Maharashtra News

Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao has declared public holiday on Wednesday for voting for Assembly election in the state. Following the request by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, the Governor agreed to declare a public holiday on Oct 15, said a statement. Javadekar also appealed voters in Maharashtra to vote in large numbers taking advantage of the public holiday.

Amid high security arrangements, polling started for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra and 90 seats in Haryana at 7 am on Wednesday. In Maharashtra, an electorate of about 8.25 crore will choose from 4,119 candidates in the fray, including 1,699 Independents. In Haryana, about 1.63 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,351 candidates, including 109 women.

Giving a hint at possible reconciliation with its former ally BJP, Shiv Sena Friday said, there should be “no bitterness any more”. Though it is difficult to mend broken hearts, Maharashtra needs stability and peace, sena said in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’. Notably, almost all exit polls have predicted BJP to be the largest party in the state in assembly election.

Despite his apology, Maharashtra Congress leaders have urged the Congress high command to sack former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan for his controversial remarks against his predecessors and ally-turned-rivals. "We feel Sonia Gandhi should immediately sack him in the larger interest of the party," a former Congress minister said Friday. A decision on Chavan is likely after the poll results.

Creating a stir in political circles, daughter of late Gopinath Munde and BJP MLA Pankaja Munde Friday said she was willing to head the BJP government in Maharashtra to fulfil her father's late dream and the "aspirations" of her supporters. Her statement comes at a time when the party is planning to clear Devendra Fadnavis' name for chief ministership.

Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani on Saturday took up PM Narendra Modi's 'Clean India' challenge joining a cleanliness drive in Mumbai with Maharashtra governor CH Vidyasagar Rao. Nita Ambani is one of the nine "goodwill ambassadors" of the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. Earlier, Anil Ambani and Sachin Tendulkar had taken up the challenge and were seen cleaning different parts of Mumbai.

Shiv Sena zonal chief Rajesh alias Raju Darshile was shot dead by unidentified persons outside his office in Punawale-Jambhe (Pune) on Saturday night. The 43-year-old was rushed to a private hospital in Chinchwad and was declared dead on arrival. Police said, 3 bullets were fired at him of which one hit him on his head. The Police is probing the case.

After a good performance in the Maharashtra assembly polls, BJP is now looking at the possibilities of forming the government in the state. As BJP is not getting clear majority in the state, the party will reach out to the Shiv Sena for alliance, sources said, adding that discussions are also going on having rotational CM in the state.

According to sources, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackrey on Sunday evening reached out to the BJP by Talking to PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over the phone. In the 10-12 minute conversation, Uddhav said that the two parties must forget the past and move forward. The BJP, however, has not rushed to respond to Sena's offer.

As per latest reports, the BJP may form a government in Maharashtra on its own. “As of now, with support of smaller parties and independent MLAs, we have in all 135 MLAs,” BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said. While Shiv Sena is demanding a 1:1 ratio in the cabinet, the BJP is willing to decide only on a 2:1 ratio.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena have started official negotiations for a reconciliation for forming next government in Maharashtra together. Sena's Subhash and Anil Desai met BJP leaders in Delhi late Tuesday night. "We are talking to Shiv Sena. I hope the results will be positive. We are happy to form a government with them," said union minster NItin Gadkari.

With Shiv Sena gearing up to join BJP, a section in the party has strong reservations on the issue, reports said. "The Sena will send a wrong message to grassroots-level workers if we resume ties with BJP. The manner in which they snapped the poll partnership of the last 25 years before elections was disgusting," a party worker said.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is "very keen"; on forming coalition with the BJP in Maharashtra, Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athawale Friday claimed. Adding that the portfolios will be discussed once the talks take place, Athawale said, "Uddhav is completely ready to support BJP". RPI is a part of BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra which fought the assembly elections.

According to Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014, the University of Mumbai has featured in world’s top 10 varsities in producing maximum number of billionaires. The University is placed 9th on the list and figures higher than prestigious varsities like the New York University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The University of Pennsylvania has topped the list.

Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari rode into a controversy on Saturday when he was caught on camera riding his scooter without a helmet in violation of traffic rules. The 58-year-old BJP MP was seen riding his scooter without helmet, when he was going to meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur (Maharashtra).

A massive fire broke out, Saturday night, in a closed military canteen adjacent to a railway station in South Mumbai. As much as 12 fire tankers and 6 water engines rushed to the spot to douse the flame, an official said, adding that, bursting fire crackers seems to be the cause of the fire. However, no casualty has been reported.

A 12-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped and then strangled to death on Sunday by an unidentified man in Mumbai's Govandi area. The accused has not been identified as yet. However, the victim's brother suspects that his uncle could be involved in the crime. The family claims that the victim was mentally challenged. Police is investigating the matter.

On the issue of election of Maharashtra CM, "Shiv Sena is ready to support anyone who will take Maharashtra ahead with the blessings of the people," Sena said in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'. Further the party said that although Union minister Nitin Gadkari is more experienced to become the CM, the final decision will be taken by the Delhi high command.

The new CM of the first-ever BJP govt in Maharashtra is expected to be sworn-in on Oct 31, party sources said Monday. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and senior BJP leaders will elect BJP's legislature party leader Tuesday. Meanwhile, the NCP has said that it would abstain from voting if the proposed BJP govt seeks vote of confidence in the legislature.