A fire broke out on Friday afternoon in the meter box room on the ground floor of the New Narsimha Building in Thane (West), civic officials said. According to the Thane Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell, the incident was reported at around 12.48 pm by the Jawaharbagh Fire Station. The fire, triggered by a cable inside the meter box room, occurred in the ground-plus-eight-storey residential Thane building located near Deluxe Hotel in the Mahagiri Koliwada area. Personnel from the Thane Nagar Police, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), the Disaster Management Cell—along with one pickup vehicle—and the fire brigade, which deployed a fire engine, rushed to the spot. The fire at the Thane building was swiftly brought under control and completely extinguished. No injuries were reported, and the situation is now stable, officials said. Fire breaks out at Thane banquet hall More than 1,000 wedding guests escaped without any injury after a fire broke out at a banquet hall in Maharashtra's Thane city, officials said on Friday. The incident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday at the marriage hall premises in the Ovala area along the Ghodbunder Road in the city, they said. According to Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation, "Mandap decoration materials kept outside a cabin on the lawn of 'The Blue Roof Club' caught fire. A wedding reception was underway at the venue at the time." The official said that 1,000 to 1,200 guests had gathered at the venue at the time of the incident. "As soon as the fire was noticed, guests were safely moved out of the venue, preventing any casualties," he said. Fire officials said timely alertness and swift evacuation played a key role in "averting a major tragedy". The firefighting operation involved two fire engines, one rescue vehicle, and one utility vehicle. An official said the fire was extinguished by around midnight. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, he added. Fire erupts at three warehouses in Thane; none hurt Earlier, a fire broke out at three warehouses in Maharashtra's Thane district on Sunday afternoon, triggering panic in the industrial area, officials said. There was no report of any casualty, they said. The blaze was reported at around 2.30 pm in three warehouses at Gayatri Nagar in Bhiwandi town, the officials said, adding it was not yet known what was stored there. Multiple fire engines were rushed to the spot, Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Saquib Kharbe said. The exact cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained.
19 December,2025 02:07 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA fire broke out late Thursday night at The Blue Roof Club in Thane (West) while a wedding reception was underway, officials from the Thane Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Cell said. More than 1,000 wedding guests escaped without any injury after a fire broke out at a banquet hall in Maharashtra's Thane city, the officials said. The incident occurred around 11 pm on Thursday at the marriage hall premises in the Ovala area along the Ghodbunder Road in the city, they said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by mid-day (@middayindia) According to Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation, "Mandap decoration materials kept outside a cabin on the lawn of 'The Blue Roof Club' caught fire. A wedding reception was underway at the venue at the time." The official said that 1,000 to 1,200 guests had gathered at the venue at the time of the incident. "As soon as the fire was noticed, guests were safely moved out of the venue, preventing any casualties," he said. Fire officials said timely alertness and swift evacuation played a key role in "averting a major tragedy". The firefighting operation involved two fire engines, one rescue vehicle, and one utility vehicle. An official said the fire was extinguished by around midnight. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, he added. Fire breaks out near tunnel on Mumbai Coastal Road; none hurt In another incident, a fire erupted outside a tunnel on the Coastal Road in south Mumbai on Wednesday evening, but no injuries were reported, civic officials said, reported PTI. The blaze outside the tunnel at Marine Lines opposite the Police Gymkhana was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at 7.12 pm, they said, reported PTI. No injuries were reported in the fire, which was doused in less than an hour, said the officials. A civic official said the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit. The structure where the fire started was used for the storage of some materials, he added. Fire erupts at three warehouses in Thane; none hurt Earlier, a fire broke out at three warehouses in Maharashtra's Thane district on Sunday afternoon, triggering panic in the industrial area, officials said, reported PTI. There was no report of any casualty, they said. The blaze was reported at around 2.30 pm in three warehouses at Gayatri Nagar in Bhiwandi town, the officials said, adding it was not yet known what was stored there. Multiple fire engines were rushed to the spot, Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Saquib Kharbe said, reported PTI. "So far, there are no reports of anyone being injured," he said, adding that efforts were on to ensure the fire does not spread to adjoining structures. The exact cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained. Earlier in the day, a fire broke out at a godown storing autorickshaws at Kalher in Bhiwandi town, officials said. No casualties were reported, they said. (With inputs from PTI)
19 December,2025 11:05 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentA routine inspection by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Mulund has exposed an alleged fake vehicle registration and chassis number scam involving Orchids International School, after officials found a school-linked vehicle running with forged documents and mismatched chassis details. The irregularity, which allegedly went undetected for over two years, has led to an FIR at Navghar police station, with the RTO estimating a Rs 8.66 lakh loss to the Maharashtra Transport Department. According to Sanket Chavan, the RTO motor vehicle inspector who detected the irregularity, the issue came to light on Tuesday afternoon, during a routine inspection near the fire brigade office at Gavhanpada in Mulund East. When the RTO team checked a bus, they noticed discrepancies in its registration details. A physical verification of the vehicle revealed that the chassis number stamped on the bus did not match the registration and number plate details available in official records, following which the vehicle was detained and its documents were subjected to a detailed verification. “This raised serious suspicions as the chassis number is the primary identity of a vehicle,” Chavan said, adding that further scrutiny showed the bus had allegedly been operated without valid registration for over two years (since October 2023). This led to evasion of motor vehicle tax and other statutory dues payable to the transport department, amounting to Rs 8,66,421. What is the irregularity Orchid allegedly purchased the bus from VE Commercial Vehicle Ltd — a dealer located at Dapoda village in Bhiwandi, Thane district — for use as a school vehicle in Mulund East. However, officials allege that mandatory protocols under the Motor Vehicles Act were not followed, including proper registration, verification, and payment of applicable motor vehicle tax. Instead, the bus was allegedly operated using forged registration details and a mismatched number plate, allowing it to run on city roads without valid authorisation. Cops take action The FIR names the educational institute, its director and principal, the vehicle dealer, the driver, and others as accused, alleging that their acts resulted in cheating the Maharashtra Transport Department of government revenue. Based on these findings, police have invoked sections related to endangering life or personal safety of others, cheating, forgery and conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, in addition to provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. “It is the school’s responsibility to ensure its buses comply with all rules, not just legally but also for children’s safety. In this case, the school failed to verify the vehicle’s registration for over two years, during which the bus was run illegally,” said Chavan. “This is also about public awareness, and parents should check whether school buses are properly registered.” School’s response mid-day tried to contact several individuals from the school management but couldn’t reach any of them. The school principal, Rachana Kamath, said she has no information about the incident. OctMonth in 2023 bus was pressed into service What transpired… . School-linked unregistered bus operated for over two years. Vehicle displayed number plate not matching chassis number. Operator managed to avoid paying road tax and RTO fees. Irregularity detected during a routine RTO inspection What is chassis number? It is a vehicle’s unique ID code. It is stamped on the vehicle’s frame. RTOs use it to verify registration, ownership, tax. Any mismatch could mean forgery, illegal operation. What parents should check . Valid registration number. Registration Certificate (RC) matching the bus. School name in permits. Fitness certificate and insurance. Driver’s licence and badge How evasion amount got to Rs 8.66 lakh Motor vehicle tax Rs 8.61LRegistration fee Rs1,200LInspection fee Rs 800LSmart card fee Rs 200Postal charges Rs 58Loan endorsement Rs 3,000charges Total Rs 8,66,421
19 December,2025 10:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMahim residents have complained to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) about personnel from a construction site ramming iron rods into the trunks of nine old but healthy trees near Paradise Cinema on Bhagoji Keer Road. In response to the complaints, officials from the civic body’s G North ward inspected the site on Thursday morning and issued a warning to the developer to remove the rods. The issue On Wednesday night, residents of the area noticed workers installing steel sheets around a construction site and informed them not to damage trees surrounding the compound wall of the plot, noticing that the rods holding up the sheets would pass through the trees. However, on Thursday morning, it was noticed that a peepal tree on the periphery of the plot was affected due to the work. A non-governmental organisation (NGO) named Bombay Indigenous People’s Association (BIPA) from the area complained to the BMC about the issue. Residents have decided to file a complaint against those responsible with the Mumbai Police under the Tree Act, 1972; the spot where the peepal trees were damaged, around Mahim’s Paradise Cinema. Pics/By Special Arrangement Residents speak Luke Mendes, founder of the NGO and a professor at St Xavier’s College, who resides in the area, said, “The Paradise Cinema site is undergoing redevelopment, and sheets are being installed around the periphery of the site. Metal rods that support the sheets run right through a tree. We are afraid this will damage it in the long run. Past experiences have shown us that these events are planned to eventually get rid of these trees.” “This is a 15-foot-tall peepal tree, easily 50 to 60 years old. It towers over the rooftop terrace of a six-storey building,” Mendes added. Residents have decided to file a complaint with the Mumbai Police under the Tree Act, 1972. “There are several other old trees in the compound, and this issue will persist if the BMC does not act in time,” Mendes added. Authorities speak After complaints from residents of the area, the civic body’s gardens department inspected the property on Thursday morning and issued a warning to the developer to remove the scaffolding. A senior civic official of the G North ward, with jurisdiction over the area, said, “We received complaints on Wednesday night and Thursday morning from several residents of the area. The scaffolding is being installed by the developer as part of prep work for demolition and reconstruction of an existing building on this plot.” After inspection of the site, BMC issued a warning to remove the scaffolding by Friday morning. The official said, “We will inspect the site again on Friday. If the scaffolding is not removed, we will serve a notice to the developer, as damaging trees during construction work is not prohibited.” Dec 17Day civic first received complaints Dec 18Day civic officials inspected site
19 December,2025 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Eshanpriya MSDissent within the BJP over issuing civic election tickets to family members of office bearers and public representatives is slowly beginning to surface. Advocate Vivekanand Gupta has written to BJP Mumbai president Ameet Satam, urging the party to ensure that the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections do not turn into a “family business.” Gupta, a secretary of the BJP’s Mumbai unit, has raised concerns over granting tickets to relatives such as wives, sons, daughters, or grandchildren of party office bearers, MLAs, and other public representatives. In his letter, he said tickets should be allotted only to deserving grassroots workers. He added that candidates for the BMC polls should be party workers who have stood by the BJP for years, and not relatives of influential leaders taking advantage of changes in seat reservations from general to women, OBC, or other reserved categories. Gupta warned that using reservation changes as a pretext to accommodate family members demoralises long-serving karyakartas who work at the ground level, hoping for a fair opportunity to contest elections. Stating that the BJP is a party built by its workers, Gupta urged the leadership to resist pressure while finalising candidates and ensure transparency and fairness in ticket distribution. He said the BMC elections should reflect the party’s commitment to merit, with loyalty and hard work—not family connections—deciding who gets to contest.
19 December,2025 10:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarMumbai-Pune commuters faced a stressful delay late Wednesday night after an MSRTC E-Shivneri bus was halted for nearly an hour at the Talegaon toll plaza over an alleged FASTag issue, forcing passengers to collectively pay the toll to continue their journey. The electric E-Shivneri bus (MH 12 VF 5207) left Dadar around 5 pm for Pune via Thane and reached the Talegaon toll plaza at about 9.30 pm. Toll staff reportedly stopped the bus, claiming there was insufficient balance in its FASTag account, and refused to let it proceed. As minutes stretched into an hour, passengers questioned the driver, who tried contacting senior officials and depot authorities. According to passengers, repeated calls went unanswered, leaving them stranded at the toll plaza late at night. Passengers said repeated calls went unanswered, leaving them stranded at the toll plaza late at night. Representation Pic/X/@priyapandey1999 With no resolution in sight, commuters eventually pooled money and paid around Rs 900 as toll charges. The bus resumed its journey only around 10.30 pm.Passengers described the episode as mentally distressing, especially since a six-month-pregnant woman was among those on board. “Passengers buy tickets expecting a smooth journey. FASTag compliance or toll issues should never become the passengers’ problem. We plan to approach the consumer forum over this lapse,” a group of commuters said. Another passenger, Sharayu Joshi, said, “It was a cold winter night with falling temperatures. Stopping a public transport bus for over an hour over such an issue is completely unacceptable.” An MSRTC official confirmed that a complaint had been received and an inquiry was underway. “E-Shivneri buses are toll-exempt and should not be stopped at toll plazas. The driver had informed the toll staff about this exemption,” the official said, adding that the driver has been called for clarification.Officials also said toll operators are expected to be aware of exemptions applicable to E-Shivneri electric buses. “Despite this, the bus was halted for over an hour,” the official noted. The spokesperson of IRB MP Expressway Pvt Ltd, responding to mid-day, said, “As per the agreed process with the authorities, and to prevent misuse of toll exemptions, exemption for electric vehicles is allowed only through FASTag linked to the VAHAN vehicle database. FASTag is mandatory for all vehicles, and users are expected to keep it active. The concessionaire, IRB MP Expressway Pvt Ltd, has no role in granting exemptions. Its role is limited to validating FASTag at the toll plaza to allow vehicles to pass. No amount is deducted from FASTag for electric vehicles with a valid and active FASTag. However, the concessionaire is required to collect toll as per prevailing rates from all vehicles with an inactive FASTag. In the case at the Talegaon toll plaza on the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, the E-Shivneri bus had an inactive FASTag due to insufficient balance and was therefore allowed to pass only after paying the applicable toll.” The official further stated that toll exemption for electric vehicles applies only on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Samruddhi MahamarG, and Atal Setu, and not on any other highways, including the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway (NH-48). Hence, maintaining an active and valid FASTag is mandatory as per government guidelines. This is not the first such incident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Earlier this year, nine E-Shivneri buses were halted at Khalapur toll plaza for nearly 90 minutes due to FASTag-related issues, raising recurring concerns about coordination, accountability and passenger welfare. 1HRTime bus halted
19 December,2025 10:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalNormalcy has returned to the NP Authorisation payment and permit renewal process for transport vehicles registered in Maharashtra following intervention by the State Transport Department. Transport Commissioner Shri Vivek Bhimanwar, IAS, resolved a long-pending VLTD-related system issue affecting permit renewals and authorisations after detailed discussions and submission of a comprehensive representation. Key decisions include: Vehicles registered prior to 2019 will not need VLTD compliance for NP Authorisation and permit renewals. Vehicles registered after 2019 will receive the necessary government relaxation to ensure uninterrupted operations. The system has now been fully normalised, with NP Authorisation payments and permit renewals functioning smoothly. The issue had previously left vehicles idle, causing financial losses to transporters and disrupting supply chains. Transport operations across Maharashtra have resumed normally, allowing smooth movement of goods and services. The transport fraternity has expressed gratitude to Bhimanwar for his prompt action, which safeguards the logistics sector and supports the state economy. Maharashtra Transport Department issues advisory; warns against fake websites, apps and fraudulent e-challans The Maharashtra Transport Department on Tuesday issued a public advisory, warning to vehicle owners and drivers to stay alert against fake websites, suspicious mobile apps and fraudulent e-challan links, as cases of financial cyber fraud continue to rise in the state. In its advisory, the transport department, stated that several citizens are being cheated through fake services claiming to offer driving licence, vehicle registration and e-challan facilities. "Fraudsters are reportedly sending SMS or WhatsApp messages with threatening notes such as "pending challan" or "licence will be suspended", along with unauthorised payment links to steal money," it said. Officials clarified that the RTO or the Transport Department never sends payment links through WhatsApp. The Maharashtra Transport Department also cautioned that downloading unknown APK files such as "RTO Services.apk", "mParivahan_Update.apk" or "eChallan Pay.apk" can lead to theft of sensitive information like OTPs and banking details. Citizens have been urged to use only official government websites with the gov.in domain, including the following: - VAHAN (vehicle registration) – vahan.parivahan.gov.in - SARATHI (driving licence services) – sarathi.parivahan.gov.in - Transport Services – parivahan.gov.in - E-Challan Portal – echallan.parivahan.gov.in The transport department advised the public not to enter their details on websites ending with .com, .online, .site, .in or any other non-official domain. "For any suspicious messages or links, citizens should immediately report the matter to the National Cybercrime Portal (cybercrime.gov.in), call the Cyber Fraud Helpline 1930, or visit the nearest district cyber police station," said an official.
19 December,2025 10:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaximum and minimum temperatures on Friday are likely to hover around 34 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively, in Mumbai, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). As per the Sameer app, Mumbai’s air quality index (AQI) stands at 133, placing it in the moderate category. This level may cause breathing discomfort for people with lung disorders, asthma and heart disease. AQI across Mumbai: Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC): 175Borivali East: 104Andheri East: 117Chembur: 139Deonar: 148Ghatkopar: 158Kandivali West: 130Kherwadi, Bandra East: 132 Delhi weather updates: Air pollution worsens in city; overall AQI rises to 387 The national capital, Delhi, woke up to very poor air quality on Friday morning, with the overall AQI recorded at 387 around 8 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). According to the news agency ANI, the air quality worsened further compared to Thursday, when the AQI stood at 373 at 4 pm, as large parts of the city remained blanketed in toxic smog. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 437, placing it in the severe category. Thick smog also enveloped areas including ITO, Ghazipur, Palam and Greater Noida. According to CPCB data, several areas, including Vivek Vihar (436), Punjabi Bagh (412), R.K. Puram (436) and Nehru Nagar (425), saw further deterioration in air quality and fell into the 'severe' category. Wazirpur also recorded 'severe' air quality with an AQI of 406, reported ANI. However, several parts of Delhi showed slight variations in air quality this morning. For instance, Dilshad Garden recorded an AQI of 356, which was better than at other locations but was poor in air quality. Other areas, such as Mandir Marg (342), Rohini (396), and North Campus (349), also saw marginal improvement, but air quality remained in the 'very poor' range. According to AQI categorisation, 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. Earlier, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa conducted surprise inspections at several petrol pumps, including those at the Delhi-Gurugram border and Janpath, to review compliance with the 'No PUC, No Fuel' directive. He interacted with pump staff and instructed them to enforce the rules while remaining calm and courteous. He said, "You are the first point of contact in this campaign. Cooperate with people and explain to them that this rule is for their health and the health of their children," reported ANI. The Minister also directed that clear signboards, announcements, and better queue management be ensured. Speaking to vehicle owners on the spot, he said, "This is not a matter of issuing challans; it is a question of clean air. Every valid PUCC issued today is a small victory in our fight against pollution." On December 17, 29,938 PUCCs were issued in Delhi. On December 18, up to 5.20 pm, 31,974 new certificates were issued. Thus, the total crossed 61,000 in nearly one day. The government expects the number of people obtaining PUCCs before refuelling petrol or diesel to increase further. The Minister said, "More than 60,000 people getting their PUCCs in a single day shows that when citizens trust that steps are being taken in the public interest, they extend full cooperation." (With ANI inputs)
19 December,2025 09:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTrained to catch A hawker waiting on the tracks boards a train in motion at Bandra Terminus. Hat-trick with a difference (From left) Farzana Contractor, Justice Ahamed Ebrahim, Khalid and Zeynasan Ansari at the book launch earlier this week. Pic/Fotocorp What do you call someone who has just published his third book on his cruises in less than 13 months? Well, let’s call him a cruise headliner. In Khalid A-H Ansari’s case, this would be apt since he spent a good part of his years in the newspaper industry, giving and encouraging the art of entertaining readers with smart headlines and crisp copies — ever since he launched Sportsweek magazine in 1968, followed by mid-day in 1979. mid-day’s former chairman’s eighth book overall, Turkey, Croatia, Greece - An Encore, was released by Justice Ahamed Ebrahim at Ansari’s South Mumbai residence lawns on Monday. Zimbabwe-based Ebrahim, apart from his legal background, is a former International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee, and has known Ansari since 2003. How can any party thrown by Ansari not include cricketers? Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar as usual smartly attired and wife Manali were present, along with fellow ex-Test cricketers Karsan Ghavri and Yajurvindra Singh. The evergreen Sabira Merchant, charming Dolly Thakore, and natty Nisha JamVwal read sections from Ansari’s book, edited by Zeynasan Ansari. Journalist Ayaz Memon did the honours of introducing Justice Ebrahim to the audience, while publisher Farzana Contractor interviewed the husband-wife duo who were such fine hosts. Contractor called them the cruise specialists of India and not many enjoying the cool evening breeze could disagree. When the cinematic eye meets art (From left) Ratna Pathak Shah; Anooradha Patel; Naseeruddin Shah. Pic Courtesy/Method; (right) Aditya Singh Actor Naseeruddin Shah and wife Ratna Pathak Shah were among the many fans who dropped by on Thursday to soak in Where is Jennifer? Aditiya Singh’s new show at Method Kala Ghoda. The solo exhibition presented a series of acrylic, ink, and watercolour works exploring themes of identity, absence, and the compulsive pursuit of a fleeting presence. “What started off as a hobby while exploring pareidolia, ended up becoming a passion for expressing art. To me, art is not about capturing what is seen, but finding what refuses to stay still, keeping my art free from any kind of limitations,” concluded Singh. United we read Arefa Tehsin, Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan and Nandita da Cunha On the morning of December 20, children’s authors from across the country will participate in an online reading session in support of Child Rights and You (CRY). Among the decorated panellists are authors Arefa Tehsin, Deepti Menon, Khyrunnisa A, Hemangini Dutt Majumder, Nandita da Cunha, Mona Verma, and Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan. While Tehsin believes the initiative is “an opportunity to use our stories for something bigger than ourselves,” Tharoor Srinivasan echoed the sentiment, calling the end of the year a time for reflection, gratitude, and giving back. Those keen to reserve a spot can log on to @cry_india. Revisit Raza Arbre, Bindu, Cinq Elements, 2008. Pic Courtesy/Storyltd This striking lithograph on paper work by the late art legend SH Raza will have art enthusiasts glued to their screens today. As part of a five-lot online auction by StoryLtd, Raza’s Arbre, Bindu, Cinq Elements, 2008 (124th from a limited edition of 150) will be up for grabs in a five-hour live auction. The auction will also present works by city sculptor Arzan Khambatta and artist Rekha Rodwittiya. Readers keen to place their bids can log on to storyltd.com at 3 pm sharp. Nature decoded Subrato Banerjee Behavioural scientist and a faculty member at IIT Bombay, Subrato Banerjee, will be hosting a talk at Raasta in Khar on December 21 at 2 pm, titled Honeybee Economics, revealing how animal behaviour explains costs, benefits, and survival in this economy. In conversation with Banerjee, he revealed, “People need to focus on scientific thought and economics because at the end of the day, nature itself is an economist.”
19 December,2025 08:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayAs the countdown to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls begins, the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have taken an early lead by sorting out most of their seat-sharing arrangements. On the other hand, the Opposition camp, led by the Thackeray cousins, is yet to officially announce an alliance or finalise plans. According to the BJP leadership, nearly 66 per cent of seat-sharing talks have been finalised between the two allies for the 227 wards of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). “We have almost settled on around 150 seats. The remaining, too, will be sorted soon,” Ameet Satam, BJP Mumbai unit president, said. Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Ameet Satam, BJP Mumbai unit president In contrast, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Raj Thackeray-led MNS are yet to officially announce their alliance or finalise a seat-sharing formula. With just 28 days left for polling and December 31 as the last date for filing nominations, candidates will have barely 13 days for active campaigning. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut has earlier claimed that they were sorting the seat-sharing issue and would soon make the formal announcement of an alliance. “Sena (UBT) and MNS alliance announcements can be expected in two days. We are confident of winning the polls and installing our mayor in the BMC,” Raut said. On Thursday, Raut met NCP chief Sharad Pawar to discuss seat-sharing and other political issues. The Congress has made it clear that it would not ally with Thackeray for local polls, and the NCP-SP is yet to make its stand clear on whether it would be part of the Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance or has some other plans.With Congress going solo, it will not only be the beginning of cracks forming in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which comprises Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP-SP, but even division of votes, which might help the BJP and its allies. After a delay of nearly three years, elections to the BMC will finally be held on January 15, 2026, with vote counting scheduled for January 16. The previous five-year term of the BMC corporators ended in February 2022. For nearly 25 years, the Shiv Sena (undivided) and the BJP ruled the BMC together, but their alliance ended in 2017. In that election, Shiv Sena won 84 seats, BJP 82, MNS seven (six later joined Uddhav Thackeray’s party), Congress 29, NCP 9, and others 15. Since the 2022 split engineered by Shinde, nearly 50 of the 84 corporators from the UBT camp have joined his faction. The upcoming BMC election is seen as a do-or-die battle for Uddhav, and equally for Raj Thackeray’s MNS, which has been losing political relevance. In 2005, citing differences with Uddhav, Raj quit Shiv Sena and later floated his own party — MNS. However, burying twenty years of differences, the Thackeray cousins came together for the “cause and pride of Maharashtra and Marathi”. With the Thackeray cousins likely to team up, the contest for control of Mumbai’s high-stakes civic battle will intensify, with Uddhav aiming to retain it, and the BJP and its allies determined to snatch it away. 227No. of electoral wards
19 December,2025 08:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarAfter receiving de novo deemed university status in 2023, the Sir JJ School of Arts, Architecture and Design is all set to introduce research programme, with the first PhD admissions likely to begin next year. In the initial phase, the university will offer 18 seats — six each in fine arts, architecture and design. At present, the institution has one research guide in each discipline. The decision to launch the programme was finalised at an executive council meeting held earlier this week. Of the total PhD seats, 30 per cent will be reserved for in-house faculty members. “We have experienced professors who have been teaching here for 10-12 years but never found the time to pursue a PhD. These in-house seats will allow them to advance their academic careers”, said Vice-Chancellor Him Chatterjee. Sir JJ School of Arts, Architecture and Design received de novo deemed university status in 2023. Pics/By Special Arrangement Officials said the research programme may be practice-based, allowing scholars to live and work with communities, document their ethos, and produce a final project based on fieldwork. Alternatively, students may undertake research on the lives and works of renowned artists, including comparative studies. “Like most research programme, the nature and duration of study will depend on the scholar and the mentor. For admissions, we will consider only JRF-qualified candidates and practising teachers” Chatterjee added. 18Total number of PhD admission seats offered by the university Tribute to brilliance Sir JJ School of Arts will hold a prayer meet for renowned sculptor and alumnus Ram Sutar, a gold medallist from the institution. Known for projects such as the Statue of Unity, Sutar last visited his alma mater in 2023.
19 December,2025 08:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarADVERTISEMENT
-1766120812616_d.png "There have been no casualties or injuries. PIC/ RDMC-TMC")
