13 August,2025 11:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Bhaskar Jadhav. Pic/X
The Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Guhagar MLA Bhaskar Jadhav has courted controversy after he allegedly dubbed the Brahmin community "cunning", reported news agency PTI.
Speaking at Guhagar on Monday, the MLA said, "Small communities (castes) came together and stood behind me (in the polls). If the Maratha community takes it seriously, then there is a (large) section (of people) which stands behind the Marathas. Marathas have (more) support than Brahmins. Even if there is one (Bramhin), he can be weighty. They are cunning. I knew the Muslim community would vote for me," Jadhav said, reported PTI.
The MLA, who belongs to the Maratha community, won from Guhagar in Ratnagiri district by a slender margin of 2,830 votes in the 2024 assembly polls.
Following Jadhav's remarks, the Brahmin community in Guhagar issued a statement condemning his comments. However, Jadhav remained defiant.
"The BJP has fielded the Brahmin community and issued a letter condemning my statement. I was born into the Maratha community, and I too, have self-respect. They (the Brahmin community) thought I would apologise. Those who didn't spare Chhatrapati Shivaji, Chhatrapati Sambhaji and Mahatma Gandhi... will they spare me?" he said, reported PTI.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday asked Ganesh mandals not to pay a fine for digging up roads to set up pandals (temporary structures) for the ensuing festival till the time the Maharashtra government fills potholes on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, reported PTI.
The former CM suggested that a fine should be imposed on the government itself for every pothole found on the 470-km-long busy highway.
Addressing Ganesh mandals (organizing committees) which have functionaries and sympathisers of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Thackeray targeted the BJP-led Mahayuti government over the prevailing uncertainty on the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) for making idols of Lord Ganesha, reported PTI.
Thackeray said the ban on PoP idols, widely installed at home and public places during the ten-day Ganesh festival, has been lifted for 2025, but asked whether it will continue next year.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has hiked the fine for digging up roads while buildings Ganesh pandals to Rs 15,000 per hole from Rs 2,000 earlier. Although Mumbai suburban district guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has assured he will talk to the BMC to bring down the fine amount to Rs 2,000, there was no official word on this by the civic body so far.
"I am declaring that there should be a fine on the government for every pothole on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. Till the time those potholes are filled, we will not pay fine for the digging holes for Ganesh pandals. I am declaring this and go and tell the chief minister," Thackeray asserted, reported PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
