The Thane city police in Maharashtra have filed a case against Kedar Dighe, the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Kopri-Pachpakhadi, who is contesting Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, for allegedly possessing liquor and cash. Kedar Dighe is the nephew of late Anand Dighe, a former Shiv Sena leader who was very influential in the Thane area. According to the FIR filed at the Kopri police station, Kedar Dighe and a few others were allegedly caught with envelopes of cash and bottles of liquor at Ashtavinayak Chowk around 2 am. It is suspected that they were planning to distribute these items to voters, sources said. Kedar Dighe has been charged under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code for undue influence in an election. Meanwhile, Dighe has denied the allegations against him. On the social media platform X, Kedar Dighe wrote that nothing wrong was found in his car. He claimed that the incident was an attempt by his opponents to defame him, and he had personally brought the car to the police station. He also called the situation politically motivated. Kedar Dighe also posted the videos on X stating that nothing was found in his car. माझी गाडी चेक करतानाचा व्हिडिओ मी जनतेच्या माहितीसाठी प्रसिद्ध करत आहे. त्यात काही सापडले नाही. हा मला बदनाम करण्याचा विरोधकांचा प्रयत्न असून मी स्वतःहून पोलीस स्टेशनला माझी गाडी घेऊन गेलो होतो, त्यानंतर जे काही घडत आहे ते राजकीय हेतूने प्रेरित आहे. @aajtak @republic pic.twitter.com/fe428j6kdP — Kedar Dighe (@MiKedarDighe) November 20, 2024 The incident comes a day after, police in Maharashtra filed two FIRs against BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, BJP candidate Rajan Naik, and others for allegedly distributing cash to voters at a hotel in Palghar. Earlier on Tuesday, a clash had unfolded in Virar area of Maharashtra after the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) party workers confronted BJP's Vinod Tawde, accusing him of allegedly distributing cash to influence voters in the Vasai-Virar constituency. The allegations have sparked a political storm ahead of the November 20 polls. The videos of the incident are circulating widely on social media platforms. Follow Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 LIVE Updates here Following the incident BJP leader Vinod Tawde reacted to the money distribution allegations against him ahead of the voting for Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 and said that the Election Commission (EC) should conduct an impartial investigation. (with PTI inputs)
20 November,2024 06:41 PM IST | Thane | Apoorva AgasheA heartbreaking incident occurred in Vasai area of Maharashtra where an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker tragically lost her life in a railway accident while on her way for election duty, the officials said on Wednesday. Polling for Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 is underway in state. The officials said that the deceased has been identified as 39-year-old Suman Santosh Yadav. Yadav, who had been serving as an ASHA worker with the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation’s health department for the past five years, was assigned duty at Zilla Parishad School, Nagale, Room No. 1, as part of the general assembly election preparations. The incident took place around 6:30 am near the Vasai-Diva railway line close to Nagale village while she was on her way to Vasai constituency, an official said. While crossing the railway tracks, she was struck by a train, resulting in her untimely death, the official said. Yadav’s sudden demise has left her colleagues and the municipal corporation staff deeply shocked and grieving. Dombivli GRP has registered an accidental death report (ADR) and probing into the matter. Polling began Wednesday morning in the Maharashtra assembly elections, where the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback. Voting began in all the 288 assembly seats at 7 am and will end at 6 pm, an election official said. The votes will be counted on November 23. Over 9.7 crore voters will be choosing from among the 4,136 candidates in the fray, the official said. Voter turnout in Palghar district for Maharashtra Assembly election As the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 continue, Palghar district reported a voter turnout of 46.82 per cent as of 3 pm on Wednesday. Voting is ongoing Voter turnout percentages for different constituencies in the district: 128-Dahanu: 53.2鄉-Vikramgad: 49.6鄊-Palghar: 47.63鄋-Boisar: 47.36鄌-Nalasopara: 40.96鄍-Vasai: 47.64% In Vasai, BJP seeks to dethrone Hitendra Thakur In the Vasai Assembly constituency where sitting MLA and regional Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) supremo Hitendra Thakur has built a strong network of supporters in last three decades. BJP candidate Sneha Dube Pandit has been hoping to dethrone the sitting MLA in 2024 assembly polls.
20 November,2024 05:44 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaIn a remarkable act of civic responsibility, a bride-to-be from Virar, set an inspiring example by casting her vote for Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 despite her ongoing haldi ceremony on Wednesday. The bride-to-be, Sayali Rajendra Vartak, was busy with her wedding preparations but took time to visit the polling booth. Sayali, who is set to get married in Rajasthan, took time out of her haldi ceremony to exercise her voting rights. Sayali Vartak (29), a resident of Virar’s Phulpada area, works in the mortgage loan department of an NBFC bank. She is getting married to Chinmay Mandawat, a stock market analyst, on November 23 in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Follow Maharashtra election LIVE Updates here Even amidst the celebrations of her haldi ceremony, which was held at Lokmanya Hindi High School in Virar, Sayali made it a point to visit the polling booth at the same venue to cast her vote. Her gesture has garnered widespread praise from attendees and locals alike. Sayali’s decision to prioritise her democratic duty, even on such a significant personal occasion, stands as a motivating example for the younger generation and reinforces the importance of active participation in democracy, said locals.
20 November,2024 04:39 PM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaEnough is enough. Politicians and local authorities make promises, win elections, and forget us. It’s time for a rethink,” say fishermen displaced by the JNPT Phase 2 project. Frustrated after 40 years without rehabilitation or compensation, families from Sheva Koliwada have vowed to boycott the November 20 Assembly elections and escalate their protest with a “Channel Bandh” to block JNPT’s navigation channel on Constitution Day, November 26, if demands remain unmet. “We gave up our ancestral land for the port in 1982, expecting jobs and alternate land as promised. Decades later, we’re still waiting,” said Parmanand Koli, Secretary of the Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union. Of the 256 affected families, only 42 received jobs, and 105 were allotted land parcels, which the community rejects as inadequate. Villagers say landfilling and reclamation work is underway at JNPT. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi Protest expands Hanuman Koliwada’s 1,250 eligible voters have unanimously decided to abstain. “Our village has 450 families, and we’re united in boycotting this election, just like we did in May’s Lok Sabha polls,” Koli said, warning that 15 nearby koliwadas, with over 7,000 residents, could join the boycott. Shocking revelations Fishermen also allege irregularities, including an illegal Gram Panchayat formed with vested interests. “We recently discovered our village is officially a transit camp. Even the State Election Commission says transit camps cannot host polling booths,” Koli added. The fishermen accuse authorities of years of deception. “We believed their promises, but the next generation has exposed their lies through RTI inquiries. We feel abandoned,” Koli said. With no resolution in sight, the fisherfolk demand urgent action. “We will not vote or stop protesting until we get justice,” Koli warned. The proposed land parcel assured by the district administration to be handed over to the Sheva Koliwada Channel bandh agitation Fishermen have warned authorities to finalise plots and ownership documents for 256 families near JNPT township by November 25. “JNPT promised to hand over plots by November 15 but failed,” said Ramesh Koli, General Secretary of the Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union. Koli added, “The Deputy Collector claims paperwork will be done by November 25. If not, we’ll proceed with the Channel bandh on November 26 and boycott the November 20 elections.” The protest involves fishing boats blocking ships from entering JNPA. “We did this in 2021 but called it off after false assurances. This time, we won’t back down,” said Koli. Forced evictions “At the time of the 1982-83 land acquisition, we were told the port project was for national progress and asked to cooperate,” said 62-year-old Jagdish Shivekar, a displaced villager. “Sheva Koliwada had 737 hectares, and most of us were fishermen. We were promised monetary compensation, jobs for one family member, and proper rehabilitation under the Maharashtra Resettlement Act, 1976, but those promises remain unfulfilled.” Forced into homelessness “They told us to dismantle our own homes and move to Boripakhadi, Uran, where a 17-hectare plot was to be allotted,” said 70-year-old Manohar Koli. “It was the rainy season, and with our homes demolished, 256 families lived in makeshift tents for over 18 months, losing belongings and enduring hardship.” “We even had to construct our own houses on the new plot, now called Hanuman Koliwada, using our savings,” added Paramanand, another affected villager. “The elders trusted the government’s word, but decades later, we’re still waiting for justice.” ‘We were fooled’ “Of the 17 hectares allotted, only 0.91 hectares were given for housing. Houses were crammed with no space for courtyards or back doors, and the plot distribution order came after construction,” said Paramanand, who uncovered these facts through RTI. Adding to their shock, he said, “We found out 15 hectares of the land were handed over to the Forest Department without our knowledge. We only discovered this through RTI records.” Termite plight In 1996, termite infestations devastated creek-side houses. “Doors and roofs collapsed, and some homes were destroyed entirely,” said Manohar Koli. “While 33 houses were severely damaged, pest control failed. Families moved to rented homes temporarily, but JNPT stopped paying rent, forcing them back into termite-ridden houses.” Sangeeta Koli, 47, shared her ordeal: “We replaced wooden roofs and doors with steel at our own expense. My husband and I now live under the open sky as our damaged house is uninhabitable, while our children stay elsewhere.” Poor ventilation added to the misery. “I keep lights and fans on even during the day, running up bills over ₹2,000, which I can’t afford,” said 70-year-old Parvathi Koli. Cramped houses left families struggling. “We can’t eat meals together or host guests. During functions, lanes are impassable,” said handicapped villager Jaganath Koli. “In Sheva Koliwada, we had spacious homes with courtyards and natural light. Here, we’re suffocating.” Garbage issues Houses in Hanuman Koliwada are built over open gutters, with residents washing utensils and clothes in the open. “Ever since we found out that the koliwada is a transit camp, the Panchayat doesn’t clear waste from our backyard anymore. The area is filthy, a mosquito breeding ground, and home to snakes due to the marshy creek,” said Parvathi Koli. Despite an assurance from JNPA on August 13 to handle civic issues, nothing has been done. “They promised to clear garbage and provide infrastructure but haven’t even removed the waste,” said Paramanand. Villagers also highlighted the dire state of public toilets near the creek, which lack electricity and septic systems, with waste flowing directly into the creek. “Many have fallen sick, and the nearest hospital is far away in Nerul or Vashi,” the villagers said. Demands for relocation Post-termite infestation, residents demanded relocation. Numerous meetings since 2021 resulted in identifying a 10.16-hectare site near JNPA Township. “The district collector agreed that JNPA must rehabilitate 256 families with proper infrastructure, but no action has been taken,” said the villagers. Concerns raised “We were never rehabilitated from Sheva Koliwada,” said Ramesh Koli. “The claim that Hanuman Koliwada is our second rehabilitation is false. Neither the 17 hectares of our original land nor the 2 acres allotted for housing was handed over. This misinformation continues to mislead the central government.” Parmanand Koli added, “A former collector tried to correct the record by preparing a factual report for the Centre, but both he and his deputy were transferred before the report could be finalised.” Villagers noted that JNPT returned acquired land to some other villages, but Sheva Koliwada remains untouched even after 40 years. “Our demand to return and rehabilitate us in our original village has been ignored. The TISS 2013 study highlighted that apart from jobs, healthcare and basic amenities for affected families were neglected,” said Parmanand. He also criticized JNPT for leasing surplus land to private companies for profit while failing to address villagers' concerns. Defence safety concerns Hanuman Koliwada is within a defence buffer zone near INS Karanja and INS Tunir, where construction is restricted. “The Bombay High Court, in 2011, flagged this as a sensitive area. The defence now labels us as encroachers, but how did the district administration allow us to settle in a prohibited zone in the first place?” questioned Parmanand. The other side The JNPA proposed a second rehabilitation for Hanuman Koliwada on 10.16 hectares near JNPA Township at an estimated cost of R41.86 crore. While R5.69 crore has been paid to the Raigad collector, R36.17 crore is pending central approval. “The cost of housing is not included in this amount,” noted an RTI-revealed letter from JNPA to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways dated April 24, 2023. Deputy collector says... Deputy Collector (Rehabilitation) Bharat Waghmare clarified, “The fisherfolk of Hanuman Koliwada have never been rehabilitated before. They continue to live in a transit camp. The proposed 10.16-hectare site near JNPA Township is marked, and a tender for an R3 crore road was prepared but delayed due to the Election Code of Conduct. We hope to secure the Centre’s approval by month-end.” Police ensure law and order Assistant Commissioner of Police (Port Division) Vishal Nehul confirmed meetings with villagers to mediate the situation. “Prohibitory orders are in place, and additional police forces have been deployed. We won’t allow channel blockades, as we’ve dealt with similar protests in 2021. However, we hope their demands will be addressed, ensuring law and order.” 1982Year land acquisition for JNPT port phase was done
20 November,2024 02:53 PM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonBJP general secretary Vinod Tawde on Wednesday dismissed the allegations of distributing money to influence voters, saying he was well aware of the rules and not foolish to indulge in such an activity at the hotel of political opponents, reported news agency PTI. Hours before the Maharashtra elections 2024, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) leader Hitendra Thakur on Tuesday accused Tawde of distributing Rs 5 crore at a hotel in Virar, 60 km from Mumbai, to woo voters. Amid claims by BVA leaders that Rs 5 crore cash was distributed, an election official on Tuesday said Rs 9.93 lakh cash was recovered from the hotel rooms. The BJP leader has denied the allegations in connection with the Virar cash-for-votes case, saying he was only providing guidance to party workers on poll procedures. "The Vivanta Hotel (at Virar in Palghar) is owned by the Thakurs. I am not stupid to go to their hotel and distribute money there," Tawde told reporters. The BJP leader said he was in politics for 40 years and was aware of the rules and regulations, particularly the 'silence period' before elections, reported PTI. "I was having a casual chat with party workers. I was not campaigning," Tawde said, reported PTI. The BJP leader said he was only engaging in discussions with party workers about voting procedures, reported PTI. Leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have sought a comprehensive investigation by the Election Commission. Tawde expressed surprise that national leaders had become involved in the issue and said, "BJP people are no longer stupid to distribute money in a hotel owned by opposition parties. They should realise this much," reported PTI. Reiterating that no money was found on him, Tawde quipped, "The Rs 5 crore that Rahul Gandhi and Supriya Sule saw, please send it to me. They can deposit it into my bank account," reported PTI. Police on Tuesday registered two FIRs against Tawde, BJP candidate Rajan Naik and others in connection with the alleged Virar cash-for-votes case in Palghar, reported PTI. A separate FIR was registered against BJP and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi functionaries for allegedly trying to address a press conference. The three cases were registered at the Tulinj police station in Palghar district for alleged violation of the election code of conduct in place for the Maharashtra elections 2024. (With inputs from PTI)
20 November,2024 02:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai recorded a voter turnout of 27.73 per cent across ten assembly constituencies as of 1 pm on Wednesday. A voter turnout of 32.18 per cent was recorded till 1 pm on Wednesday in Maharashtra, where polling is underway in all 288 assembly constituencies, election officials said. Mumbai city district recorded 27.73 per cent voting and Mumbai suburban district saw 30.43 per cent turnout. The Colaba assembly segment in the megapolis registered 24.16 per cent polling, Mahim 33.01 per cent and Worli 26.96 per cent. Sewri recorded 30.5 per cent polling, while Malabar Hill recorded 33.24 per cent voting. In Mumbai suburban, Bhandup polled 38.75 per cent votes, Dahisar 35.60 per cent and Bandra East 25.03 per cent. In Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane, the voter turnout was 32.21 per cent till 1 pm. Polling began at 7 am in the state assembly elections, where the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback. Voting will continue till 6 pm. There are a total of 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra this time, compared to 96,654 booths in the 2019 assembly elections, the officials said. Gadchiroli district recorded 50.89 per cent voter turnout. The Aheri assembly seat in the district saw 52.84 per cent voting, while Armori registered 51.05 per cent polling. The Nagpur South-West constituency, from where Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is in the fray, the voter turnout was 31.12 per cent till 11 am, the officials said. In Baramati in Pune district, from where Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar is fighting against his nephew Yugendra Pawar, the poll percentage was 33.78 per cent, they added. Nashik district recorded 31.16 per cent voting. Over 9.7 crore voters will be choosing from among the 4,136 candidates in the fray, officials said. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena is in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition's MVA combine, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates. Smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), are also contesting, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM 17 in the 288-member Lower House.
20 November,2024 02:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 32.18 per cent till 1 pm as polling for the Maharashtra elections 2024 was underway in all 288 assembly constituencies of the state, election officials said. Gadchiroli district recorded 50.89 per cent turnout till 1 pm. Gondia in the district saw 40.46 per cent voting, while Nagpur assembly registered 31.65 per cent polling. Mumbai city district recorded 27.73 per cent voting, while that of Mumbai suburban district was 30.43 per cent. The Colaba assembly segment in the megapolis registered 24.26 per cent polling, Mahim 33.01 per cent and Worli 26.96 per cent. In Mumbai suburban, Bhandup polled 38.75 per cent votes. Polling began Wednesday morning in the Maharashtra elections 2024, where the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback. Voting began in all the 288 assembly seats at 7 am and will end at 6 pm, an election official said. The votes will be counted on November 23. Over 9.7 crore voters will be choosing from among the 4,136 candidates in the fray, the official said. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena is in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition's MVA combine, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates. Smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), are also contesting, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM 17 in the 288-member Lower House. The number of candidates this time has increased by 28 per cent compared to the 2019 state assembly elections. This year, 4,136 candidates are contesting, up from 3,239 in 2019. Among these candidates, 2,086 are independents. Rebels are in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party's official nominees. As of October 30, the updated number of registered voters stands at 9,70,25,119, officials said. Among these, there are 5,00,22,739 male voters, 4,69,96,279 female voters, and 6,101 transgender voters. Additionally, the total number of PwD (Persons with Disabilities) voters is 6,41,425, while the number of service voters from the armed forces is 1,16,170. There will be 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra this time, compared to 96,654 booths in the 2019 assembly elections. This increase is due to the rise in the number of voters. Around six lakh state government employees will be involved in election duties. Since the code of conduct came into force on October 15, cash and items worth Rs 252.42 crore were seized in enforcement actions conducted under various schemes of the central and state governments. The seized items included Rs 63.47 crore cash, along with 34,89,088 litres of liquor valued at Rs 33.73 crore. Additionally, Rs 32.67 crore drugs were confiscated, along with precious metals valued at Rs 83.12 crore. Officials also seized 34,634 pieces of jewellery worth Rs 2.79 crore and 8,79,913 miscellaneous items valued at Rs 36.62 crore. During the same period, 2,469 complaints related to violations of the Model Code of Conduct were received across the state via the C-Vigil app. Of these, 2,452 complaints, amounting to 99.31 per cent, were promptly resolved.
20 November,2024 02:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAccording to the Election Commission of India, Maharashtra has 9.70 crore voters, including 22.2 lakh first-time voters aged 18-19. mid-day spoke to these young voices in the city who represent the future. From infrastructure upgrades to job creation, these youth have bold expectations and a clear vision for change. ‘Need better road infra’ Precia a 23-year-old voter hopes for a government that actually cares for the people. “Better management and connectivity of transport systems such as trains and buses are crucial issues. Roads need to be managed well instead of just being dug up and then left as it is,” she said. Yeshaya Varghese, a 21-year-old student said, “Projects need better coordination to avoid overlaps and delays. Stricter enforcement of regulations for road and building construction is needed.” Sanaya (name changed), 23, another voter, said, “Mumbai deserves to have better road infrastructure. Every monsoon, the condition of roads becomes terrible, causing traffic snarls and accidents. With the completion of metro projects, the government should put more effort into last-mile connectivity by increasing the number of BEST buses. Rush hour in trains is a problem that has not been resolved by anyone, and lakhs of citizens suffer because of it daily. Roads that got fixed last week get dug up the following week for water pipeline work, electricity work, etc. This needs to stop.” Young voters have also called for a stable government in the state to see better development “The party that gets elected should not be split due to internal conflicts. Citizens should not be inconvenienced because of internal power struggles within the party,” added Sanaya. Increase job opportunities Better education policies and employment opportunities also emerged as a key demand among the youth. “We need better job prospects for recent graduates and postgraduates who have degrees and still struggle to find decent-paying jobs. We also need a better education policy that doesn’t overwork teachers while keeping the compensation low,” said Precia. “Educational institutions in Mumbai are suffering from a shortage of professors and issues in exam result declaration and funding. Graduates are expecting more job fairs and better employment opportunities,” said Political analyst Ritwik Mehta. According to Mehta, the youth are looking for active participation in politics and inclusion of youngsters in the fields of public policy and administration. “In Tier-2 and 3 cities of Maharashtra, the youth demand better educational opportunities so they don’t have to travel to cities like Mumbai and Pune to pursue the courses of their choice,” he added. Why youth voice matters Shruti Shah, a Mumbai-based psychologist and founder of Holistic Mind Therapy, said, “For Gen Z in Mumbai, the socio-political climate is a key factor in how they perceive stability, opportunities, and fairness in society.” “When policies focus on education, job creation, affordable housing, or safety, they positively impact the mental health of young students. On the other hand, policies that seem disconnected from the challenges young people face—such as rising inflation, lack of green spaces, or insufficient mental health infrastructure—can lead to heightened stress, anxiety, and a feeling of being unheard,” she added.
20 November,2024 01:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Raaina JainShiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday cast his vote for the Maharashtra elections 2024 in Mumbai, and urged people to exercise their franchise by coming out in large numbers in order to "protect the self-respect of Maharashtra", reported news agency PTI. Uddhav Thackeray cast vote for the Maharashtra elections 2024 with his wife Rashmi and sons Aaditya and Tejas in Bandra East. "Vote in large numbers and protect the self-respect of Maharashtra," the former chief minister said, reported PTI. Thackeray's nephew Varun Sardesai is in the fray from the Bandra East assembly constituency. This is the first time that Uddhav Thackeray and his family members are voting for their relative. Aaditya Thackeray is seeking his re-election from the Worli seat in the city that he currently represents. CM Eknath Shinde along with his family cast vote in Thane Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde cast his vote alongside his family at a polling booth in Kopri-Pachpakhadi, Thane, as voting for the Maharashtra elections 2024 commenced this morning. After casting his vote for the Maharashtra elections 2024, the incumbent Chief Minister, accompanied by his family, proudly displayed his inked finger to the media. Eknath Shinde, who assumed office as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra following his rebellion against Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, is a four-time MLA representing the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane. Earlier in the day, Prakash Sambhaji Shinde, the brother of Eknath Shinde, urged voters to support his brother in the Maharashtra elections 2024. Speaking to ANI, Prakash Shinde said, "The CM is contesting from Kopri-Pachpakhadi. I urge everyone to step out and vote. CM Shinde has done a lot of work in Maharashtra. So, the people of the state want him back as the CM." He added, "Shiv Sena had a good strike rate in the Lok Sabha elections. This time too, Shiv Sena will have the highest strike rate. I am hopeful... I hope that he will have a lead of at least 1.5 lakh votes because he has worked. He has been an MLA for 20 years... Mahayuti will win again," reported ANI. Earlier, Prakash Shinde offered prayers at a temple before heading to the polling booth. (With inputs from PTI and ANI)
20 November,2024 12:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde cast his vote alongside his family at a polling booth in Kopri-Pachpakhadi, Thane, as voting for the Maharashtra elections 2024 commenced this morning. After casting his vote for the Maharashtra elections 2024, the incumbent Chief Minister, accompanied by his family, proudly displayed his inked finger to the media. Eknath Shinde, who assumed office as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra following his rebellion against Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, is a four-time MLA representing the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency in Thane. Earlier in the day, Prakash Sambhaji Shinde, the brother of Eknath Shinde, urged voters to support his brother in the Maharashtra elections 2024. Speaking to ANI, Prakash Shinde said, "The CM is contesting from Kopri-Pachpakhadi. I urge everyone to step out and vote. CM Shinde has done a lot of work in Maharashtra. So, the people of the state want him back as the CM." He added, "Shiv Sena had a good strike rate in the Lok Sabha elections. This time too, Shiv Sena will have the highest strike rate. I am hopeful... I hope that he will have a lead of at least 1.5 lakh votes because he has worked. He has been an MLA for 20 years... Mahayuti will win again." Earlier, Prakash Shinde offered prayers at a temple before heading to the polling booth. Uddhav Thackeray casts vote with family Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday cast his vote in Mumbai, and urged people to exercise their franchise by coming out in large numbers in order to "protect the self-respect of Maharashtra", reported PTI. Thackeray cast vote with his wife Rashmi and sons Aaditya and Tejas in Bandra East. "Vote in large numbers and protect the self-respect of Maharashtra," the former chief minister said. Thackeray's nephew Varun Sardesai is in the fray from the Bandra East assembly constituency. This is the first time that Uddhav Thackeray and his family members are voting for their relative. Aaditya Thackeray is seeking his re-election from the Worli seat in the city that he currently represents. (With inputs from ANI and PTI)
20 November,2024 12:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai recorded a voter turnout of 6.25 per cent across ten assembly constituencies as of 9:00 am on Wednesday. In Mumbai suburban, 7.88 per cent turnout was recorded. Bhandup and Mulund suburbs saw 10.59 per cent and 10.71 per cent turnout. Mumbai city recorded 6.25 per cent polling. While Colaba saw 5.35 per cent turnout, Worli recorded 3.78 per cent polling, Mumbadevi recorded 6.34 per cent polling, Malabar Hill recorded 8.31 per cent polling, Byculla recorded 7.09 per cent polling, Sewri recorded 6.12 per cent polling, Mahim recorded 8.14 per cent polling, Wadala recorded 6.44 per cent polling, Sion-Koliwada recorded 6.52 per cent polling, and Dharavi recorded 4.71 per cent polling, according to the election officials. Meanwhile, Thane district recorded 6.66 per cent polling till 9 am. Maharashtra recorded 6.61 per cent voter turnout till 9 am on Wednesday as the polling for Maharashtra elections 2024 was underway in all 288 assembly constituencies of the state, as per election officials. Gadchiroli district witnessed 12.33 per cent turnout in the first two hours of polling. The Armori assembly segment in the district registered 13.53 per cent polling. Polling began Wednesday morning in the Maharashtra elections 2024, where the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine is hoping for a strong comeback. Voting began in all the 288 assembly seats at 7 am and will end at 6 pm, an election official said. The votes will be counted on November 23. Over 9.7 crore voters will be choosing from among the 4,136 candidates in the fray, the official said. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP is contesting 149 seats, Shiv Sena is in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition's MVA combine, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates. Smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), are also contesting, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM 17 in the 288-member Lower House. The number of candidates this time has increased by 28 per cent compared to the 2019 state assembly elections. This year, 4,136 candidates are contesting, up from 3,239 in 2019. Among these candidates, 2,086 are independents. Rebels are in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party's official nominees. As on October 30, the updated number of registered voters stands at 9,70,25,119, officials said. Among these, there are 5,00,22,739 male voters, 4,69,96,279 female voters, and 6,101 transgender voters. Additionally, the total number of PwD (Persons with Disabilities) voters is 6,41,425, while the number of service voters from the armed forces is 1,16,170. There will be 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra this time, compared to 96,654 booths in the 2019 assembly elections. This increase is due to the rise in the number of voters. Around six lakh state government employees will be involved in election duties. Since the code of conduct came into force on October 15, cash and items worth Rs 252.42 crore were seized in enforcement actions conducted under various schemes of the central and state governments. The seized items included Rs 63.47 crore cash, along with 34,89,088 litres of liquor valued at Rs 33.73 crore. Additionally, Rs 32.67 crore drugs were confiscated, along with precious metals valued at Rs 83.12 crore. Officials also seized 34,634 pieces of jewellery worth Rs 2.79 crore and 8,79,913 miscellaneous items valued at Rs 36.62 crore. During the same period, 2,469 complaints related to violations of the Model Code of Conduct were received across the state via the C-Vigil app. Of these, 2,452 complaints, amounting to 99.31 per cent, were promptly resolved. (With inputs from Agencies)
20 November,2024 12:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
