In a significant blow to the Congress, Kolhapur MLA Jayashri Jadhav on Thursday joined the CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024. She was inducted into the party in presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who welcomed her to the party and wished her well for her future endeavors, an official statement said. During the ceremony, Jayashri Jadhav took the saffron flag in hand, symbolising her new allegiance. Following her entry into Shiv Sena, Jayashri Jadhav was appointed as the head of the Kolhapur district women's wing and also as a deputy leader of the party, the statement said. Her husband, Chandrakant Jadhav, is a former MLA from the Kolhapur North constituency. Jayashri Jadhav expressed her desire to address issues faced by the business community and the Chief Minister indicated that she would be given new responsibilities in this regard. While addressing a gathering, Chief Minister Shinde said that Jayashri's entry would strengthen Shiv Sena in Maharashtra's Kolhapur district. He noted her commitment to working for women’s welfare and expressed confidence that she would effectively implement various government welfare schemes aimed at empowering women, such as the "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana" and initiatives for self-help groups, the statement further said. The event was attended by CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena leaders including MPs Naresh Mhaske, Dhairyashil Mane, former MP Sanjay Mandalik, and other party leaders and supporters. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, former opposition leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and city Congress veteran Ravi Raja on Thursday joined the BJP ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election 2024. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and the party's Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar welcomed Ravi Raja to the saffron party. Ravi Raja said he has resigned from the Congress, ending his 44 years of association with the grand old party. He has sent his resignation to the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. "Ravi Raja is like an encyclopedia for issues in Mumbai. He is an old friend of ours. Ravi Raja and his supporters' decision to join the BJP would strengthen the party's prospects ahead of Maharashtra assembly polls," Ashish Shelar said. (with PTI inputs)
31 October,2024 06:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCommuters at Jogeshwari railway station gave a grand farewell on the retirement of the station superintendent Subhashchandra Mehta. He was Jogeshwari railway station superintendent for five years. Those present on the occasion included passenger association member Mansoor Umer Darvesh and others local activists and social workers Hafiz Iqbal Chunawala, Jakir Shaikh, Riyaz Bhamla, Janu Farid Batatawla, and Arif Ghori. Commuters at Jogeshwari railway station bid a heartfelt farewell to Subhashchandra Mehta, who retired on October 31, 2024, after 35 years of service with Western Railway. Local activists and social workers honoured him with a bouquet, shawl, and gifts, wishing him the best in… pic.twitter.com/vHoV15cOap — Mid Day (@mid_day) October 31, 2024 "We attended the retirement party of Subhashchanra Mehta who retired on 31st October 2024, after 35 years of service from Western Railway. "A bouquet, a shawl and small gift was presented to him, and wished him best for his future," Darvesh said.
31 October,2024 05:30 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Bombay High Court (HC) has granted pre-arrest bail to a woman and her alleged partner accused of abetting the suicide of her estranged husband, noting that there was no direct instigation or incitement. A single bench of Justice RN Laddha in its order of October 17 said there is nothing to indicate that the accused duo indulged in a conduct of such a “compelling or oppressive nature” leaving the husband with no viable alternative but to resort to the extreme measure of suicide. “It prima facie appears that the applicants did not take any definitive action that directly led to the deceased's tragic decision to end his life,” the Bombay HC said. According to news agency PTI, the Bombay HC bench in its order noted that the provision pertaining to the abetment of suicide requires the accused person's culpability to be more than mere speculation or conjecture in the absence of direct inducement or incitement. “The abetment to commit suicide requires not merely the presence of circumstantial pressure but a direct and purposeful act of abetment or instigation,” the Bombay HC said. It added that the marital discord between the husband and the woman started well before he committed suicide, reported PTI. The woman and her alleged lover had moved the Bombay HC seeking anticipatory bail in the case registered against them on a complaint by the suicide victim's father. According to PTI, the father in his complaint claimed that his estranged daughter-in-law was involved in an extra-marital affair and that he had repeatedly urged his son to divorce her owing to her infidelity. The complaint claimed that owing to this, the woman's husband suffered from emotional distress and in this turmoil he committed suicide in May. The woman and her alleged partner in their pre-arrest bail plea said that they were implicated in the case. They contended that the couple had filed for divorce on mutual consent before the court as their marriage was already strained. The husband, however, withdrew his consent to the divorce and had in May 2023 threatened to kill himself. The woman had then lodged a non-cognisable complaint against her estranged husband. (With PTI inputs)
31 October,2024 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday, October 31, said Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray is praising the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as he is worried about his son Amit. Amit is making his electoral debut as MNS candidate from Mahim in Mumbai in the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 which will be held on November 20. On Wednesday, Raj Thackeray said MNS and BJP would come together after the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024, and the next chief minister will be from BJP. "One can understand the frame of mind of a person whose son is contesting an election. Someone who once said the BJP should be driven out of Maharashtra and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi should not be allowed to enter the state is now singing praises of BJP," Raut told reporters in Mumbai. "Raj Thackeray knows that Maharashtra will have the chief minister from the (Opposition's) Maha Vikas Aghadi," Raut added. Notably, Thackeray had campaigned against BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Later, he changed his stand. While BJP has declared support to Amit, the contest is triangular, involving Sadanand Sarvankar from BJP's ally Shiv Sena and opposition Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Mahesh Sawant. Sarvankar has said he will stay in the fray. The last day for withdrawal of nomination is November 4. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
31 October,2024 03:46 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIThe Bombay High Court (HC) on Thursday, October 31, permitted an 11-year-old sexual assault survivor to terminate her 30-week pregnancy. A vacation bench of Justices Sharmila Deshmukh and Jitendra Jain said the minor shall undergo the procedure for termination on Thursday itself at the state-run Jamshedjee Jeejeebhoy (JJ) Hospital in Mumbai.The girl had moved Bombay HC through her father seeking permission to end the pregnancy.Under the provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, the court's permission is required to terminate a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks.As per the plea, the girl is a survivor of sexual assault and a case has also been registered against an unknown person under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Under the Constitution, the court said, it can permit medical termination of a pregnancy that exceeds the 20-week gestation period in contingencies as set out in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act."The petitioner is a minor girl who is a victim of sexual assault. Hence, the petitioner is permitted to undergo medical termination of pregnancy," Bombay HC said.The court directed for the blood and tissue samples of the fetus to be preserved for carrying out DNA or other tests that would be required during the trial of the criminal case.The court added that if the baby is born alive then all medical facilities should be made available to save its life."If the child is born alive and the petitioner or her parents are not willing to or are not in a position to take responsibility of the child, the state government will assume full responsibility of the child," it said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
31 October,2024 03:24 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIMaharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'guarantee card' failed in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and it won't work in Maharashtra. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi would be releasing a 'guarantee card' containing the party's election promises for the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024, state Congress leaders have said. "Rahul Gandhi's guarantee card did not help Congress retain power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh," Devendra Fadnavis told reporters in Mumbai on Thursday, reported the PTI. "He should also explain why the guarantee card is not being implemented in Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, as promised. It will fail here (Maharashtra) too," the BJP leader added. On the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP 'Mahayuti' alliance's strategy for dealing with rebels who have filed nominations against official candidates, Devendra Fadnavis said that the alliance leaders including NCP chief Ajit Pawar had a meeting at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's residence on the issue, as per the PTI. "We have resolved all the issues, and you will see many rebels withdrawing their nominations by November 4," the BJP leader said, adding that they will hold discussions with the rebels and deal with their grievances. November 4 is the last date of withdrawal while the elections will be held on November 20. "Nominations submitted by the 'Mahayuti' candidates have cleared the scrutiny phase. We will start our campaign with full vigour from November 5," Fadnavis said, according to the PIT. Asked about city Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Gopal Shetty who is contesting as an independent from Borivali assembly constituency, Devendra Fadnavis said Gopal Shetty is a loyal and honest party worker who is "assertive" at times. "We are trying to persuade him (to withdraw)," he added. As to whether he would be willing to induct controversial NCP leader Nawab Malik in the next government if the Mahayuti retained power, Devendra Fadnavis said, "Our party is not even going to campaign for Malik, so there is no question of inducting him as a minister. Our party is going to campaign for the Shiv Sena candidate who is contesting against Nawab Malik," the news agency reported. Nawab Malik is the official candidate of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party from Mankhurd-Shivajinagar in Mumbai which could witness a friendly fight between two allies. (with PTI inputs)
31 October,2024 03:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith Maharashtra Elections 2024 less than a month away, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday claimed that all welfare schemes launched by his government will continue, considering that the opposition's intention is to withhold the welfare schemes after coming to power, ANI reported. "The opposition leaders say that if they form the government, they will stop all schemes and make enquiries into the schemes. No one can take back the welfare schemes," Shinde told ANI. Elections for the 288 assembly seats of Maharashtra will be held on November 20, while the vote counting will take place on November 23. Terming Diwali 2024 as 'special', Shinde said, "This year's Diwali is very special. The daughters, youth and farmers have got several schemes this year." "We are celebrating Diwali today. This is our festival; taking it forward is our duty. When our government came, we started the celebration of festivals again." he added, ANI cited. Eknath Shine-led Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party are contesting in the upcoming Maharashtra Elections 2024 under the banner of Mahayuti alliance, hoping to return to power. They are competiting against the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), consisting of Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Thursday emphasized that MVA alliance partners are to sit down in order to find solutions on seats where more than one nomination is being filed from MVA, ANI reported. "I don't have much detail about it because I am not part of all these talks. our other leaders are looking into it, but I know there are some 10-12 seats where two nominations are being filled from the alliance...in the next two-three days we will sit together to find the solution for it," Sharad Pawar said in response to the speculation of a friendly fight within the MVA alliance. As many as 7,995 candidates have filed 10,905 nominations with the Election Commission (EC) for the polls, a statement issued by the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said on Tuesday, ANI reported.
31 October,2024 02:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRavi Raja, a senior Congress leader and former Opposition Leader of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. After being denied a Congress ticket to run in the Sion Koliwada constituency in Maharashtra Elections 2024, the five-term corporator switched parties. Raja's decision to leave the Congress is noteworthy because he has been a key player in both the party and Mumbai's civic body. His BJP induction was headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar, who welcomed him to the party. "I will try to fulfil all my responsibilities. One thing I would like to say is that all over Maharashtra no one thinks that MVA will come into power after these elections. I would say that Congress never utilised my knowledge or abilities but I request BJP to utilise my capabilities," Ravi Raja said after joining BJP, reported ANI. The Congress' decision not to field Raja in Sion Koliwada, his long-standing constituency, appears to have caused his exit. His decision to join the BJP could increase the party's clout in Mumbai's civic affairs, especially ahead of the Maharashtra Elections 2024. "I would firstly like to express my gratitude to all my senior leaders of the Congress Party & Hon. High Command for accepting my services for 44 years through different positions and posts. However, today on the 30th of October, 2024, I herewith submit my Resignation as a Member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), my primary membership from the Congress Party and Member of the Political Affairs Committee, MRCC, Mumbai," Ravi Raja wrote in his resignation. Ravi Raja, a former opposition leader in the BMC, five-term corporator, and Congress leader, joined the BJP on Thursday. After being denied a poll ticket from #SionKoliwada, he quit the Congress. Deputy Chief Minister #DevendraFadnavis and city BJP president #AshishShelar… pic.twitter.com/SDN4y3DO1b — Mid Day (@mid_day) October 31, 2024 "Since 1980 as a Youth Congress Member, I have served the Party with utmost sincerity and dedication and today I am made to believe that my 44 years of service for the Congress Party is not respected and hence I take this decision of resigning from all my party posts. Requesting you to kindly accept my resignation with immediate effect," he added. Reacting to his induction into the BJP ahead of Maharashtra Elections 2024, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "Today Congress leader Ravi Raja has joined BJP. He is one of the strongest leaders and we believe that his joining in BJP will strengthen us. In Maharashtra, there is a positive environment in favour of Mahayuti. Yesterday we had a meeting where CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were present. We discussed cross-form issues. Our stand is very clear on Nawab Mallik, our president Ashish Shelar earlier cleared everything.. we are not going to give any favour to Nawab Malik." With ANI inputs
31 October,2024 01:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) project provides pre-hospital health services to patients through life support ambulances, which transport them to the closest hospital for further treatment. The strategy is based on the “Golden Hour Theory,” with the patient to be shifted within the first hour to the nearest hospital. Caregivers, those responsible, or the patient, if possible, can call a dedicated toll-free number 108. These services are available 24x7 through the year and offered ‘free of cost’ to the patient. Diego Prieto of ‘SSG’ (left) and Sumit Salunkhe of ‘Sumeet facilities LTD’ during a press conference. PICS/ANURAG AHIRE Sumeet SSG, a joint venture between Sumeet Group Enterprises and Spain-based SSG Matrix, announced plans to introduce an advanced ambulance fleet with specialised medical equipment for use during the critical ‘golden hour’ of emergencies. The new MEMS 108 Ambulance Project will be rolled out across the state in five phases in the coming months. The advanced ambulances will be equipped with technologies like Mobile Data Terminals (MDT), tablet PCs, RFID, GPS, caller location tracking, and CCTV. There are also first responder bikes and sea and river boat ambulances, it was announced at a press conference at a Colaba hotel late Wednesday morning. This development came amidst the backdrop of ongoing bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchéz Perez Castejon of Spain on his maiden visit to India. Diego Prieto, Jr vice chairman, SSG Matrix SL, said that at the core of this ambulance project is the credo—’Bring the hospital to the patient before bringing the patient to the hospital’.
31 October,2024 12:48 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentA 350-metre foot overbridge (FOB) could help commuters heading to Bandra Terminus bypass the menace of duplicitous auto drivers and the chaos outside Bandra station. Auto drivers charge Rs 30-40 per passenger to ferry them between the station and terminus, dropping them off at the north end (towards Khar). The distance is nearly 400 metres because an existing south entry/exit gate of Bandra Terminus, which includes a booking office and circulating area, has been sealed by Railways. The deserted skywalk that links Khar station and Bandra Terminus The only other entry/exit point at Bandra Terminus is at the extreme north end. With the only available entry/exit point being at the extreme north end, the distance seems longer between the station and the terminus. Railways has been pushing for extensive use of the entry/exit near Khar station, but there isn’t much signage indicating where commuters at the station must go to reach Bandra station. The current situation At present, linking together small FOBs, Western Railway (WR) has a 1.2-km FOB or skywalk that links the Churchgate end of Khar suburban station to the Churchgate end of Bandra Terminus. It traverses the entire length of the terminus, passing over platform 1. The eastern side of Bandra station, where commuters are fleeced by the auto mafia While the long FOB at Bandra Terminus was built earlier, the final 314-metre FOB connecting it to the Khar suburban station was commissioned by WR in 2022. Joining the dots, this has now been made into a 1.2-km FOB, allowing for a seamless walk. The lonnnnnnnnng walk!!! The 1.2km long skywalk from Khar to Bandra Terminus, running above platform one of the terminus is isolated, sealed & shut at its south-end, limiting access. The staircase, circulating area & booking office at this side are also locked with half the… https://t.co/du9F0HYQ8k pic.twitter.com/vYtUKJZk7t — Rajendra B. Aklekar (@rajtoday) October 31, 2024 The final 196-metre stretch of the FOB, which takes one to the Churchgate end of the Bandra Terminus, is in a neglected state, almost abandoned with the main station entrance, along with a booking office, locked and sealed and not in public use. Trial run The 1.2-km skywalk, which links the Churchgate ends of Khar station and Bandra Terminus. Pics/Rajendra B. Aklekar mid-day took a walk on the 1.2 km FOB from Khar station to Bandra Terminus to find that it is seamless, but deserted and isolated. It would be risky to walk on it in the night. Also, the bridge has limited entry/exit points, making it a difficult walk. It has vagrants sitting on it at certain points. The final 196-m stretch is in a bad state with broken tube lights, and locked and sealed gates at the north end. It does not even land on platform 1, but takes one to platform 3 as the main circulating area of the station at this end being locked up. What can be done Taking the same bridge ahead in the southern direction would bring this portion into good use and link it to the Bandra suburban station, ending all the connectivity issues. The bridge will have to run over the single STA (Suburban Traffic Avoidance) line parallel to the flyover and link to the existing north end (Khar end) bridge of Bandra local station. While FOBs exist at both ends, it is just a matter of connectivity between the two. Commuter bodies push for change “It is the most obvious thing and I have been highlighting with the railways for the past ten years for this and it is still not ready. It will save immense hardship that thousands have to face to travel between the two station complexes,” Rajiv Singal, member of Western Railway Mumbai’s Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee said. The blocked exit at the Churchgate end of Bandra Terminus “Yes. A skywalk should be there. But Railways should also place battery-operated buggy vehicles on this bridge as the station is vast. Such vehicles can ferry senior citizens and ailing commuters who will not be able to walk such distances. Also, it becomes difficult for passengers with heavy luggage to walk long distances,” Shailesh Goyal, former member, National Railway Users Consultative Committee, said. Official Speak WR officials said they had already proposed a 340-metre-long skywalk worth R24 crore to connect Bandra Terminus which will prove as an alternative to auto rickshaw drivers outside Bandra East station and will make it convenient for passengers to reach Bandra Terminus without getting down onto the road at Bandra station. “The work of a new bridge at the north east end at Bandra station with the Bandra Terminus south end skywalk has been sanctioned and will be processed as it is presently under tender,” WR chief public relations officer Vineet Abhishek said. Why the delay? FOBs at Bandra station have been under development since the COVID-19 lockdown. In January 2020, the Churchgate-end 10-metre-wide FoB at the train station came into place. This was followed by dismantling and reconstructing of old FOBs at the station in 2021, followed by a few new bridges, including the one at Bandra LC gate end, Khar station (Churchgate end) and Bandra suburban station (Virar end). The maze of these bridges created a gap between the Bandra local and Terminus station where a proposal was first mooted in 2022, followed by a concrete plan in 2023. However, the actual implementation of the process was due to several factors and processing took time. As of 2024, the bridge now stands sanctioned on paper and has been pushed ahead for tendering. Once the tenders are finalised, work on the project shall begin, which may take a few more years.
31 October,2024 12:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
As the state gears up for the Maharashtra assembly elections 2024, one of the biggest questions hanging in the air is the future of the Shiv Sena, a party that has long been a key player in the state’s political arena. The Shiv Sena has seen significant changes since its formation in 1966, but the internal rift that surfaced in 2022 led to a historic split, reshaping the political landscape. Now, the Shiv Sena finds itself divided into two factions: the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, which broke away to form an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As both sides prepare for a political showdown in the assembly elections, experts and party insiders weigh in on which faction may hold the upper hand. Background: The Shiv Sena split and its aftermath The seeds of the Shiv Sena split were sown during the party’s tenure in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a partnership that left traditional Sena loyalists uneasy. Many within the party argued that the partnership diverted Shiv Sena from its foundational Hindutva ideology. In 2022, Eknath Shinde led a faction of Shiv Sena legislators to align with the BJP, taking with him a substantial share of the party’s support base. The result was a bifurcation that left the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction with a weakened political base but resilient brand loyalty. The power struggle: Who holds the real Shiv Sena mandate? Political analysts remain divided on which faction truly holds the Shiv Sena’s mandate and will emerge as the dominant force in the upcoming elections. “Historically, Shiv Sena has drawn its power from its connection to the Marathi-speaking electorate, its Hindutva roots, and the legacy of Bal Thackeray,” explains a senior political observer. “The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is committed to preserving the family name and its heritage. While the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, backed by the BJP, has embraced a pragmatic strategy that appeals to voters. This duality may benefit both sides in different regions of Maharashtra, but whether either can independently draw the majority of Shiv Sena's support remains a matter of strategy and mobilisation.” Shinde’s alliance with the BJP has brought significant resources and political clout to his faction. Many argue that this relationship positions the Shinde-led Shiv Sena to wield greater administrative power. However, others believe Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, with its deep-seated ideological foundation, may capture the hearts of traditional Shiv Sena voters who revere Bal Thackeray’s legacy and see Uddhav as the rightful heir. Political analyst Abhay Deshpande noted that the upcoming assembly elections are expected to be a close contest between Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT). “Analysing the Lok Sabha election results, both the Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT) contested directly in 13 constituencies. Of these, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won seven seats, while the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) captured six. This suggests that we can expect a close contest between the two factions in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls. The one advantage for the Shinde-led Sena is its 42 sitting MLAs, giving it a slight edge over Shiv Sena (UBT),” he said. Commenting on alliances, Deshpande noted that the contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayuti will be both interesting and closely fought. “The unity within the MVA appears to be tested, as reflected in the discussions related to seat-sharing. It remains to be seen if they can mount a strong challenge against Mahayuti. On the other hand, Mahayuti seems to have gained an advantage by introducing popular schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana. These initiatives give Mahayuti an edge over the MVA. Overall, it promises to be an interesting and closely contested fight between the two alliances,” he said. Shiv Sainiks’ perspective: Loyalty, legacy and leadership The Shiv Sainiks, the party’s grassroots workers, find themselves at a crossroads, torn between loyalty to the Thackeray family and the allure of a powerful alliance with the BJP. “Many of us have given our entire lives to the party because of Balasaheb’s vision,” shares long-time Shiv Sena (UBT) worker Suresh S. “For us, Uddhav ji represents that legacy. However, we understand the importance of stability and the benefits that come from being aligned with the BJP. But loyalty runs deep, and for some of us, leaving Uddhav ji is simply not an option.” On the other hand, supporters of the Shinde faction see the partnership with the BJP as a pathway to greater development for Maharashtra. “Eknath Shinde is a genuine leader. He made a courageous decision to protect the party’s Hindutva principles. By aligning with the BJP, he’s prioritising the people of Maharashtra,” says a Shiv Sena worker who switched to the Shinde camp. “To foster progress and stability in Maharashtra, the alliance between the Shiv Sena and BJP is a must." Shiv Sena spokesperson and Deputy Leader Sheetal Mhatre stated that her party is confident of winning the elections, asserting that the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has focused solely on criticism, which will ultimately lead to their defeat. “Obviously, Mahayuti will win these elections. The MVA has done nothing substantial and appears divided rather than united. Currently, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) has 12 MLAs, while we have around 50. If Uddhav Thackeray couldn’t manage the MLAs he had, how will he lead his party to victory? And what did he accomplish during his two-and-a-half years in power? When Uddhav Thackeray was Chief Minister, instead of focusing on development, he halted ongoing projects. Merely criticising Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena or seeking sympathy from the public won’t earn him votes. In contrast, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has delivered solid work throughout his tenure. Under his leadership, we have launched major projects like Metro 3, Samruddhi Mahamarg, Atal Setu, the Coastal Road Project, and popular schemes like Ladki Bahin Yojana and Lek Ladki Yojana. We’ve initiated development efforts that benefit every part of society. People want to see progress, and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has delivered just that," she said. Election 2024: Key factors A senior political observer, who wished not to be named, said, "The BJP’s backing grants Shinde access to substantial resources and a wider electoral base. For the BJP, the alliance with Shinde’s Shiv Sena is strategically crucial as it provides an anchor in Maharashtra’s Marathi-speaking voter base. However, analysts note that BJP’s influence could diminish Shinde’s sway among traditional Sena supporters, who may view it as a dilution of Shiv Sena’s original ideology." The Uddhav Thackeray faction, though smaller, could maintain a loyal voter base drawn to Bal Thackeray’s legacy. The senior journalist said, “In the heart of Mumbai and other Sena strongholds, Uddhav may still command respect. He has crafted an image as a leader with a softer, inclusive approach compared to his father. This shift might appeal to younger voters and those more progressive-minded within Sena’s traditional base.” While the Shinde faction may benefit from urban areas, where development narratives are highly valued, the Uddhav faction might resonate with rural areas, where voters tend to prioritise loyalty and traditional values over alliances. This urban-rural divide will likely influence voting patterns across Maharashtra’s constituencies. "The Maharashtra assembly elections are just around the corner, and the division has created considerable uncertainty regarding the future of the Shiv Sena. Some experts believe the Shiv Sena may never regain its former unified strength," he added. “While it is unlikely that either faction can claim the entirety of Shiv Sena’s base, each holds significant pockets of influence,” commented a Girgaon resident in Mumbai. However, others argue that regardless of the outcome, the Shiv Sena brand remains resilient. As Suresh S says, “We may be divided, but both factions are Shiv Sena at heart. No matter what happens, we are still united in our commitment to Maharashtra.” The Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 will test both Shiv Sena factions, shaping the party’s future for years to come. While the Uddhav faction carries the legacy, the Shinde faction boasts the advantage of a strong alliance with the BJP. Ultimately, it will be up to the voters to decide whether legacy or pragmatism holds the true power within the Shiv Sena. As the party steps into uncharted territory, one thing is certain: the Shiv Sena’s influence on Maharashtra’s political landscape is far from over.
31 October,2024 12:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Ronak MastakarADVERTISEMENT
