Mumbai:

The Congress’s “overconfidence” in Maharashtra and its “attitude” during seat-sharing talks hurt Maha Vikas Aghadi’s prospects, a senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) has said a week after the Opposition bloc was routed in the state polls. The BJP-led Mahayuti scored a thumping victory in the election, winning 230 seats in the 288-member Assembly.

Ambadas Danve, Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi should have projected Uddhav Thackeray as its Chief Minister face.

“After the Lok Sabha election results, the Congress was overconfident in Maharashtra like in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. This was reflected in the results. Its attitude during seat-sharing negotiations hurt us. Uddhav ji should have been projected as the Chief Minister face. Not doing so harmed our prospects. The results would have been different if this was done,” Mr Danve told the media.

In a subtle dig at the Congress, he said, “They were getting ready with suit and tie even before the results.”

The Congress won 13 seats in the Lok Sabha election months ago, the highest among Maha Vikas Aghadi allies. Buoyed by the stellar show, the Nana Patole-led state Congress unit bargained hard during the seat-sharing talks ahead of the state polls, leading to friction in the alliance. Eventually, it contested 103 seats but won only 16. The Sena (UBT), which contested 89 seats, managed to win 20 seats. The third ally, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, contested 87 seats and won 10.

Mr Danve said some of the candidates of Sena (UBT) had pointed to the organisational aspect, but did not name any party. He said Sena (UBT) will prepare to build its strength to the point where it can contest all 288 seats in the state.

On his former party colleague and former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose rebellion split the Shiv Sena, Mr Danve said the BJP has “many Shindes”. “The BJP has many Shindes in several states. The BJP uses and throws them away,” he said.

The remarks come amid talks within the Mahayuti alliance on who will be the next Chief Minister. The BJP has scored the highest among NDA allies and is learned to have pushed for the Chief Minister post. After days of posturing by some Sena leaders, Mr Shinde yesterday stepped back and said he would accept Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision on the Chief Minister post.

The opposition alliance suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP-led ruling alliance in Maharashtra. But what could add insult to this injury is if the figures remain more or less the same till the last round of counting in all the seats as then no party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi or MVA – Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP) – will be eligible for the post of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the newly elected Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

A party with 10 percent of the 288 seats or 29 seats can claim the post. However, all of the MVA parties are at the moment falling short of the mark, as per the legislative rules.

According to the latest Election Commission figures at 6pm, the Shiv Sena (UBT) won 13 seats and was leading in 7, Congress won 6 and was ahead in 9 while NCP (SP) bagged six seats and was leading in 4.

Even though the opposition alliance will achieve the required number if all their winning seats were added but the combined strength of parties is not considered for the post of the Leader of Opposition, as per the rules.

So, given the current circumstances, the 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly may function without the LoP, similar to the 16th Lok Sabha which did not have a Leader of Opposition. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim also don’t have anyone in the post because of the lack of opposition parties with at least 10 percent seats.

The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition appears to retain Maharashtra with their spectacular performance, posting a stunning comeback after the Lok Sabha debacle earlier this year.

The ruling Mahayuti alliance has either won or is leading in 231 of the 288 seats.

The BJP has so far won 67 seats and is leading in 66, the Shiv Sena has won 35 and is ahead in 22 seats, while the NCP has won 28 and is leading in 13 seats, as per the latest Election Commission figures.

The results have come as a setback for Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray as the assembly elections followed splits in their parties. The Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde rebelled against the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray bringing down his government while Mr Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar walked away to join the ruling alliance in 2023.

Since then, the factions have been in a bitter battle for supremacy.

After the results, termed “historic” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several others in the BJP and its alliance partners, the buzzing question is who would be the Chief Minister.

Even as many are rooting for deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for the top post, both he and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have maintained that all parties will meet and decide who the leader will be.

New Delhi:

With leads pointing to a rout for his party and the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that there is something amiss (‘gadbad’) in the election and said that the projected results are not acceptable to the opposition coalition. He also called for elections to be held again, using ballot papers.

The BJP has hit back, saying that the Rajya Sabha MP suffers from mental bankruptcy.

As of 11.30 am, the ruling Mahayuti, consisting of the BJP, the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, was ahead in 220 of Maharashtra’s 288 seats. The Mahayuti, which has the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) as its constituents, was projected to win just 56. Even the Shiv Sena (UBT) scion, Aaditya Thackeray, was trailing Milind Deora of the rival Sena faction by 600 votes. 

If the numbers hold, it will be an unprecedented victory for the Mahayuti, and Mr Raut said this was one of the reasons he felt that the numbers were suspect.

“There is definitely something amiss,” the Rajya Sabha MP said, but refused to elaborate on whether he was referring to electronic voting machines or something else. 

“A money machine was installed in every constituency. Eknath Shinde was saying that he would resign if any of his sitting MLAs lost. Does this happen in any election? What kind of confidence and what kind of a democracy is this? Does anyone get more than 200 seats? There has been dishonesty (‘beimani’) in the state. The results are such that you have implied that the voters of the state are dishonest; the voters of this state are not dishonest,” Mr Raut thundered. 

Asked whether his party would accept the results, he said, “No, and I think even the people will not accept the results. I am saying again and again that this cannot be the people’s verdict… How is it possible for Eknath Shinde’s faction to get 60 seats, for Ajit Pawar to get 40 seats and for the BJP to win 125 seats?”

In a post on X later, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader repeated the charges and also called for elections to be held again, using ballot papers. 

As of 11.30 am, the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde was leading in 54 seats – just two lower than the undivided party’s tally in 2019 – while the Shiv Sena (UBT) was ahead in 20. 

Hitting out at Mr Raut, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the opposition cries foul and begins raising questions about EVMs whenever the results are not in its favour.

“Sanjay Raut suffers from mental bankruptcy and no one takes him seriously in Maharashtra. The results in Wayanad (where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is winning) are fine… the INDIA alliance feels that they will win in Jharkhand and the EVMs are fine there, EVMs were fine in Jammu and Kashmir. But there is something amiss in Haryana and  Maharashtra. Whenever they (opposition parties) lose an election or a case in court, they start abusing EVMs, the Election Commission and courts,” Mr Poonawalla sneered. 

Mumbai:

Even before the first votes are counted in Maharashtra, fissures have emerged within the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on who will head the next government with constituents in both camps laying claim over the chief minister’s post.

After polling for the 288-member assembly ended on Wednesday evening, the ruling as well as opposition fronts started claiming that mandate will be in their favour when votes are counted on November 23.

Soon after polling, state Congress chief Nana Patole asserted a MVA government will be formed in Maharashtra under the leadership of his party.

Voting trends suggest the Congress will get the maximum number of seats in the new assembly, he said.

His remarks did not go down well with ally Shiv Sena (UBT), whose leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday insisted the chief ministerial face will be decided by all alliance partners jointly once the MVA secures a majority.

The Rajya Sabha MP said if the Congress high command has told Patole that he will be the chief ministerial face then national party’s president Mallikarjun Kharge, and its top leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should announce the same.

The MVA, consisting of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) and the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, have expressed confidence that their respective alliance will form the next government after votes are counted on Saturday.

While a majority of exit polls have predicted that the Mahayuti will retain power, a few have favoured the MVA.

On the Mahayuti side, Shiv Sena MLA and party spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said the assembly elections were contested with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the face.

“Voters have shown their preference for Shinde through voting. I think it is Shinde’s right (to be the next chief minister) and we are confident that he will be the next CM,” Mr Shirsat said.

BJP leader Pravin Darekar batted for Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the top post.

“I think if anyone from the BJP is becoming the CM then it will be Devendra Fadnavis,” he said.

NCP leader Amol Mitkari pushed the name of his party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for the coveted job.

“Whatever the results, the NCP will be the kingmaker,” Mr Mitkari said.

Asked about the Chief Ministerial face, Mr Fadnavis maintained all three Mahayuti parties will sit together and take a “good decision”.

Speaking to reporters separately, BJP leader Darekar claimed the Mahayuti will form the next government and dismissed the possibility of the MVA coming to power and said the opposition bloc was plagued by “internal rifts”.

“The people of Maharashtra have given a clear mandate. The Chief Minister will be from the Mahayuti, not the MVA, and certainly not the Congress,” he asserted.

Highlighting divisions within the MVA, Mr Darekar said, “Congress MP Praniti Shinde and her father and former CM Sushilkumar Shinde supported an independent candidate against Uddhav Thackeray’s nominee in a constituency in Solapur district. These internal rifts expose a lack of unity. How can parties without internal coherence decide on a Chief Minister?”

The BJP leader said Mr Patole’s aspirations to become chief minister was nothing but “mungerilal ke haseen sapne” (daydreaming).

On exit polls, Mr Darekar remarked, “While no exit poll is final, most have predicted a Mahayuti win. Even independent candidates (on winning) are likely to back Mahayuti.”

Taking a swipe at Prahar Janshakti Party leader Bachchu Kadu, he said, “Kadu speaks with grand bravado, but his own seat is under threat. Let him first declare how many of his candidates are winning.”

Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s statements on the Adani group, the BJP leader quipped, “Rahul Gandhi should go to the US and focus on issues abroad, where his commentary might hold weight. His remarks on the fall of the Union government are childish and baseless.”

On alleged involvement of NCP (SP) Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule and Mr Patole in using bitcoins illegally to fund elections, Mr Darekar said the truth will come out soon.

Both Ms Sule and Mr Patole have denied the allegations.

“The ED’s investigation is uncovering links to MVA leaders. The truth will emerge soon,” he asserted.

Highlighting increase in turnout in the November 20 assembly polls in the state, Mr Darekar credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for their grassroots campaign to encourage voting.

He maintained the Mahayuti government’s ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ has resonated with women voters. 

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

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shared four audio clips on their official X (formerly Twitter) account to claim that it is a conversation recorded involving Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Nana Patole (Congress) and IPS officer Amitabh Gupta.

The conversations revolved around money and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin), and all of them were speaking with one Gaurav Mehta, who is allegedly an employee of an audit firm.

BJP shared these audio clips on 19 November, a day before Maharashtra was set to witness assembly elections and claims that these are ‘proof of polling fraud’.

(These posts can be seen here, here, here and here.)

But what’s the truth?: These audio clips are not authentic and have been created using AI tools.

How did we find out the truth?: We will examine each audio clip here:

AUDIO 1: IPS Amitabh Gupta with Audit firm employee Gaurav Mehta speaking to

• To start off with, Gupta pronounces the name ‘Gaurav’ and ‘Lakshmi’ incorrectly.

• We ran this audio clip on the AI-detection tool, TrueMedia, which concluded that there was substantial evidence of manipulation.

• AI-Generated Audio Detector returned with 100 percent confidence which concludes that the audio is fake.

  

  Here are the results by TrueMedia.

  

  Here are the results by TrueMedia

• Team WebQoof contacted ConTrails AI, a Bengaluru-based startup, that has developed its own AI technology for identifying fake audio and video content.

• Their report indicated that the audio file is AI generated or manipulated with high confidence.

  

  Here are the results by ConTrails.

• AUDIO 2: Congress leader Nana Patole in conversation with IPS Amitabh Gupta

• In this short audio clip, Patole is allegedly threatening Gupta to convert the bitcoin for cash.

• When we uploaded the video to TrueMedia’s AI-detection tool, it concluded that this audio is fake too. There was little evidence of manipulation.

  

  Here are the results by TrueMedia.

  

  Here are the results by TrueMedia

However, when we uploaded the clip as an audio file, the results found little evidence of manipulation.

• We also compared Patole’s voice in the audio recording to his interviews on YouTube channel, The Lallantop, shared on 15 November 2024. The voice in the audio clip did not match Patole’s original voice.

Another online AI-detection tool, Hive Moderation, also concluded that this audio has been cloned and is not real.

The Misinformation Combat Alliance’s (MCA) Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) also ran the clip through third-party AI audio detection tools.

AUDIO 3: Supriya Sule in conversation with Mehta

• In this audio clip, Sule asks Mehta for cash in exchange for bitcoins.

• We compared Sule’s voice in the voice note to her interview on Samdish Bhatia’s video podcast, Unfiltered By Samdish in 2023.

• We noticed that her original voice does not match the one heard in the audio clips shared by BJP.

  

  Here are the results by TrueMedia.

  

  Here are the results by TrueMedia.

  

  Here are the results by Hive Moderation.

• ConTrails report also noted that the audio is manipulated.

  

  Here are the results by ConTrails.

• Moreover, Sule took to X to clarify that this audio clip shared by BJP linking her to a conversation regarding Bitcoins is fake.

• She has also lodged a cyber crime complaint.

Familiar tactics of spreading false information to manipulate the righteous voters are being resorted to, a night before the polling day. We have filed a criminal complaint to the Hon’ble ECI & the Cyber crime department against the fake allegations made of bitcoin… pic.twitter.com/g8Selv1DFk

— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 19, 2024

AUDIO 4: Second conversation between Gupta and Mehta

It noted that Audio Spoof detection AI model indicated AI generation with high confidence.

Conclusion: BJP shared AI-generated audio clips of Supriya Sule, Nana Patole and Amitabh Gupta and falsely linked it with “polling frauds”.

(This story was originally published by The Quint, and republished by NDTV as part of the Shakti Collective)

What are the issues during this unprecedented election in Maharashtra?

We are fighting this election as this combination for the second time now. The confidence of the State has increased, that it can defeat these tyrants, that it can fight them. Inflation, unemployment, no MSP to farmers, no education — these are the issues disturbing the people of the State. Businesses are being driven away to Gujarat. Maharashtra will fight against it all.

In many parts of the State, people speak of agricultural distress. But there is also a discussion on the impact of ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’, through which ₹1,500 assistance per person is given to eligible women in Maharashtra.

Majhi Ladki Bahin is being used as a blackmailing technique. What is being given by one hand is taken away by another. We will give more than ₹1,500, but it won’t be a bribe. What the MLAs of this government are doing is, they are telling the women that they cannot come for our meetings if they take money from them. That they will take back ₹3,000 if the women don’t vote for them. Our women are being treated like servants, like slaves. We will not let this happen.
Women tell me, they don’t want this kind of money. They instead want jobs for their sons and husbands. How far will we go with this kind of money, they ask me. In 2014, BJP had spoken against price rise. Now, they only deliver false promises.

How important is the farmers’ issue for your party? Earlier, the farmers’ bodies from across the country had given you a manifesto, seeking your support. What is your stand on that?

We have already promised that we will give ₹7,000 MSP for soybean. When I had become the CM, I had held only one session in Nagpur. The first job I did was to give a loan waiver to the farmers. Even then, I had given better MSP for cotton, for soybean. How did it reduce since my government? Where did the money go? In the MVA manifesto, we have addressed all these issues. We will give electricity in the day. We will ensure better crop insurance. Currently, the government is giving money, but the farmers hardly get anything. It is a joke, when farmers get ₹27, ₹45 by cheque. People don’t have the money for fees. We will give free education to all.

One criticism against you by the BJP is that ‘vote jihad’ helped you win during the Lok Sabha election.

What is the meaning of ‘vote jihad’? What the BJP does is ‘power jihad’. Is that okay? You sit with Mehbooba Mufti. That is okay. You sit with Nitish Kumar, with Chandrababu Naidu. That is okay. If you don’t want the votes, declare who has the right to vote in this country, and who doesn’t have the right to vote. The matter will end there. You have sat there (in power) for 10 years, and though I do not want it, you will continue to sit there for another five years. If you have the courage, change the Constitution. Say that these people have the right to vote and these people don’t.

Recently, PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah came to Mumbai and challenged you to make Rahul Gandhi say one nice thing about Balasaheb Thackeray and about Savarkar.

When they (the PM and Home Minister) come to Maharashtra, they know that they have to beg for votes in the name of Balasaheb Thackeray. Their rallies tell us that it is impossible for them to live in Maharashtra politics without taking the name of Balasaheb Thackeray. I want to say that during an MVA meeting, I saw how Rahul Gandhi bowed down in front of Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial and paid respect. Now, let us speak of the issues. In 2014, what did I do that you broke the alliance with me? In 2019, what wrong had I done? I had asked you to keep your word, your promise. We consider Balasaheb Thackeray’s room as a temple. Amit Shah gave a promise in that room. And now he teaches us about love for Balasaheb Thackeray.

There is a call by the BJP saying ‘batoge toh katoge’ (divided we fall). What do you think about it?

Tell me the meaning of batoge to katoge. When I was the CM, I did not let Maharashtra burn, when Delhi was burning. Was it good or bad? I will not let anyone do batna or katna. This is my responsibility. I am the family head. Tell me one incident where anything wrong took place. This is a way of misleading people since they can’t give anything.

You have spoken about the PM visiting the former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud’s residence. Do you think it was wrong?

I am not so big that I can give advice to CJI Chandrachud. But had he been a lecturer, he would have been much better. There is a protocol which needs to be followed. It isn’t a coincidence that we didn’t get justice for the last two years. Why didn’t we get justice?

There are speculations that some leaders from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are in touch with you. Can we expect ghar wapasi for some?

Yes, many are still in touch. But I will not take them. Many realise that they have made a mistake, are willing to publicly apologise. But I have told them that others have already taken their place. I don’t want people with price tags.

The MVA hasn’t given a CM candidate despite your initial requests. Now, Sharad Pawar says that the CM position will be given to the party which gets the highest number of seats.

That time is gone. I believe, a face should have been given then. Now, we will decide together after the election. We will not let any Maharashtra drohi (traitor) come to power. I will support anyone who will be proposed for the CM position — Supriya Sule, Rajendra Shingne, Nilesh Lanke, Jitendra Awhad, anyone.

Published – November 17, 2024 01:53 am IST

Chimur, Maharashtra:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday mounted a scathing attack against Congress and its Maha Vikas Aghadi partners, saying that they have “a double PhD” in putting brakes on development and in corruption.

Addressing a rally in Chimur for BJP and MahaYuti candidates, he said: “The Congress people have a double PhD in stalling, delaying and diverting the works. In 2.5 years, they stopped every development project from Metro to Vadhvan Port and Samruddhi Mahamarg. So remember that Aghadi means the biggest player in corruption.”

PM Modi also said that the rapid development of Maharashtra is beyond the reach of the Aghadi people.

“Congress and the alliance do not leave any opportunity to push the country back and weaken it. You people have shown today itself what the election results in Maharashtra are going to be. This huge crowd is saying that MahaYuti is going to form the government with a huge majority in Maharashtra. The people of Chimur and the entire Maharashtra have decided – ‘BJP – Mahayuti ahe, tar gati ahe. Maharashtra’s progress ahe’,” the Prime Minister said, breaking into Marathi.

“Along with MahaYuti, the NDA government at the Centre means double engine government in Maharashtra, which means double speed of development. The people of Maharashtra have seen this double pace of development in the last 2.5 years. Today Maharashtra is the state in the country where maximum foreign investment is taking place. New airports and new expressways are being built here. Today, around a dozen Vande Bharat trains are running in Maharashtra, more than 100 stations here are being renovated and many railway routes are being expanded,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the BJP-led NDA government has put a break on Maoism in Chimur and Gadchiroli and also across the country.

“Congress and its allies have given you only bloody games. It is our government which has curbed Naxalism (Maoism). Today this entire area is able to breathe freely. Now new opportunities are being created in the areas of Chimur and Gadchiroli. To ensure that Naxalism does not become dominant in this area again, you should not allow the Congress and its allies to even enter here,” he added.

The Prime Minister showered praise on the state BJP unit for bringing out a comprehensive manifesto which promises to increase the pace of development of all sections and the state.

“Today I would also like to congratulate Maharashtra BJP, which has released a very wonderful manifesto,” he said.

Further, the Prime Minister lashed out at the Congress and allies for their efforts to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir while referring to the resolution moved in this regard recently in the Assembly there.

“Our Jammu and Kashmir remained burning in separatism and terrorism for decades. Many brave soldiers of Maharashtra were martyred on the soil of Jammu and Kashmir while protecting the motherland. The law under the cover of which all this happened, that section was Article 370. This article was the contribution of Congress. We abolished Article 370. Kashmir was completely integrated with India and the Indian Constitution. But Congress and its allies are passing resolutions to implement Article 370 again in Kashmir. These people are doing what Pakistan wants,” he claimed.

The Prime Minister warned the people of Congress “conspiracy” to divide tribals among various castes and weaken them. However, he claimed that the Centre as well as the MahaYuti government have taken many decisions for its development and empowerment.

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

A BJP leader on Tuesday lampooned the “failed” Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over the ongoing debate about “Maharashtra’s industrial future,” saying the days of stalled projects, divisive politics, and policy gridlock were over. In a series of posts, Hitesh Jain, Vice President of Mumbai BJP and Managing Partner at Parinam Law Associates, said the MVA leaders’ claim that Maharashtra was losing out on industries to Gujarat “due to Central favouritism” has fallen flat.

The narrative crumbles when viewed against the backdrop of the state’s transformative progress under the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government, he said. “Through a determined focus on infrastructure, law and order, and a renewed business environment, the Mahayuti Government is reclaiming Maharashtra’s position as an industrial powerhouse,” Jain posted on X.

In the ongoing debate about Maharashtra’s industrial future, one narrative has captured headlines, fueled by the failed MVA and its eco system the idea that Maharashtra is losing industries to Gujarat due to Central favoritism. This narrative, however, crumbles when viewed… pic.twitter.com/KrzoQOeIYn

— Hitesh Jain (@HiteshJ1973) November 12, 2024

This “comeback story”, he added, began in 2016 under then-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who championed policies that significantly boosted the state’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.

Maharashtra set new standards for governance under Mr Fadnavis and established itself as a prime destination for investors, Mr Jain claimed, adding the story took a darker turn when Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government came to power as it repeatedly stalled development projects, reversed investor-friendly policies, and created an environment of uncertainty and division. 

The Mahayuti is not just reversing this damage today, but also reimagining the state as an “epicenter for industrial development and innovation,” the BJP leader said.

Encouraged by Mahayuti’s investor-friendly policies, key industries were set up in the state in the last two years, Mr Jain said.

“From electronics giants like Foxconn to new developments in steel and textiles in previously underdeveloped areas like Gadchiroli, Maharashtra’s industrial landscape is evolving rapidly. The transformation in Gadchiroli, a region once plagued by Naxal violence, into a steel hub is a profound example of the government’s commitment to bringing development even to the remotest regions,” he wrote.

The industrial and infrastructural transformation led by the Mahayuti Government is Maharashtra’s strongest invitation yet to industry leaders worldwide. This administration’s efforts send a clear signal: The days of stalled projects, divisive politics, and policy gridlock are…

— Hitesh Jain (@HiteshJ1973) November 12, 2024

Mr Jain asserted the recent developments in the state were in “stark contrast to the policy paralysis and chaos that characterized the MVA government under Uddhav Thackeray.” 

During Thackeray’s tenure, the state’s growth was “stalled at every juncture, with projects like the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train delayed due to a lack of vision and misplaced priorities,” Mr Jain claimed.

To prove his claim, Mr Jain cited Uddhav and his son Aditya Thackeray’s opposition to the Aarey Metro car shed along with their resistance to several critical infrastructure projects, saying that it “displayed a preference for political posturing over public interest.” He also mentioned the infamous “Sachin Waze planting gelatin sticks outside a prominent industrialist’s residence” case.

Mr Jain said the industrial and infrastructural transformation under the current government is “Maharashtra’s strongest invitation yet to industry leaders worldwide.”  He added, “This administration’s efforts send a clear signal: The days of stalled projects, divisive politics, and policy gridlock are over. Maharashtra is rising again—stronger, more resilient, and ready for the future.”

Voting for the 2024 Assembly election in Maharashtra is scheduled for November 20, followed by counting of votes on November 23.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Sunday night intensified disciplinary actions by suspending seven additional rebel candidates for anti-party activities ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

The newly suspended leaders include — Shamkant Saner, Rajendra Thakur, Aba Bagul, Manish Anand, Suresh Kumar Jethliya, Kalyan Borade, and Chandrapaul Chauksey.

Earlier in the day, the MPCC suspended 21 other rebels, bringing the total number of suspensions to 28 across 22 constituencies.

The list of previously suspended leaders includes — Anandrao Gedam, Shilu Chimurkar, Sonal Kove, Bharat Yereme, Abhilasha Gavature, Premsagar Ganvir, Ajay Lanjewar, Vilas Patil, Aasma Javad Chikhlekar, Hanskumar Pandey, Kamal Vyavhare, Mohanrav Dandekar, Mangal Vilas Bhujval, Manoj Shinde, Suresh Patilkhede, Vijay Khadse, Shabir Khan, Avinash Lad, Yagvalya Jichkar, Raju Jhode, and Rajendra Mukah.

These suspended candidates are contesting against the official nominees of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Earlier, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had said that all party rebels contesting against the official MVA candidates would face a six-year suspension.

The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23.

The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42.
 

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

Mumbai:

The manifesto of the Maha Vikas Aghadi bloc of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) for the November 20 polls in Maharashtra aims to beat the Eknath Shinde government’s Ladki Bahin yojana for women and reach out to farmers and the youth.

The manifesto, which was launched today, laid down the agenda for the first 100 days if the Opposition bloc came to power. It promises an assistance of Rs 3,000 per month to women under the Mahalaxmi Yojana. This is more than the Rs 1,500 assistance to women under the Eknath Shinde government’s Ladki Bahin scheme, it is also more than the Rs 2,100 promised by the BJP in its poll manifesto, also released today.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi has promised to provide free bus travel to women, six cylinders at Rs 500 rupee rate, stronger laws to ensure women’s safety, free cervical cancer vaccine for girls in 9-16 years age group and two days of period leave every month.

To farmers, another key group as far as elections are concerned, the Maha Vikas Aghadi assured a high-level committee to stop farmer suicides and a better scheme for families of farmers who died by suicide. The bloc has promised to ensure farmers get the right price for their produce and said it will simply the crop insurance scheme.

Unemployed youth, the bloc said, will be given a monthly pension of Rs 4,000 and state scholarship schemes will be expanded.

The MVA manifesto also promised to expand the state’s health insurance policy. Under social justice, it promised a Caste Census in Maharashtra.

At the launch of the document, state Congress chief Nana Patole said it is not a manifesto but a vachan nama. “BJP and the alliance have betrayed the state for the last 10 years. They are talking about waiving farmers’ loans, why didn’t they do it when they were in power?” he asked.

Addressing the event, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the world looks at Mumbai and Maharashtra leads the country in social change. “This is a very important election, not just for turncoats, but one that will decide the future of the country. Only MVA can promise a stable government,” he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and NCP(SP)’s Supriya Sule was also present at the manifesto launch.

The turncoats jab was aimed at the Shiv Sena rebels whose mutiny split the party into two and brought down the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2022. Later, the Ajit Pawar camp’s rebellion split Sharad Pawar’s NCP too. In the 2019 election, the BJP and Shiv Sena were in an alliance. Now, the Sena has split and so has the NCP. So, in some ways, this is also an election where the rival factions will try to prove they are the ‘real’ party.

Listing the promises in MVA’s manifesto, the Congress chief took a swipe at the BJP. “When we were implementing it in Karnataka, they called it revdi, but are now promoting the same schemes.” On the caste Census, he said it was not aimed at dividing people, but to access data on their social position so that efforts can be made to improve it.