger brother and sitting MLA Nitesh Rane has been renominated by the BJP from Kankavali in Sindhudurg district.

The party has picked Member of Legislative Council and former MP Bhawana Gawali from Risod in Washim district, while another MLC, Amshya Padvi, will contest on a Sena ticket from the Akkalkuva constituency in Dhule district.

Former Lok Sabha member Sanjay Nirupam will contest from Dindoshi seat in Mumbai. Sena has also nominated former BJP leader Murji Patel for the Andheri East seat in the state capital.

BJP ex-MP Rajendra Gavit, who joined the Sena in 2019 and won the Palghar Lok Sabha seat then, has been fielded from the Palghar assembly constituency.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

A blockbuster political battle brews in Mumbai – Bollywood’s beating heart – with Aaditya Thackeray, the popular son of Shiv Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray, set to fight charismatic ex Congress MP Milind Deora, who jumped from that party to Eknath Shinde’s breakaway Sena faction in January.

Sources Friday morning said the Shinde Sena had confirmed Mr Deora’s candidature, a day after Mr Thackeray’s party said he would defend his seat.

The two will also face-off against Sandeep Deshpande of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray, who is Uddhav Thackeray’s cousin.

Thackeray junior holds the Worli seat – a Shiv Sena stronghold – that will vote, with the state’s 287 other Assembly constituencies, on November 20.

Except Worli isn’t just a Sena stronghold.

Sena vs Sena In Worli

The posh neighbourhood is in the Mumbai (South) Lok Sabha constituency that is widely seen as the backyard of the Deora family; Murli Deora won this seat four times, including a hat-trick of wins from 1984 to 1991, and his son, Milind Deora, claimed two consecutive wins – in 2004 and 2009.

Yes, since then the Sena has held Mumbai (South).

Arvind Sawant claimed a hat-trick of wins in the April-June federal election. The third was with the Thackeray Sena – as that party, the Congress, and Sharad Pawar’s NCP dominated the Lok Sabha poll in the state – suggesting Aaditya Thackeray has the edge, but nothing is ever certain in politics.

Back in March the Shinde Sena gave its new recruit, Milind Deora, the responsibility of leading its Lok Sabha election charge in the Mumbai (South) constituency.

There was speculation then Mr Deora would be nominated to contest the seat – which seemed the obvious thing to do – but that fizzled out after the party appointed him to the Rajya Sabha.

Mr Deora would, therefore, only oversee the Shinde Sena’s Lok Sabha campaign. And he did a credible job; Arvind Sawant’s winning margin dropped from 1.28 lakh votes in 2019 to just about one lakh.

But the margin of Aaditya Thackeray’s win in the 2019 state election – he had a 65 per cent vote share advantage – underlines the magnitude of the task for the Shinde Sena and Milind Deora.

What will provide a boost is that in the Lok Sabha election Worli voters gave Mr Sawant a very narrow win – he finished less than 7,000 votes ahead of the Shinde Sena’s Yamini Jadhav.

A Third Challenger?

Raj Thackeray could be the dark horse in this election. His MNS opted not to field a candidate from Worli in 2019 to respect Aaditya Thackeray’s electoral debut.

READ | For Aaditya Thackeray, Worli Challenge Likely From Uncle’s Party

But all bets are off now, especially since the reduced margin in the Lok Sabha polls signals an opportunity to gain ground. “In 2017 (in municipal polls), we bagged around 30,000 to 33,000 votes from Worli. We have voters dedicated to MNS here…” Mr Deshpande told news agency PTI.

Aaditya Thackeray, though, is unfazed.

“The People Know…”

The junior Thackeray led a massive rally Thursday as he filed his papers, and told NDTV, “… the people have realised the BJP is a party of hollow promises (and) will stand against Eknath Shinde…”

READ | “People Know BJP, Shinde Looted State”: Aaditya Thackeray To NDTV

Asked about the battle for Worli, he said, “You can see the response of the people. That is their love… The common man and woman on the streets are giving me their blessings.”

What Is Worli Like?

Home to some of India’s wealthiest men and women, the Worli skyline is marked by high-rises and thriving business hubs. But it also contains dilapidated chawls awaiting redevelopment.

Many slum rehabilitation projects have been stalled, and some redeveloped buildings have not provided promised monthly rentals to residents.

The Maharashtra election – one of the two final state polls this year, the other being in Jharkhand – will take place in a single phase on November 20, with results for both states due three days later.

READ | Congress, Uddhav Sena, Sharad Pawar’s Party To Fight 85 Seats Each

The 2019 election was won by the BJP-Sena alliance but that fell apart, spectacularly, after the two failed to agree a power-share deal. Uddhav Thackeray then led the Sena into an alliance with the Congress and the NCP (unlikely partners both) and that angered some of his party leaders.

Two years later Eknath Shinde led a rebellion and overthrew the ruling alliance. He was made the Chief Minister and, in July last year, Ajit Pawar staged a similar revolt within the NCP.

The BJP is allied with the rebel Sena and NCP factions.

With input from agencies

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Mumbai:

Several prominent leaders including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and state NCP(SP) chief Jayant Patil on Thursday filed their nominations for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.

As many as 153 candidates have filed nominations across the state so far since the process began on October 22. The last date for filing nominations is October 29.

Of the ruling alliance, NCP ministers Dilip Walse Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal filed the papers for Ambegaon and Yeola seats, respectively, while BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha filed his nomination for Malabar Hill in Mumbai.

Aaditya Thackeray filed his nomination for Worli in Mumbai, his current constituency, while his cousin Amit Thackeray, son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, filed his nomination for the neighbouring Mahim seat. Amit Thackeray is making his electoral debut.

Another debutant Rohit Patil, son of the late NCP leader R R Patil, entered the fray from Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal on the NCP(SP) ticket.

Jayant Patil, a former minister, filed his papers from Islampur. Harshvardhan Patil, who recently joined the NCP (SP), filed his nomination for Indapur. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray’s visit to Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city on Monday triggered a clash between workers and local leaders of his party and those of the rival BJP.

Police registered two separate cases against 60 people in connection with the clash between Shiv Sena (UBT) and BJP workers and local leaders during Thackeray’s visit to the central Maharashtra city, around 370km from Mumbai, an official said.

Workers of the ruling BJP staged a demonstration against the former state minister in the afternoon, inviting a counter agitation from Shiv Sena (UBT) activists, he said.

Slogans were raised from both sides and the situation became tense when supporters of the rival parties clashed with each other, the official said.

Police personnel deployed at the spot to maintain law and order used batons to disperse the agitators, he said.

Two separate cases were registered in connection with the clash at the Cidco Police Station and 32 BJP workers and 28 Shiv Sena (UBT) activists were booked, the official added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday condemned Uttar Pradesh government’s directive for food shops to display their owners’ names saying that its an attempt by the BJP to create distance between people.

“This is an attempt by the BJP to create distance between people, I only ask that no matter whose nameplate it is, if he is a member of BJP, then is it appropriate or not?” Aaditya Thackeray said.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Sukanta Majumdar supported the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive for food shops to display their owners’ names, saying that a similar notifications were issued during the Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav governments.

He added that it’s a routine exercise and not specific to the Kanwar Yatra.

He claimed that the Opposition is misleading people and spreading lies on the issue.

“Opposition is misleading people and spreading lies. A similar kind of notification was issued during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s government, and Akhilesh Yadav’s government also issued such notifications… it’s a routine exercise and not specific to the Kanwar Yatra. The law requires that names be registered, not identifying anyone by religion… Hindus who eat non-veg go to Muslim shops. In West Bengal, we go to many such shops, which are run by Muslims. The opposition is trying to divide the people and Asaduddin Owaisi is playing the role of Jinnah,” Mr Majumdar told ANI.

Notably, the Uttar Pradesh government has mandated all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names. Furthermore, the Haridwar Police Administration issued an order on Friday for restaurant owners to display names along the Kanwar Yatra route.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly condemned the directive issued by the BJP state governments in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to all eateries to display their owners’ names along the entire stretch of the Kanwar Yatra route .

CPI (M) said in a statement that the decisions taken by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments were clearly designed to sharpen communal polarisation and foster tensions among religious communities.

“This move is blatantly unconstitutional and strikes at the foundation of the fundamental right of equality for all citizens,” CPI (M) said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)