With the deadline for withdrawal ending on Friday, January 2, 453 nominations were withdrawn across Mumbai. A total of 1,700 candidates will now contest the upcoming BMC Election 2026, officials said. The Mumbai civic polls are scheduled for January 15, 2026. The final list of contesting candidates will be published by the civic body on Saturday. Election symbols to be allotted The election symbols will also be allotted to the candidates from 11 am on Saturday, January 3, 2026. According to the officials, a total of 11,391 nomination papers were distributed by the civic body for filing nominations for the BMC elections. Of these, 2,516 forms were filed by the deadline of December 30, 2025. 2,516 nomination papers received The 2,516 nomination papers received were scrutinised on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. As many as 164 nomination papers were declared invalid during scrutiny, while the remaining 2,185 nomination papers were declared valid. The deadline for withdrawing nominations or candidature applications was Friday. As of Saturday’s latest update, 167 nomination papers were declared invalid, 2,231 were found valid, and 453 were withdrawn, bringing the final number of candidates to 1,700.
03 January,2026 04:16 PM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSIn an extremely unfortunate incident, a fire broke out at a residential high-rise building in Andheri West on Friday afternoon. As soon as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) received the information about the blaze, the officials rushed to the spot to take the situation under control. Along with the MFB, other emergency agencies were also mobilised near the spot. As per the information received by the BMC’s fire department, the incident was reported at 2:10 pm on January 3, 2026. The fire occurred at Chandiwala Pearl Regency, located on S V Road, opposite Andheri Subway. The blaze was initially reported on the first floor of the stilt-plus-18-storey building. The MFB subsequently declared the incident as a Level-I (LI) fire at 2:37 pm. Electric duct resulted in smoke lodging As per the latest update issued at 2:50 pm, the fire was found to be confined to the electric duct extending from the first to the 10th floor, resulting in smoke lodging inside the building. Multiple fire tenders were rushed to the spot, along with teams from the Mumbai Police, staff of the concerned electricity distribution company, 108 ambulance services, and BMC ward staff. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported so far, and the MFB is working to make things normal. Firefighting and smoke ventilation operations are still underway to prevent the fire from spreading further. Fire broke out on the 14th floor of an Andheri high-rise In a different scenario, a Level-I fire broke out in a residential high-rise building in Andheri (West) last week, prompting swift action by civic authorities. The incident was reported at 10:05 am on December 25 to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) control room. According to officials, the fire occurred at Sorrento Tower, located on Veera Desai Road near Country Club. The blaze was confined to electrical wiring and installations within the electric shaft between the 10th and 21st floors. Firefighters also found that routers, shoe racks, wooden furniture and other materials near the electric duct on multiple floors were affected. The building comprises a stilt, four podium levels, and residential floors from the 5th to the 22nd storey.
03 January,2026 04:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEasing traffic congestion at the Kapadia Nagar Junction, a new road has been opened by the civic body, providing a shortcut to those travelling between the University of Mumbai Gate No. 1 in Kalina and Bharat Nagar in Bandra East. However, commuters say that the infrastructure needed for the road is still not in place. As this reporter reached the area, it was obvious that the road itself is very hard to locate while trying to get onto it from the university side. Making the situation worse, the road, which is almost as wide as a four-lane road, has an exit/entry point from the university side about the size of a single lane. Jitendra Gupta, Citizens Transport Committee Activist AV Shenoy of the Mumbai Vikas Samiti, who noticed this, said, “The infrastructure is very lacking, and the route becomes unsafe for anyone who wants to walk on the road after dark. It is difficult to navigate an unlit road. If the authorities decided to open it for public use, infrastructure should have been in place.” A section of the road that is still under construction The road is also incomplete, with a section of the route in the Bharat Nagar direction still under construction. This results in traffic in both directions plying on the same side of the road along the stretch, without any divider. An autorickshaw driver requesting anonymity, told mid-day, “It gets difficult when there are two cars or bigger vehicles coming together. This will remain an accident-prone area until the work is completed.” An extremely narrow, damaged section of the new road Local resident and Citizens Transport Committee member Jitendra Gupta, told mid-day, “The road has a good purpose — connecting two places that previously took a lot more time to get to. But till the infrastructure isn’t completed, it is a concerning area on the safety front.” AV Shenoy, activist, Mumbai Vikas Samiti He added that the work should be completed as soon as possible. “This would make the road safe for motorists and pedestrians.” mid-day contacted the BMC H East ward to check when the work would be completed, but did not receive a response till the time of going to press.
03 January,2026 04:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturMunicipal Commissioner and Election Officer Saurabh Rao said detailed planning was underway to ensure that polling is conducted smoothly, transparently and without disruption. The civic body has finalised 2,013 polling stations across nine ward committees within the Thane Municipal Corporation limits. Each polling station will be supplied with over 100 types of essential voting materials, including EVMs, control and ballot units, voter lists, seals, stamps, indelible ink, polling registers, forms, envelopes, identity slips and instruction boards. Facilities and materials for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, along with sanitation and COVID-related supplies, will also be made available at polling stations. Officials said the materials are being inspected, counted and packed ward-wise, with separate kits prepared for each polling station. The process is being closely monitored by election officers, assistant election officers and observers. The election department said the administration is fully prepared to ensure that polling staff and voters face no inconvenience on polling day, adding that all arrangements are in place to conduct the civic elections peacefully. Maharashtra civic polls 2026: Postal voting facility for Thane civic employees on election duty With the Maharashtra civic polls 2026 scheduled on January 15, the TMC announced a special postal voting facility for its officers and employees appointed on election duty, ensuring that they are not deprived of their right to vote. As per a statement issued by TMC, a large number of employees working within the civic body limits are registered as voters in other civic areas such as Mumbai, Dombivli, Kalyan, Badlapur, Nerul, and Panvel, where they reside. As these employees have been deployed for election-related duties, the civic administration has made arrangements for them to cast their votes through postal ballots. Maharashtra civic polls 2026: Easing the voting process for officials on duty The facility has been introduced in view of the simultaneous conduct of municipal corporation elections across the state, which would otherwise prevent many staff members from voting at their registered locations. Deputy Commissioner Dinesh Tayade has been appointed as the nodal officer to oversee the implementation of the postal voting process. TMC said that under the arrangement, employees must fill out the prescribed postal ballot application form and submit it along with proof of their inclusion in the voter list of the concerned municipal corporation and a copy of their election duty appointment order. Once verified, the postal ballot will be sent directly to the employee’s residential address.
03 January,2026 03:13 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA court in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Friday acquitted a 69-year-old man and his son in a 2022 murder case, citing insufficient evidence to support the charges. Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal held Avinash Rambadan Yadav (39) and his father, Rambadan Barsan Yadav, not guilty of murder and assault, reported news agency PTI. The duo were accused of killing Sunil Jagannath Yadav (23) in June 2022 over an alleged love affair with Avinash’s daughter. According to the prosecution, the victim was tied up and beaten at the father-son duo’s house in the Upvan area of the city in the early hours of June 26, 2022. He succumbed to his injuries three days later at KEM Hospital, having sustained 46 blunt-force injuries. The court noted a delay in complaining and observed that the testimonies of neighbours and the victim’s family were not in tandem, reported PTI. The defence argued that residents mistook Sunil for a thief as he was covered in wheat flour and running at the time. “Considering the version of the defence that the victim had wheat flour all over his body and that he was running, people in the area thought he was a thief and assaulted him is not entirely improbable,” the judge said, granting the accused the benefit of the doubt, reported PTI. Thane court acquits nine accused in 2016 dacoity case under MCOCA Earlier in December, a Thane court acquitted nine persons booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in a 2016 dacoity case, noting that their identification was unreliable and that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them, news agency PTI reported. The court observed that the mandatory requirement of an offence of organised crime, as defined under Section 2(1)(e) of the MCOCA, had not been proved against the accused. “Therefore, the mere collection of copies of previous charge-sheets and reliance on the sanction order under Section 23(2) of the Act are not sufficient to prove the offence under Section 3 of the MCOCA,” Special Judge (MCOCA) V G Mohite said in an order dated December 12, PTI reported. According to the prosecution, the accused had allegedly threatened a family, wrongfully confined them, and stolen cash and ornaments from their house in Talasari, in neighbouring Palghar district, on July 18, 2016. The accused were booked under Sections 395 (dacoity), 397 (robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the MCOCA. (With PTI inputs)
03 January,2026 02:50 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentAmong the earliest wards to be formed in suburban Mumbai, the L ward came under the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the 1950s, along with M, N, H, and K. It then comprised the northernmost tip of the limits of BMC’s jurisdiction. Today, it is the southernmost ward of the eastern suburbs, and marks the entry into the suburbs from the island city. It comprises slums that span 70 per cent of its surface area, large industrial areas, and residential high-rise buildings. L ward is the largest administrative ward in the city, comprising 16 electoral wards. It is bound by the Mithi river along its western boundary. Home to several catchment areas of the waterbody, it is prone to flooding during the monsoon season. Powai lake is located along its northern boundary. The Santacruz Chembur Link Road, a major east-west connector, cuts through the centre of the ward, and it’s prone to severe traffic snarls, especially during peak evening hours. Over the past two years, residents of Chandivli have complained about the worsening air pollution in their area due to industrial units tagged unauthorised by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. Action against unauthorised industrial units in the L ward is ongoing, according to information from the BMC. About L Ward Areas under ward: Sangharsh Nagar, Chandivli, Tilak Nagar, Subhash Nagar, Lokmanya Tilak Nagar, Sakinaka, Chunabhatti Characterised by: Its population (the largest in any ward in Mumbai), a high number of open stormwater drains (nullahs), slums spanning 70% of the ward area, and a high number of Muslim voters Population of ward: 9,02,225Density of ward: 580 Chronic waterlogging spots: 17 (due to Mithi river) Vulnerable populations Settlements: 13 (due to high-tension lines and hill slopes) Population: 12,000 Open spaces: 60 Road concreting status: Partially completed: 29 Completed: 31 Not started: 29 Electoral Ward 156 Areas: Tunga Village, Udhyan Complex, Savarkar Nagar, Sakivihar, L&T Company Demographic details: Total population: 59,226 SC population: 4,665 ST population: 1,025 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Ashwini Ashok Matekar (MNS) Votes received: 10,992 Total votes cast: 22,280 Winning margin: 49% Ward reservation (2017): Women Ward reservation (2025): Women Tentative voters (2025): 49,480 Male: 26,796 Female: 22,681 Others: 3 Electoral Ward 157 Areas: Raheja Vihar, MHADA Colony, Sangharsh Nagar, Big Park, Chandivli Studio, Chandivli Lake Demographic details: Total population: 58,682 SC population: 4,944 ST population: 349 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Aakanksha Sanjay Shetye (Shiv Sena) Votes received: 7,349 Total votes cast: 22,101 Winning margin: 33% Ward reservation (2017): OBC Women Ward reservation (2025): Women Tentative voters (2025): 56,642 Male: 30,781 Female: 25,858 Others: 3 Electoral Ward 158 Areas: Yadav Nagar, MHADA Colony, Tilak Nagar, MHADA Maidan Demographic details: Total population: 56,878 SC population: 2,586 ST population: 340 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Chitra Somnath Sangle (Shiv Sena) Votes received: 9,696 Total votes cast: 20,097 Winning margin: 48% Ward reservation (2017): OBC Women Ward reservation (2025): OBC Women Tentative voters (2025): 53,749 Male: 29,619 Female: 24,128 Others: 2 Electoral Ward 159 Areas: Yadav Nagar, Asalpha, Mohili, Subhash Nagar, Shivpremi Nagar, Azad Nagar Demographic details: Total population: 54,739 SC population: 1,551 ST population: 244 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Prakash Devji More (BJP) Votes received: 6,202 Total votes cast: 19,440 Winning margin: 32% Ward reservation (2017): Open Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 38,700 Male: 21,541 Female: 17,158 Others: 1 Electoral Ward 160 Areas: Milind Nagar, Bhim Nagar, Narayan Nagar, Home Guard Training Centre Demographic details: Total population: 52,802 SC population: 3,477 ST population: 213 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Kiran Jyotiram Landge (IND) Votes received: 5,752 Total votes cast: 24,651 Winning margin: 23% Ward reservation (2017): Open Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 51,690 Male: 28,596 Female: 23,093 Others: 1 Electoral Ward 161 Areas: Lokmanya Tilak Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Veer Savarkar Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar Demographic details: Total population: 57,741 SC population: 3,082 ST population: 215 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Vijayendra Omkar Shinde (Shiv Sena) Votes received: 5,338 Total votes cast: 16,914 Winning margin: 32% Ward reservation (2017): OBC Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 44,106 Male: 25,997 Female: 18,106 Others: 3 Electoral Ward 162 Areas: Shivaji Nagar, Sathi D’Souza Nagar, Spenta Residency Park, Airport Runway Demographic details: Total population: 54,989 SC population: 2,159 ST population: 323 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Wajid Wahid Qureshi (Congress) Votes received: 6,148 Total votes cast: 20,695 Winning margin: 30% Ward reservation (2017): OBC Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 52,784 Male: 29,445 Female: 23,337 Others: 2 Electoral Ward 163 Areas: Kajupada, Indira Nagar, Mayfair Industrial Area, Sakinaka Demographic details: Total population: 55,518 SC population: 4,797 ST population: 165 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Dilip Bhausaheb Lande (Shiv Sena) Votes received: 8,009 Total votes cast: 17,405 Winning margin: 46% Ward reservation (2017): OBC Ward reservation (2025): Women Tentative voters (2025): 38,671 Male: 21,844 Female: 16,827 Others: 0 Electoral Ward 164 Areas: Premier Residency, Sanjay Nagar, Kamani, Premier Colony, Navpada Demographic details: Total population: 56,177 SC population: 4,591 ST population: 281 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Harish Krishna Bhandirge (BJP) Votes received: 7,262 Total votes cast: 26,666 Winning margin: 27% Ward reservation (2017): Open Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 62,945 Male: 36,204 Female: 26,737 Others: 4 Electoral Ward 165 Areas: Christian Gaon, Jay Ambika Nagar, Bhartiya Nagar, Halavpool, Kohinoor Hospital Demographic details: Total population: 58,040 SC population: 2,442 ST population: 293 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Mohammed Ashraf Azmi (Congress) Votes received: 6,268 Total votes cast: 20,282 Winning margin: 31% Ward reservation (2017): Open Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 41,538 Male: 22,722 Female: 18,812 Others: 4 Electoral Ward 166 Areas: Kranti Nagar, Sandesh Nagar, Wadia Colony, Kismat Nagar, Shanti Nagar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Talao, Bailbazar, Kurla Bus Depot Demographic details: Total population: 56,621 SC population: 4,966 ST population: 794 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Sanjay Ramchandra Turde (MNS) Votes received: 5,908 Total votes cast: 21,526 Winning margin: 27% Ward reservation (2017): Open Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 41,068 Male: 22,611 Female: 18,454 Others: 3 Electoral Ward 167 Areas: Vinoba Bhave Nagar, Buddha Colony, Brahmanwadi, L Ward Office Demographic details: Total population: 57,324 SC population: 1,985 ST population: 317 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Dilshadbanu Mohammed Ashraf Azmi (Congress) Votes received: 8,874 Total votes cast: 20,798 Winning margin: 43% Ward reservation (2017): Women Ward reservation (2025): OBC Women Tentative voters (2025): 45,540 Male: 24,030 Female: 21,509 Others: 1 Electoral Ward 168 Areas: Kalpana Nagar, Taximen’s Colony, Maharashtra Nagar, Kurla Metropolitan Court, Bhabha Hospital Demographic details: Total population: 55,707 SC population: 4,374 ST population: 276 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Saeeda Khan (NCP) Votes received: 7,896 Total votes cast: 25,362 Winning margin: 31% Ward reservation (2017): Women Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 50,548 Male: 28,446 Female: 22,102 Others: 0 Electoral Ward 169 Areas: Nehru Nagar, Kamgar Nagar, Shivshakti Nagar, Kurla Mother Dairy Demographic details: Total population: 58,269 SC population: 7,637 ST population: 400 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Pravina Manish Morajkar (Shiv Sena) Votes received: 10,299 Total votes cast: 23,617 Winning margin: 44% Ward reservation (2017): SC Ward reservation (2025): Open Tentative voters (2025): 52,092 Male: 26,980 Female: 25,107 Others: 5 Electoral Ward 170 Areas: Qureshi Nagar, Takshshila Nagar, Rahul Nagar, J.T.B. Nagar, Everard Nagar, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad Demographic details: Total population: 53,598 SC population: 2,218 ST population: 193 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Abdul Rashid Kaptan Malik (NCP) Votes received: 7,348 Total votes cast: 18,617 Winning margin: 39% Ward reservation (2017): Open Ward reservation (2025): OBC Women Tentative voters (2025): 38,784 Male: 20,439 Female: 18,342 Others: 3 Electoral Ward 171 Areas: MHADA Colony, Prem Nagar, Tadwadi, Samarth Nagar, Chunabhatti, Municipal Hospital Demographic details: Total population: 52,731 SC population: 3,053 ST population: 201 Political details: Municipal councillor (2017): Sanvee Tandel (Shiv Sena) Votes received: 7,720 Total votes cast: 21,184 Winning margin: 36% Ward reservation (2017): OBC Women Ward reservation (2025): OBC Tentative voters (2025): 46,701 Male: 24,803 Female: 21,897 Others: 1
03 January,2026 02:41 PM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSIn a move aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and easing peak-hour congestion in Mumbai Metro Line 3, the authorities on Saturday announced an increase in the number of daily metro train services starting Monday, January 5. As per the statement issued by the MMRC, the revised schedule will come into effect from 05:55 am onwards on Monday. The inclination of metro trains from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade will benefit thousands of daily commuters travelling on this route. According to the notice, additional metro services will be introduced on weekdays and Saturdays, while the existing schedule will continue unchanged on Sundays. The decision by the authorities has been taken to accommodate rising passenger footfall and ensure smoother travel during working days. As per the updated timetable, the number of daily metro trips will be increased. A total of 292 daily trips from Monday to Friday, an increase of 27 trips in a day. Whereas, on Saturdays, metro services will see a rise to 236 trips per day, compared to the previous 209 trips. No change in operations of Aqua Line on Sunday However, there will be no change in Sunday operations, with 198 trips continuing as per the existing schedule. Metro officials stated that the enhanced frequency is expected to reduce waiting time, improve connectivity, and offer a more comfortable travel experience for commuters. Passengers have been advised to take note of the revised schedule and plan their journeys accordingly. The opening of the Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, marked the beginning of a new commuting era for the latter area earlier in October 2025, connecting heritage precincts, business hubs, and railway interchanges with a world-class transport system. The stations on this stretch—Science Centre, Mahalaxmi, Jagannath Shankar Sheth (Mumbai Central), Grant Road, Girgaon, Kalbadevi, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Hutatma Chowk, Churchgate, Vidhan Bhavan, and Cuffe Parade—have been readied with multiple entry and exit points catering to nearby landmarks, transport nodes, and cultural hotspots. A one-way trip from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade station will cost Rs 70. The Aqua Line during the initial days of the operation from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade carried a total of 3,863,741 passengers between October 1 and October 31, showcasing consistent daily commuter traffic on the route connecting suburbs to South Mumbai.
03 January,2026 12:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai is likely to witness mainly clear skies across the city and suburbs on Saturday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 31 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As per the SAMEER app, Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 104 on Saturday, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. This may cause breathing discomfort for people with lung disorders, asthma and heart diseases. AQI across Mumbai Bandra Kurla Complex: 139Borivali: 108Byculla: 114Andheri East: 120Chembur: 98Deonar: 123Ghatkopar: 105 Meanwhile, the city and its suburbs experienced a partly cloudy morning with haze on Friday, which cleared to a mainly clear sky by the afternoon and evening. According to the IMD, the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 30 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively. Delhi records low of 8.1 degrees Celsius, air quality 'poor' The national capital recorded a minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 1.2 degrees above the season’s average, according to the IMD The IMD has forecast a cold wave at isolated places in the city between January 3 and January 6. A cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature drops 4.5 to 6.5 degrees Celsius below the average. According to IMD data, Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius, Palam 7.9 degrees Celsius—0.9 notches above the seasonal average, Lodhi Road 8 degrees Celsius—two notches above normal, the Ridge 9 degrees Celsius—1.3 notches above normal, and Ayanagar 6.9 degrees Celsius—0.1 notches below normal. Relative humidity was recorded at 95 per cent at 9 am. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 240, in the ‘poor’ category, at 9 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. According to CPCB, the AQI ranges from 0 to 500 and is divided into six categories: Good (0–50): Minimal or no health impact. Satisfactory (51–100): Acceptable air quality, though sensitive groups may experience slight discomfortModerate (101–200): Pollution increasing; may cause breathing difficulties in people with asthma, lung conditions, or heart diseasesPoor (201–300): Prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort even in healthy individualsVery Poor (301–400): Poses risk of respiratory illness for healthy people during long-term exposureSevere (401–500): Dangerous for everyone; air quality becomes hazardous (With PTI inputs)
03 January,2026 11:53 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs of December 18, 2025, data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query shows that around 1.42 lakh students who applied for 14 government scholarship schemes over the last five years are still awaiting disbursement. Of these, 75,000 applications are pending at the college level, while 67,000 are held up with the higher education department, state records show. The delay persists eight years after the Maharashtra government introduced the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, MahaDBT, a centralised online portal aimed at enabling direct transfer of scholarship benefits to students. While the platform was launched to improve transparency and efficiency, the process continues to face persistent delays. For the academic year 2024-25, 6563 applications remain pending at the institute level, while 3096 are pending at the department level. In addition, the second instalment of 9153 scholarships is yet to be released. Pending payments date back several years, with the second instalment of 2105 applicants from 2021-22 still unpaid. An official from the higher education department said fund availability was a key reason for the lag. “We inform the departments concerned about the funds required for each scholarship. Delays occur as the full amount is not released at one time. Scholarships are approved as soon as we receive the amount,” the official said. “This has been the long-standing plight of scholarship applicants,” said Amar Ekad, president of the Care of Public Safety Association (COPS), who filed the RTI with the Directorate of Higher Education. “Departments and institutes failing to implement the scholarship schemes should be reprimanded. The MahaDBT portal was developed by the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Education, for smoother implementation, but students continue to wait for years.
03 January,2026 09:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarRaj and Uddhav Thackeray are set to be interviewed jointly by Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut and filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar on January 6. A video of the same will be telecast ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election, scheduled for January 15. Manjrekar’s podcast, featuring the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, in 2025, was widely seen as a trigger in bringing the estranged cousins closer on a common political platform. During their interaction, Raj remarked that his political differences with Uddhav were “insignificant” when weighed against the larger interests of Maharashtra and the Marathi community. Uddhav later echoed this sentiment at a separate public event and claimed he, too, had no issues with burying the hatchet and coming together for the larger cause of Marathi pride. According to party sources, the interview is likely to be recorded at a hotel in Mumbai’s western suburbs. “The Thackeray cousins’ interview ahead of the crucial BMC polls is seen as a game changer by the rank and file of both camps,” a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said on the condition of anonymity. Raut has so far been sharing video interviews of Uddhav, but for the first time, Raj will also join the platform for a joint question-and-answer session. The interaction is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including Marathi identity, the BMC, the current state of deteriorating politics, and the challenges the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance plans to pose to rival parties seeking to wrest control of the civic body. The Shiv Sena had held power in the BMC for nearly 25 years. Until 2017, the Shiv Sena (then united) and the BJP jointly governed the civic body. However, in the 2017 civic elections, the two parties contested separately. The undivided Shiv Sena emerged as the single largest party with 84 seats, while the BJP followed closely with 82 in the 227-member civic body. In 2022, Eknath Shinde engineered a split in the Shiv Sena, forcing Uddhav to step down as chief minister. The rebellion led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, after which Shinde joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a new government in Maharashtra.
03 January,2026 09:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarTaking a leaf out of the Mahayuti’s Assembly poll playbook to woo voters, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are now making similar welfare promises ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. On Friday, Thackeray cousins Aaditya and Amit outlined their plans for the civic polls at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar. According to their presentation, if the Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance is voted to power, it will roll out a slew of incentives, including property tax exemption for flats up to 700 square feet, breakfast and lunch at R10, and monthly financial assistance of R1500 for domestic workers. Besides, the cousin brothers maintained that youths will be eligible for up to R1 lakh in financial assistance. They even talked about developing a mini sports centre in Mumbai and ensured affordable BEST transport fares. Residential flats in Mumbai with a carpet area of up to 500 square feet are fully exempt from all components of property tax. Now, with upcoming municipal elections to woo voters, political parties are promising to raise the existing exemption slab to 700 square feet. Amit assured of setting up a big library (granthalaya) in the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. His brother and MLA from the Worli Assembly constituency, Aaditya, categorically mentioned that “our Mumbai mayor will have to be always on his toes, as we will be behind him to ensure effective implementation of the plans”. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Raj Thackeray-MNS will release their official joint manifesto on January 4 for the BMC elections. After almost three years of delay, Mumbai is set to vote in the BMC elections, alongside 28 other state municipal corporations. The elections to the BMC, which has 227 electoral wards, are scheduled to be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the next day. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are set to formally kick off their campaign on Saturday (December 3) at a joint rally scheduled at the Worli Dome. Jan 15Day of polling
03 January,2026 09:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarADVERTISEMENT
