Do you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for April 26. Aries March 21 – April 20Being given more responsibility gives crucial control over all undertakings. Carefully listen to body’s messages..Cosmic tip: Appreciate how karma nudges you into a better version of yourself. Taurus April 21 – May 20Work on a plan or a strategy with regard to the next few career goals. Be careful with money and possessions if travelling. Cosmic tip: Offer suggestions only if asked for your input and ideas. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Not certain if meeting someone from the past is a good idea; you’d rather wait a while to decide on the course of action.Cosmic tip: Choose food that suits your sensitive digestive system. Cancer June 22 – July 23A competitive neighbour is so annoying, but don’t allow irritation to be visible. Be socially polite- that’s all. Do get enough sleep.Cosmic tip: Have the courage to admit you made a wrong decision. Leo July 24 - Aug 23A solution to enhance the present state of affairs is best left to the person dealing with it.Cosmic tip: Look ahead with a positive mindset as you have to achieve so much more. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23An extra busy time with several potential new clients on the horizon is good news too. Do maintain a healthy diet.Cosmic tip: Handle relationships with sensitivity and tact; with loads of diplomacy too. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22An influential person enters your life, making it possible to achieve heights that couldn’t have ever been imagined by you. Cosmic tip: Don’t express any hurtful truth when actually trying to heal a rift. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Trying your level best to maintain a balance between relationships and work is a constant struggle (of sorts). A trip placed on hold works out..Cosmic tip: Be happy at this reconciliation with a friend. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Miscommunication causes a few misunderstandings that can be sorted easily. Continue to network.Cosmic tip: Be diplomatic even if it’s quite difficult to maintain an impassive façade.. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Give yourself a pat on the back for staying away from impulsive shopping sprees. Maintain your independent thinking.Cosmic tip: Consciously remain on this karmic path of self-improvement. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Keeping expectations realistic is a wise mindset to cultivate in this uneasy and unsure time. Sending a reminder for a delayed payment is alright.Cosmic tip: Be more lovingly verbal with your spouse/partner. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20It’s not good karma playing covert mind games with someone you claim to love.Cosmic tip: Make decisions according to personal circumst-ances which are quite different from anyone else’s.
26 April,2024 04:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseThe Congress on Thursday named party's Mumbai unit president Varsha Gaikwad as its candidate for the Mumbai North-Central seat for Lok Sabha elections 2024. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) made the announcement of Varsha Gaikwad's candidature in an official statement released on Thursday evening. The Congress will be contesting two Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai this time as per the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) seat-sharing deal, the PTi reported. The other seat that has gone to the Congress is Mumbai North. Four other Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai will be contested by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), as per the PTI. Polling in Mumbai will be held on May 20. At present, the Mumbai North-Central seat is represented by Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Poonam Mahajan. Varsha Gaikwad, a former Maharashtra minister, has been a four-time MLA from the Dharavi assembly constituency in Mumbai that she currently represents. She had expressed interest in contesting the Mumbai South-Central seat, which was earlier held by her late father Eknath Gaikwad. The polls in Maharashtra are being held in five phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13 and May 20 and the counting of votes will be held on June 4. The second phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Maharashtra will be conducted on Friday. In the second phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Maharashtra on April 26, 2024, will see polling in eight constituencies-- Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, and Parbhani. The third phase of voting will take place across 11 constituencies on May 7 in Raigad, Baramati, Dharashiv, Latur, Solapur, Madha, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, and Hatkanangle. The fourth phase will be held on June 4, 2024 for seats including, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Raver, Jalna, Sambhajinagar, Maval, Pune, Shirur, Ahmednagar, Shirdi and Beed. The fifth and final phase of voting will take place on May 20, 2024, encompassing 13 constituencies, including Washim, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Welfare, Thane, Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South Central, and Mumbai South. Maharashtra has a total number of 48 constituencies in the state. The electoral process will unfold in multiple phases to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process. (with PTI inputs)
25 April,2024 08:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday released his party manifesto, a day before voting in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. According to the PTI, the Shiv Sena (UBT) manifesto focuses on stopping the 'loot' of Maharashtra, job creation and farm loan waiver. Uddhav Thackeray said that the financial city, which he claimed was 'moved to Gujarat', will be built in Maharashtra, enabling employment opportunities in the state, as per the PTI. Uddhav Thackeray also said that the jobs will be created at the district level so that people from the state won't have to migrate, the news agency reported. Through the INDIA government, Uddhav Thackeray said that they will not only waive farm loans but also revise the conditions concerning crop insurance. He said agricultural equipment and seeds will be made free of GST (Goods and Services Tax). Uddhav also assured implementation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) recommended by the Swaminathan Committee report, as per the PTI. Eight seats in Maharashtra will go to polls in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Friday. In the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, around 1.49 crore voters from the state can cast their ballot to seal the fate of as many as 204 candidates. The voting will be held in Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha and Yavatmal-Washim seats in the west Vidarbha region and Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani constituencies in Marathwada. The voting will begin from 7 am to 6 pm across 16,589 polling centres, officials said, according to the PTI. Of the eight Lok Sabha seats, Maharashtra's Buldhana, Yavatmal-Washim and Hingoli will see direct contests between the CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Senaand the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). According to the PTI, a total of 1.49 crore eligible voters, including 77,21,374 men, 72,04,106 women, and 432 persons from the third-gender category, are eligible to exercise their franchise in these eight constituencies. All preparations for the smooth conduct of the elections in the eight Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra have been done, said an official on Thursday, the news agency reported on Thursday. (with PTI inputs)
25 April,2024 07:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEight Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will go to polls on April 26 in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 where 1.49 crore voters from the state can cast their ballot to seal the fate of as many as 204 candidates. The voting will be held in Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha and Yavatmal-Washim seats in the west Vidarbha region and Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani constituencies in Marathwada. The voting will begin from 7 am to 6 pm across 16,589 polling centres, officials said, according to the PTI. Of the eight Lok Sabha seats, Maharashtra's Buldhana, Yavatmal-Washim and Hingoli will see direct contests between the CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). According to the PTI, a total of 1.49 crore eligible voters, including 77,21,374 men, 72,04,106 women, and 432 persons from the third-gender category, are eligible to exercise their franchise in these eight constituencies. All preparations for the smooth conduct of the elections in the eight Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra have been done, said an official on Thursday, the news agency reported on Thursday. In the first phase of Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections 2024, on April 19, five seats in east Vidarbha-- Nagpur, Ramtek, Chandrapur, Bhandara-Gondia and Gadchiroli-Chimur went to polls, registering a voter turnout of 63.70 per cent, as per the PTI. Of the 204 candidates in the fray, there are 21 in Buldhana, 15 in Akola, 37 in Amravati, 24 in Wardha, 17 in Yavatmal-Washim, 33 in Hingoli, 23 in Nanded, and 34 contestants in Parbhani. The undivided Shiv Sena had contested the last general elections in the state in alliance with the BJP. It split in 2022 after CM Eknath Shinde led a rebellion, sunk the then Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and sided with the BJP to become the CM. In Buldhana, sitting Shiv Sena MP Prataprao Jadhav faces off with Narendra Khedekar of Sena (UBT). The Shiv Sena has nominated Rajashri Patil in Yavatmal-Washim, dropping sitting MP Bhavana Gawli. Patil is pitted against Sanjay Deshmukh of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). Meanwhile, in Hingoli, Rajashtri Patil's husband and sitting MP Hemant Patil was replaced by the Shiv Sena, which gave the ticket to Baburao Kohalikar. The Shiv Sena nominee is contesting against Nagesh Patil Ashtikar of Shiv Sena (UBT). Mahadev Jankar of Rashtriya Samaj Paksha is contesting against sitting MP Sanjay Jadhav, nominated by the Shiv Sena (UBT). Mahadev Jankar has been backed by the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar, who heads the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), has fielded candidates in seven seats, including himself from Akola. His brother Anandraj Ambedkar is in the fray in Amravati as a Republican Sena nominee. In Akola, the contest is between Anup Dhotre of BJP and Abhay Patil of Congress, with Prakash Ambedkar as the third candidate. Amravati will see a fight between sitting MP Navneet Rana, now contesting as a BJP nominee, against Balwant Wankhede of Congress. Dinesh Bub is the Prahar Janshakti Party candidate. The Prahar party, which has two legislators in the assembly, is an ally of the ruling coalition. Wardha will see a fight between former Congress MLA Amar Kale, contesting on the symbol of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) a man blowing turha (a traditional trumpet) against sitting BJP MP Ramdas Tadas. In Nanded, sitting MP Pratap Chikhalikar of the BJP is up against Congress nominee Vasant Chavan. (with PTI inputs)
25 April,2024 07:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFootpaths and public roads in Mumbai cannot be allowed to be taken over by unauthorised hawkers permanently, the Bombay High Court has said, suggesting that the city's civic body consider the idea of a pop-up market or mobile vending concept. A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Kamal in its order of April 16, a copy of which was made available on Thursday, said the constitutional right of one person cannot mean violation of the right to a free and safe footpath for pedestrians. The bench last year had taken suo motu (on its own) cognizance of the issue of illegal vendors in the city. It said a fundamental question that arises in the petition is who is this city for as there are rival contestants for this space. Public footpaths and public roads cannot be allowed to be taken over by unlicensed vending on a permanent basis, the court said. Apart from anything else, this will create a conflict within Article 21 and within Article 14 of the Constitution, it said. It is inconceivable that an unlicensed street vendor can claim permanency on a public street, the court said, observing that this would impact the constitutional rights of pedestrians and other tax-paying citizens. We do not see how the Article 19 right (to livelihood) claimed by an unlicensed vendor on a public space can translate into a right to the land at the cost of other users of that public space," the HC said. The right to livelihood can always be regulated as per the law, it said. When an unlicensed street vendor begins to claim permanency and protection from removal in a public space, what is being advocated is the deprivation of fundamental rights that equally vest in others to the use of that public space," the HC said. It is inconceivable that anybody could say that this piece of earth in Mumbai which is public land is under my occupation and none may remove me from it," the court said. The HC said it was suggesting a fresh approach that gives heft to the mobile vendors' concept or a pop-up market that permits hawkers to sell their items at a particular place at particular times. This would contemplate allowing street vendors to use only temporarily and under strict monitoring, control and supervision, an area and, after the time is over, to return the public land to its original purpose, the court said. The bench noted that a designated hawking zone may have permanency for the utilization of space and demarcation of areas whereas a mobile vending zone has no such permanency. It is by definition temporary. The zone itself moves from place to place, and with the zone should move the vendors who are licensed in those zones for those hours," the court said. Senior counsel S U Kamdar, who represented the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said the issue of illegal and unauthorised hawkers was a constant struggle as whenever such vendors are removed, they often return the very next day. The court noted that many street vendors provide goods and services to the people of the city and no one was asking whether the vendor has a license or not. Hence, such vendors could be permitted to sell their goods at a particular place at a set time, it said. We believe this is something that the BMC should consider because it would enable the BMC to then identify where, when and who should be permitted and for what period of time," HC said. There is no logical reason why such a system of protocol cannot be applied to temporary street vending or mobile vending," the court said. The bench noted that this would require a policy on a ward-to-ward basis as what is suitable for south Mumbai may not be suitable for other parts of the city. The bench noted that pedestrians' right to use a footpath cannot be compromised. Due to unlicensed hawkers on the footpath, the court said, pedestrians are forced to walk on the roads. Now motorcars cannot be expected, at least as yet, to fly and they have only one space to use, namely the road, HC said. The bench also called for the creation and maintenance of a database of all street vending licenses granted for easy monitoring. The court posted the matter for further hearing on June 24 and said it was up to the BMC commissioner to consider the suggestions made by HC. 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
25 April,2024 06:25 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIMumbai's oldest NGO, Bombay YMCA has entered its Sesquicentennial year, marking 150 years of commitment to serving humanity, it prepares to kick off the celebrations with an event at the historic Afghan Church, Colaba, on April 25th. Since its establishment in 1875, Bombay YMCA has been an indispensable part of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, dedicated to uplifting the lives of citizens from all walks of life. With a legacy of innovation, the YMCA has continually devised programs catering to the diverse needs of society, particularly focusing on the underprivileged and marginalized, a press note said. "As we reflect on Bombay YMCA's rich history, we extend our gratitude to the 18 million individuals, particularly youth, women, and children, whose lives we've touched" says Leo Salins, General Secretary & CEO, Bombay YMCA. "As Bombay YMCA celebrates its 150 years of community engagement embarks on the next chapter of its journey, driven by the timeless values of compassion and service. At Bombay YMCA, its mission transcends mere service provision; it embodies empowerment and enrichment in every aspect of life with a commitment in making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, irrespective of their backgrounds," he added. "The YMCA's extensive array of programs spans intellectual, physical, and spiritual development, with a special emphasis on youth empowerment. From pioneering initiatives in sports and athletics to social welfare endeavors among industrial workers, Bombay YMCA has been a trailblazer in addressing societal challenges. Its 149 year journey has been marked by inclusivity and diversity. From promoting intercollegiate sports to nurturing talent through debating competitions, Bombay YMCA has remained a beacon of opportunity for all, he explained. Affiliated with the National Alliance of YMCAs in India and recognized globally through associations with the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs and the World Alliance of YMCAs, Bombay YMCA stands as a testament to the power of community engagement," Salins said.
25 April,2024 04:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on Thursday that after June 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party will not be in power, reported news agency ANI. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai today, Raut said, "Narendra Modi is going to lose the election. After June 4, Modi ji and his party will not be in power. For 70 years in the country, out of which Congress has given Prime Ministers for 50 years and all of them were excellent in their work. Be it Pandit Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi or Manmohan Singh. Modi Ji is doing the work of auctioning the country that all of them have built. Is there an auction for the post of PM also? Did Modi ji also get the auction done?" He also emphasised that a capable person will become the leader of this country who will think about the people and the future of democracy, reported ANI. "Ram Temple becomes an election issue because the BJP is going to lose the Lok Sabha elections 2024. They want to win with the help of Ram but even Ram is not with them," Raut added. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday lashed out at the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for not attending the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya temple and alleged that the latter turned down the invitation to the event due to 'fear' of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, reported ANI. Amit Shah, while addressing a public rally in Maharashtra's Amaravati slammed the opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for not attending the event and accused them of "humiliating" Lord Ram, reported ANI. "Uddhav Thackeray, who claims to be the president of Shiv Sena, this fake president of Shiv Sena didn't attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' due to fear of Sonia Gandhi even after being invited. 'Rahul Baba' too received the invitation but didn't attend the 'Pran Pratishtha'. These people by not attending the 'Pran Pratishtha' have humiliated Lord Ram," Shah said. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place in Maharashtra on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20. The state, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 out of 23 seats. The undivided NCP, part of the opposition alliance, contested 19 seats and won four in 2019 Lok Sabha election. Following the split in the Shiva Sena 2022, the Eknath Shinde faction aligned with the BJP. (With inputs from ANI)
25 April,2024 02:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA retired director of a multinational company (MNC) residing in Mumbai lost nearly Rs 25 crore to cyber fraudsters, who posed as police and CBI officers and intimidated her saying she was being probed in a money laundering case, officials said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. Police say this is one of the biggest cyber fraud cases targeting an individual in the city in recent times. According to them, the retired director of MNC from Mumbai sold her and her mother's shares and mutual fund investments and even took out a gold loan to pay money to the scammers, reported PTI. The incident occurred during a two-month period starting February 6 this year, a police official said. "The complainant, who stays in a western suburb, received a WhatsApp call with the caller posing as an official of the telecom department, who told her that her three mobile numbers will be deactivated. When the retired director of MNC from Mumbai, who is a senior citizen, sought to know the reason, the caller told her that he was connecting the call to a police officer," he said, reported PTI. After that, another man posing as a police officer started speaking and said they have received a money laundering complaint against her and her mobile numbers and Aadhaar card was found linked to the case, he said. "The caller then transferred the call to another person, who posed as a CBI officer and threatened her with the money laundering case. The caller told her that if she wanted to get out of the case, she should deposit money into the bank accounts provided by him and assured that she will get her money back," the police official said, reported PTI. The fraudsters also opened a current account in the victim's name and asked her to deposit money there. They told her that her money will be sent to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The caller also told her to collect the receipt of the payment from the local police station, he said. The woman transferred around Rs 25 crore to the account, but failed to get it back, following which she approached the Mumbai police and filed a complaint against unidentified fraudsters, the police official said, reported PTI. The cyber police station of the Mumbai crime branch initiated a probe into the case and froze 31 bank accounts so far, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
25 April,2024 02:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA special court in Mumbai has sentenced a 26-year-old man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting minor boy in Mumbai, observing the victim may not live a normal life due to the trauma caused by the incident, reported news agency PTI. Special Judge Priya Bankar on April 6 convicted the man under the IPC section related to unnatural sex as well provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for the crime which took place in Mumbai in 2020. "The act (sexual assault) which has taken place with the victim, will leave scars in his mind for a longer period," noted the court in its order made available on Wednesday, reported PTI. "It will also cause mental trauma during his future life and his life will be affected. He may not be in a position to live a normal life due to the trauma caused because of the incident," the special judge observed, reported PTI. During the trial, the accused, while countering charges against him, pointed out that a coronavirus-induced lockdown was in place at the time of sexually assaulting minor boy in Mumbai and people were not allowed to step out of their homes. As per the prosecution, the victim, an eight-year-old boy, was playing near his house when the accused, a resident of Mumbai, approached him and called him to a temple in the area for playing. The accused also offered to give money to the boy. As the boy entered the temple premises, the man accused sexually assaulted him and warned him of dire consequences if he revealed about the incident to anyone, said the prosecution. When the boy's parents came to know about the ordeal suffered by their son, they reported the matter to the local police station and a case was registered against the accused on July 22, 2020, reported PTI. During the trial, the prosecution examined six witnesses and also relied on medical evidence. The accused had disputed the testimony of a prosecution witness on the ground that there was lockdown due to COVID-19 when the crime took place and therefore, people were not allowed to go out of their homes. However, the court held there was no reason to disbelieve the evidence on the ground that due to lockdown, there was no possibility of such an incident taking place, reported PTI. Though there was a lockdown at that time, it was not a complete shutdown and people were allowed to go out of their houses, the court noted, reported PTI. The judge said from the evidence on record, there was absolutely no reason to disbelieve the testimony of prosecution witnesses about the unnatural sex committed by the accused. (With inputs from PTI)
25 April,2024 01:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) on Thursday unveiled its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, favouring caste census and promising a separate commission for farmers' welfare, right to apprenticeship, 50 per cent reservation for women in jobs. The Sharad Pawar-led party said it supports full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and rejects the idea of 'one nation, one election'. As per the manifesto, titled "Shapatnama", the NCP (SP) will review and propose changes to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Register for Citizens (NRC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other laws "conflicting" with the constitutional principles. It also mentioned that the party advocates empowering state and local governments, reviewing power distribution and enforcing constitutional amendments. "We will demand a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations. We will ban contract labour in government sectors and legally protect the contract workers' benefits," Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil said addressing a press conference in Mumbai, reported PTI. The manifesto, unveiled in the presence of NCP (SP) chief and former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, also favours caste census, scrapping of the Agnipath scheme, safety audit for women and strengthening cyber laws related to them. The NCP (SP) said it endorses the five "nyay" (guarantees) of the Congress mentioned in the grand old party's manifesto for Lok Sabha elections 2024 on the issues pertaining to farmers, youth, women, labourers and caste census. Patil said if the party gets a chance to be in power at the Centre, it would give the Goods and Services Tax (GST) a "human face", reported PTI. "LPG cylinder prices will be kept at Rs 500 and if necessary, will be subsidised by the government. Petrol, diesel tax will be restructured," he said, reported PTI. To a query on Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking to know what Pawar has contributed to the agriculture sector, the NCP (SP) chief said, "I don't wish to react to the remarks of those who have negligible knowledge of the sector. He should first speak on what his government has done in the last ten years," reported PTI. The manifesto also outlined the party's foreign policy related to strategic global diplomacy, fostering partnerships that resonate with India's role on the world stage, and highlighted the party's views on national and internal security. "We also prioritise judicial reforms, ensuring access to justice and inclusive representation within the judiciary," the NCP (SP) said in the manifesto. Patil said the manifesto emphasises on "all-inclusive" development and speaks of affordable health and education, the party's views on environment, art and culture and what is proposes to do if voted to power. The Sharad Pawar-led party's manifesto for Lok Sabha elections 2024 also highlights welfare measures for the LGBTQ community. (With inputs from PTI)
25 April,2024 12:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
As the electoral battle for 48 seats in the state heats up further, the political parties are busy strategising their moves. The two major forces MahaYuti (Shiv Sena, NCP, BJP) and Maha Vikas Aghadi (Shiv Sena UBT, NCP-SP, Congress) are going to be taking on each other. While the incumbent government is campaigning with the aim of 'Ab ki baar, 400 par', the opposition parties are looking to capitalise on the victim card. However, a strong contender to stand up to both these forces has recently seen a meteoric rise and could change the electoral landscape in the state. Political strategist Ritwik Mehta, who is also the founder of the think tank Niti Tantra, gave key insights regarding the political landscape in Maharashtra, particularly focusing on the alliances and strategies of major political parties as they gear up for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The discussion delved into the internal dynamics of political coalitions, the emergence of new players, and the evolving socio-political factors shaping electoral outcomes. Mehta, responding to a query on the two coalitions of Maharashtra working out, said that Maha Vikas Aghadi's ship is sailing in troubled waters, especially amid seat-sharing talks. "The alliance is based on two factors and they are chemistry and mathematics. The BJP is in alliance with Shiv Sena because chemistry and with Ajit Pawar-led NCP for mathematics," said Ritwik; however, he pointed out that Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP-SP are not ideologically aligned and added that the public airing of discontentment has had an impact. The founder of Niti Tantra added, "When Sena (UBT) released their list of candidates, top leadership of Congress in the state publically expressed displeasure saying they were not taken into confidence. It took nearly a week for the exchange of barbs between Congress and Sena (UBT)'s top leaders to stop." Sena (UBT) had announced candidates for 17 seats including those in Mumbai and Sangli which were at the time under discussion. Also Read: Exclusive: 'In politics, friends become enemies; you never know in which direction the coin will flip,' says Prakash Ambedkar Mehta further said that the cadre of the grand old party in Sangli is not happy with the decision of the MVA. Effect of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on grand alliances Speaking about the effect of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 results on the following two alliances, he remarked that the handling of discontentment brewing among parties is crucial, especially for MVA. He also remarked that the MahaYuti is sailing relatively smoothly over the chemistry between the parties. The political analyst said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi and INDIA bloc in national politics are at risk of disbanding due to the internal conflict amidst the parties. Elucidating on it further, Mehta stated that Maha Vikas Aghadi faces challenges in maintaining cohesion which raises concerns about the alliance's stability. He said in the broader coalition INDIA, a similar view can be witnessed. "One by one, the opposition bloc leaders are backing out, Mamata Banerjee fought solo. Nitish Kumar also switched and sided with BJP due to increasing pressure by his party leaders who believed they came to power because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Ritwik said. Factors influencing voter behaviour in Maharashtra When asked about the evolving demographics and socio-economic factors influencing voter behaviour, Ritwik said that in the Lok Sabha Elections, 2024 caste identities will play a significant role as parties are attempting to appeal to diverse voter segments. Given the recent Maratha agitation and the increased intensity of the protests in the last few months of 2024, Ritwik said, BJP winning from Marathwada seems difficult. He added that the saffron party however is likely to sweep all seats in Vidarbha. "Through my interactions with community members, particularly in Vidarbha, where Marathas wield significant power, it is clear that support for the BJP continues. Even in Chandrapur, where the Congress has put Pratibha Dhanorkar as a candidate, pockets of Maratha voters support the BJP. This move can be linked to the execution of several schemes, like as the Vishwakarma Yojana, and Prime Minister Modi's explicit affinity with the OBC community, which is supported by his cabinet's," Mehta added. Ritwik added that, "Caste politics continue to play a significant role in electoral dynamics. Additionally, regarding tribal votes, the misconception that only Gonds support the BJP has been debunked. With Draupadi Murmu assuming the presidency, there has been a notable increase in support from various tribal communities, as evidenced in the recent Chhattisgarh elections." The political strategist further said, "You will see not only the Gonds, but Bhils also, a very minor section votes for the BJP." He added that however, at one point in time Congress ran the Mulund network of methods. If you go to Mumbai and talk to the Muslim community, they once voted for the INC. Now you talk to the minority community, the Muslims, they say they will vote for the Sena UBT, he said. Thackeray & Ambedkar factors Amid the recent happenings including Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena announcing it will support the Mahayuti, it changed the dynamics of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 contest in Maharashtra. Ritwik Mehta, speaking to mid-day, said that initially Raj Thackeray was brought to counter the Uddhav Thackeray group and he was being offered one seat. However, it seems like Thackeray's party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seems to have struck a deal with BJP that if they back Mahayuti In Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the saffron party will support them in state assembly elections and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Since the talks with MVA failed and Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi has decided to fight the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 solo. "VBA was supposed to join MVA, however, that fell through. MVA wanted to take Ambedkar's party since it had divided the Dalit and Mahar communities' votes in 2019 assembly elections which had benefitted the BJP in the end," Ritwik said. He added that had VBA joined Maha Vikas Aghadi, it would have been difficult for the BJP or other parties of Mahayuti. When questioned about the impact VBA going solo will have on the electoral landscape, Ritwik said, "Mahars usually do not vote for BJP in either Maharashtra or across India; however, the Matangs do. The Mahar community's votes in Maharashtra goes to VBA now and in other states it is Congress." He added that Ambedkar has been aggressively campaigning for their candidates and giving good press conferences to set their foot. Mehta added, "If the same thing happens in the Assembly, that Prakash Ambedkar does not join the Maha Vikas Aghadi, and they don't have the right to share seats, then, I think, in the Assembly, they will do the same damage as they did in 2019, and it will eventually help the BJP only, because votes will be cut." As the election date draws nearer, one thing is clear – Maharashtra's political landscape is poised for a seismic shift. Whether it is the rise of the VBA, the intricacies of coalition politics, or the aspirations of the common voter, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown in the Lok Sabha Elections of 2024.
25 April,2024 12:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjana DeshpandeADVERTISEMENT
