In the wake of an alleged molestation of a young woman passenger by a bike rider in Kalyan, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has called an urgent meeting of the motor vehicles department (MVD) to review the functioning of app-based bike taxi and cab aggregators operating in the state. According to officials, the emergency meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 10.30 am at the minister’s office in Mantralaya. Following the incident, Sarnaik has sought an explanation on why the temporary permits granted to app-based aggregators such as Rapido, Ola, and Uber should not be cancelled, amid allegations that they are flouting transport regulations and operating illegal passenger services. The transport minister has directed the department to examine violations related to unauthorised passenger transport and take appropriate action in accordance with the law. He has also asked officials to review safety norms and regulatory compliance, particularly in view of concerns over passenger security. The minister’s move comes days after the Regional Transport Office (RTO) filed a case against Roppen Transport Pvt Ltd, which operates Rapido, for allegedly running illegal bike taxi services in Mumbai despite a government ban. mid-day.com had reported on December 5 that motor vehicle inspectors conducted a decoy operation in Nehru Nagar and Kurla by booking bike rides through the Rapido app to test the legality of the service. According to police, three bike taxis arrived as per the bookings and were fined Rs 10,000 under Sections 66 and 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act for operating without a valid permit, along with Section 142, which pertains to permanent disablement of vehicles. Rapido denies affiliation with suspect Rapido clarified that the accused “is not, and has never been, a Rapido Captain,” adding that his name was incorrectly linked to the brand in early reports. According to the company, the individual had applied to join Rapido but was denied onboarding as he failed to meet the company’s eligibility and verification standards. “As confirmed by the authorities, the complainant had booked a bike taxi ride on another platform on December 13, 2025,” the spokesperson said. The company further stated that all captains registered on Rapido undergo rigorous onboarding protocols, including background verification, strict KYC checks, mandatory training on conduct and safety, and immediate suspension upon receiving credible complaints. It also highlighted additional safety measures such as post-10 pm safety check-ins for women riders, 24×7 in-app SOS support, and prompts encouraging riders to verify captain and vehicle details before every trip. Rapido reiterated that it would extend full cooperation to law enforcement agencies whenever required.
16 December,2025 02:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that recent statements made by leaders within the Mahayuti alliance during the municipal council elections have exposed growing internal discord. Pawar said the remarks indicated that political decisions were being driven by narrow self-interest, adding that the BJP had begun “revealing its true colours,” with its allied parties appearing to endorse or remain silent on the developments. अलीकडेच झालेल्या नगरपरिषद निवडणुकांमध्ये महायुतीतील नेत्यांनीच भाजपबद्दल केलेली वक्तव्य बघितल्यानंतर आपला स्वार्थ साधला गेला की भाजप आपले खरे रंग दाखवायला सुरवात करते यावर त्यांच्याच मित्र पक्षांनी शिक्कामोर्तब केलं. काल निवडणुका जाहीर झाल्या झाल्या आम्ही पुणे व पिंपरी चिंचवड… — Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) December 16, 2025 He also criticised the Chief Minister’s announcement, made shortly after the election schedule was declared, that the Mahayuti would not contest the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic polls together. According to Pawar, the decision reflected the BJP’s tendency to marginalise even its own partners. “Earlier, allies were ridiculed, and now one of them has been conveniently sidelined,” Pawar said, describing the situation as a result of “unrestrained political ambition.” He warned that if such an approach continues, it would not be surprising to see a political scenario in 2029 where the BJP is pitched against all other parties. Rohit Pawar alleges BJP poaching MLAs from Mahayuti ahead of 2029 polls Earlier, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) leader Rohit Pawar alleged that the BJP was systematically poaching MLAs from the ruling Mahayuti allies in Maharashtra, including Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP ahead of the 2029 elections. According to the PTI, while addressing a press conference, Rohit Pawar said, “BJP is breaking Ajit Pawar's MLAs one by one.” He further claimed that several MLAs from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP are likely to switch to the BJP before the next state polls. Citing internal discontent, Pawar pointed to recent actions by ruling party members. He mentioned Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, who had raised concerns about over one lakh bogus voters in his Buldhana constituency. Despite repeated complaints, Gaikwad alleged that the district collector’s office failed to act or update the electoral rolls. As per the PTI, he also criticised NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap, who recently urged people to buy Diwali items only from Hindu traders, a statement that aligned with the BJP's narrative. Though Ajit Pawar reprimanded him, Jagtap remained unapologetic, Pawar added. Rohit warned that both Deputy Chief Ministers, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, may soon find themselves struggling to stop what he called the BJP’s "vote theft" strategy. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 12:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Monday claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will face defeat in the upcoming BMC elections, alleging the party has lost both its organisational strength and public connect, reported the PTI. Speaking to reporters, Shirsat, who belongs to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, said that the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction has been left without a functioning cadre. “They neither meet citizens nor support their own workers. Around 55–57 corporators elected earlier are now with us. They are struggling to even find candidates,” he claimed, according to the PTI. Mumbai Polls a fight for survival Calling the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election crucial, Shirsat said that it was the last major battle for the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. “This election will determine their very existence. It is hard to imagine where the party will stand after the polls,” he said. Criticism of Uddhav Thackeray’s priorities Shirsat accused Uddhav Thackeray of focusing on political posts rather than public issues. “He was more concerned about securing the Leader of Opposition post during the Maharashtra Assembly Winter Session than raising matters affecting ordinary people,” the minister said. High ticket demand in Mahayuti Commenting on local body polls across Maharashtra, Shirsat acknowledged intense competition for tickets within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. “Only one person can be given a ticket, so dissatisfaction is natural. Some leaders may go here and there, and we cannot stop them,” he said, the news agency reported on Monday. Responding to claims by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar that Eknath Shinde could return as chief minister, Shirsat said the issue was not relevant at present. “Any future decision will be taken collectively by the NDA and the Mahayuti,” he added, the news agency reported,. Former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar joins BJP Meanwhile, Tejasvee Ghosalkar joined the BJP on Monday in the presence of the party’s Mumbai president Ameet Satam and MLC Pravin Darekar. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ghosalkar said she had worked sincerely in the Shiv Sena (UBT) and would now put in even greater effort for her new party.“I will accept any responsibility assigned to me by the party. There are many things I would like to say, but this is not the right time,” she said, according to the PTI. She also voiced disappointment over the slow progress of the investigation into the murder of her husband. “The CBI probe into my husband’s murder is moving at a slow pace. I hope it will be completed at the earliest,” she said. In September last year, the Bombay High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing lapses and unresolved aspects in the police inquiry. Ghosalkar served as a corporator of the then undivided Shiv Sena between 2017 and 2022. She later resigned from her positions in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), citing personal reasons. (with PTI inputs)
16 December,2025 12:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe State Election Commission (SEC) has announced that elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be held on January 15, 2026. Polling will be held from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm on January 15 and the counting of votes will take place on January 16, 2026. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai. He said that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force from December 15, 2025, across all municipal corporation areas. Model Code of Conduct come into effect With the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in all municipal corporation areas. No policy decisions related to these areas can be taken during this period, except in cases of natural disasters or emergency relief. Municipal Corporations and term expiry Out of the 29 municipal corporations Jalna and Ichalkaranji are newly formed, the terms of five corporations ended in 2020 and the terms of 18 corporations ended in 2022. According to the officials, the terms of four corporations ended in 2023 and the BMC’s term ended in March 2022. Notification dates and voting time The election notification for the BMC will be issued on December 16, 2025, while notifications for the remaining 28 municipal corporations will be issued on December 18, 2025. Multi-member ward system According to the State Election Commission, except for the BMC elections in the remaining 28 municipal corporations will be held under a multi-member ward system. In the BMC, voters will cast one vote per ward In other corporations, voters may cast three to five votes, depending on the number of seats in the ward. Nomination process offline Although an online system is available, the SEC has decided that nomination papers will be accepted only offline for municipal corporation elections, considering demands from political parties and candidates. Caste validity certificate rules Candidates contesting from reserved seats must submit a caste certificate and caste validity certificate with their nomination papers. If the caste validity certificate is not available, candidates must submit proof of application and an undertaking to produce the certificate within six months of the election result. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of the election retrospectively. Voters, polling stations and EVMs According to the SEC, there are 3.48 crore voters across the 29 municipal corporations. To conduct the elections: - 39,147 polling stations have been set up - 43,958 control units and 87,916 ballot units of EVMs will be used - For the BMC alone 10,111 polling stations, 11,349 control units, 22,698 ballot units. Measures against duplicate voters The voter lists are based on Assembly constituency electoral rolls as of July 1, 2025. The SEC has taken steps to identify possible duplicate voters. Such names are marked with a special symbol in the voter list. Voters with duplicate entries will be allowed to vote only at the polling station selected after verification. ‘Matadhikar’ mobile app The SEC has launched the ‘Matadhikar’ mobile app to help voters -- search their name in the voter list, find polling station details and also view candidate information. "The app is available on the Google Play Store. Voters can search using their full name or EPIC number," said an official. The SEC has directed all municipal commissioners to run large-scale voter awareness campaigns to increase turnout. Facilities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities The poll officials said that special arrangements will be made at polling stations for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and women with infants. The facilities will include ramps, wheelchairs, drinking water, shade, electricity and toilets. "Mobile phones will not be allowed inside polling stations," said an official. Election staff and security - 290 Returning Officers - 870 Assistant Returning Officers - Nearly 1.96 lakh election staff have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the elections. Campaigning deadline Campaigning will end at 5.30 pm on January 14, 2026. No political advertisements will be allowed in print, electronic or social media after this time. The officials said that the Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC) will be set up at municipal and state levels to certify political advertisements, monitor paid news and address complaints related to media coverage. Key election dates - Nominations: December 23 to December 30, 2025 - Scrutiny: December 31, 2025 - Withdrawal deadline: January 2, 2026 - Symbols and final candidate list: January 3, 2026 - Polling: January 15, 2026 - Counting: January 16, 2026
16 December,2025 12:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday that the BJP and Shiv Sena will contest the upcoming civic elections together in most municipalities, reported the PTI. He said that the efforts were also underway to finalise seat-sharing arrangements among the Mahayuti allies, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), in as many corporations as possible. Fadnavis stated that the prolonged rule by administrators in several urban bodies was against democratic principles. He welcomed the State Election Commission’s (SEC) announcement of the schedule for elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich BMC 2026 polls in Mumbai. Mahayuti will work together CM Fadnavis said the Mahayuti alliance, which includes BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, will generally work together. However, in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP are likely to contest separately, in what he called a friendly contest, due to both parties being major players in the region, according to the PTI. "There will be a BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in most cities, while in some areas, BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP may contest together," CM Fadnavis said, as per the PTI. "In a few places, BJP and NCP might also form an alliance. Shiv Sena will remain part of the Mahayuti almost everywhere," he said. He expressed confidence that the Mahayuti coalition would secure a majority in municipal bodies, citing the development work carried out by the government over the last five years. Friendly contests in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad CM Fadnavis noted that in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, a separate contest between the BJP and NCP would be amicable, without any hostility. He highlighted the BJP’s contribution to urban development in these cities and said discussions with Ajit Pawar had ensured a cooperative approach, the news agency reported. Electoral concerns On concerns about electoral rolls, CM Fadnavis said discrepancies could not justify postponing elections. He mentioned that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process had begun to address these issues. He also suggested that in future, electoral rolls could be placed on blockchain to enhance accuracy and transparency, as per the PTI. Regarding Nagpur and Chandrapur, he noted that reservation quotas had breached the 50 per cent ceiling. Although the Supreme Court has allowed elections, results will be subject to final court decisions. Development projects and urban governance Speaking after inaugurating development projects worth Rs 3,000 crore, CM Fadnavis reiterated that the upcoming civic polls would give the public a chance to support continued urban development, the news agency reported.
16 December,2025 12:18 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentAfter a delay of almost three years, exactly 34 months, elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will finally be held on January 15, 2026, with counting on January 16. The previous five-year term ended in February 2022. Along with Mumbai, municipal elections will also be held the same day in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira Bhayandar, Vasai Virar, Panvel, Kalyan Dombivli, Pune and 20 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule on Monday. Including the BMC’s 227 seats, a total of 2869 seats will go to the polls. State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare confirmed that the model code of conduct comes into effect immediately. The Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the Shiv Sena (UBT) had objected to more than 11 lakh duplicate names in the voters’ list and demanded that polls should not be held until corrections were made. Graphics/istock Asked whether the anomalies had been fixed, Waghmare said, “The poll schedule has been announced only after addressing issues that political parties raised before the commission.” The SEC said BMC officials removed several duplicate entries through field verification and software checks. “If there are any remaining duplicates, they have been marked with a star. This will help identify voters with multiple entries on voting day,” the SEC said. EC had set up a ‘pink booth’ at Sir JJ School of Art in 2024. FILE PIC Nominations will be accepted from December 23 to December 30, with scrutiny on December 31. Withdrawals must be made by January 2. The final list of candidates and symbols will be released on January 3. The last BMC elections were held in 2017. Though the term ended in 2022, fresh polls were delayed due to a seat reservation case pending in the Supreme Court. The court has now directed that all pending local body elections in Maharashtra, including the BMC, must be completed before January 31, 2026. Reacting to the poll announcement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “I am sure people will once again vote for development and progress.” A kite flying challenge Mumbaikars cast their vote during BMC elections in Jogeshwari in 2017. File pic/NIMESH DAVE The January 15 polling date could create a hiccup for the BJP, as a large section of Mumbai’s Gujarati community traditionally travels to Surat and Vadodara for Uttarayan, the kite flying festival, on January 14. Families usually spend two to three days celebrating, and with the festival and polling falling back-to-back, many voters may be out of Mumbai on voting day. While older voters may stay back, younger and first-time voters are more likely to prioritise travel, raising concerns about turnout among a demographic considered part of the BJP’s core support base. Dates to remember Voting DayJanuary 15 (Thursday) Voting time7:30 am to 5:30 pm Counting DayJanuary 16 (Friday) CampaigningCampaigning ends 48 hours before polling; all political ads prohibited after 5:30 pm on Jan 14, 2026 Stats for BMC Polling stations10,111 Control units11,349 Ballot units22,698 Other dates >> Nominations December 23-30, 2025>> Scrutiny December 31, 2025>> Withdrawal January 2, 2026>> Symbol allotment and final list January 3, 2026 Mobile phonesNot permitted inside polling stations Pink polling stationsTo be staffed entirely by women, in areas with high women voter turnout. Information available on the Matadhikar app Total seats2869 Including227 seats of BMC Rs 15 L Voter Assistance‘Matadhikar’ mobile app (voter details, booth info, candidate lists). Details also on: https://mahasecvoterlist.in/ Source: State Election Commission (SEC)
16 December,2025 12:17 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarThe Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday questioned the logic behind holding elections to 29 civic bodies without correcting "irregularities" in the voters' roll, reported news agency PTI. Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the final rolls have not been released yet. "If there are mistakes in the final rolls, who will address them?" he asked. Polls for 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich Mumbai, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted on January 16. Former Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar alleged flaws in the voters' list. "People have not been told whether the electoral rolls have been rectified. How appropriate is it to announce polls when no correction has been made in the electoral rolls?" she asked, reported PTI. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said polls are being held with faulty electoral rolls. "Raj (Thackeray) Saheb has told us about the treatment bogus voters deserved. Mumbai's mayor will be a Marathi manoos, and they (Marathi people) will vote in BMC polls with the same intention," Deshpande said, reported PTI. The opposition, especially cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, have been very critical of the electoral rolls and claimed several irregularities in the voters' list. The upcoming BMC elections 2026 will be a crucial political showdown between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in major urban centres, a year after the assembly polls. This will also be a do-or-die battle for the Thackeray cousins and test the utility of 'Brand Thackeray', which took a massive beating in the assembly polls. Ahead of the polls, Uddhav Thackeray mended ties with his once-estranged cousin Raj and both Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS are expected to join hands to put up a united fight. Mahayuti, Oppn MVA to face-off on Jan 15 in 'Maha' battle for Mumbai, 28 other civic bodies High-stakes polls to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich Mumbai, on January 15 will see the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) battling it out for electoral supremacy in Maharashtra's major urban centres. The poll schedule announcement was made by Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday in compliance of an order from the Supreme Court fixing January 31 next year as the deadline for holding the long-pending local body elections in the state. The court in September this year had also censured the SEC for its "failure to take prompt action" and adhere to earlier timelines. The January 15 elections, involving 2,869 seats and over 3.48 crore voters, set the stage for a crucial political showdown between the Mahayuti comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the MVA coalition of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP). (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 12:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEvery day without fail from 4.30 pm to 8 pm, Bharat Panchal, 85, mans his ‘post’ at Thakur Complex signal on the Western Express Highway in Kandivli East, managing traffic, preventing vehicles from entering the wrong lane, and urging motorists to wear helmets and seatbelts. Panchal, who claims he isn’t on any medication despite his advanced age, attributes his fitness to his volunteerism and says his only aim is to ensure that people follow traffic rules. The octogenarian resides with his wife in the Highway Park building at Thakur Complex in Kandivli East. Traffic police personnel, tea sellers, coconut vendors, and residents support Panchal daily by offering him tea and coconuts. The traffic police have also felicitated Panchal with gifts in appreciation of his remarkable work. Panchal said, “I have been doing this work for several years only to ensure everyone follows traffic rules. Nobody should break signals, as it increases the chances of accidents. I always carry a whistle and a torch. The traffic police have offered me a green reflector jacket, but I refused.” “I want to stay healthy forever, and that is why I chose this way of life. Managing traffic allows me to communicate with people, meet new faces daily, educate citizens about traffic rules, and prevent vehicles from entering the wrong lane,” Panchal explained. Panchal further said, “Because of this work, I am fit and fine. I have dedicated my life to helping the police manage traffic, and I will continue to do so. Many years ago, I noticed that the Thakur Complex junction on the Western Express Highway was always congested due to traffic violations. That is when I decided to take responsibility. I do not take money from any department for this work. It is my passion, hobby, and dream. In return, I receive love and respect from citizens. The traffic police also support me.” Cop Speak Senior Inspector Jagdish Bhopale of the Kandivli Traffic Division said, “Bharat Panchal is doing excellent work by managing traffic at this signal entirely on his own. We have informed him that it can be risky because vehicles travel at high speed on the highway, but he insists he is doing this so everyone follows traffic rules. The traffic division also presented him with a gift this Diwali. Very few people in Mumbai do such selfless work. Despite his age, Panchal’s energy is like that of a young man. We fully support him. We also offered him the role of a traffic warden, but he refused as he does not want any monetary benefit. We are fortunate to have Panchal at this junction, where he continues to do commendable work every day.” Traffic volunteer Bharat Panchal in action at the Thakur Complex signal on the Western Express Highway in Kandivli East. Pics/Shirish Vaktania Constable Sandip Jadhav of the Kandivli Traffic Division said, “I see this gentleman at his spot every day. He helps us regularly. I usually give him water and biscuits. I feel good seeing the fantastic work he does assisting the traffic police. We have told him several times that managing traffic is a tough and risky job, but he insists that he wants to do it for the greater good.” Constable Sunil Dabhade said, “I salute Panchal. He told me that he had received training at the Tardeo RTO office. We do not have official records confirming whether he worked with the RTO earlier, but his work is excellent. He works with the energy of a young man. Citizens also listen to him, and traffic violations at this junction have reduced because of his presence.” 3.5 hrsLength of Bharat Panchal’s daily ‘shift’
16 December,2025 11:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaA Thane court has acquitted nine persons booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in a 2016 dacoity case, noting their identification was unreliable and the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them, reported news agency PTI. The mandatory requirement of the offence of organised crime as defined in Section 2(1)(e) of the MCOCA has not been proved against the accused. "Therefore, mere collection of copies of previous charge-sheets and according to the sanction order u/s 23(2) of the Act are not sufficient to prove the offence under Section 3 of the MCOCA," Special Judge (for MCOCA cases) V G Mohite said in the order on December 12, reported PTI. The prosecution had alleged that the accused threatened a family, wrongfully confined them and stole cash and ornaments from their house at Talasari in neighbouring Palghar district on July 18, 2016. The accused were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 395 (dacoity), 397 (robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of the MCOCA. Court finds prosecution's evidence to be unreliable and legally deficient The Thane court found the prosecution's evidence, particularly the identification of the accused and recovery of stolen articles, to be unreliable and legally deficient. It observed that the presence of jail police during the identification parade raised doubts. "The possibility of tampering by them for the identification of the accused cannot be ruled out," the judge said, reported PTI. On witnesses seeing the accused at the police station, the court said, "In these circumstances, identification of the accused claimed by them loses its sanctity." Highlighting contradictions in eyewitness accounts regarding face coverings, it said, "If those robbers wore the masks and helmets, then it is not possible to identify them either in court or at the time of TI (test identification) parade," reported PTI. The judge also noted contradictions in the identification of the accused before the court. The nine persons acquitted in the case are Trimani Tangraj (38), Rakesh Babu Chalwadi (30), Kishor Shantaram Rumale Patil (39), Samadhan Pandit Sonawane (31), Sandip Brijlal Chauhan (30), Ashish Pandurang Devare (33), all from Thane district, Umesh Kakdya Farara (41), Sandeep Antya Thakre (34) and Shashikant alias Ganesh Ramdas Godse (47), hailing from Palghar, reported PTI. The case against another accused, Prashant Prakash Surve, was abated following his death during the pendency of the trial, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
16 December,2025 11:50 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentPolling for elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), will be held on January 15, with the results scheduled to be declared the next day, the State Election Commission (SEC) said on Monday. According to the election schedule, nominations can be filed from December 23 to 30, while scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on December 31. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is January 2, and election symbols will be allotted the next day. The Supreme Court of India has directed the SEC to complete all the pending local body elections by January 31, 2026. The municipal elections have been overdue since 2022. The BMC elections are expected to see a straight contest between two major political alliances in Maharashtra—the ruling Mahayuti and the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti, which currently governs the state, comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The principal opposition alliance, the MVA, includes the Indian National Congress, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP–SP. Adding a new political dimension, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray have announced a joint fight in the BMC polls after nearly two decades. The Thackeray cousins came together following a controversy over the alleged imposition of Hindi in the state. The estimated budget of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the year 2025-26 is Rs 74,427 crore, and the expenditure stands at Rs 43,162 crore, representing 58 per cent of the total budget allocated to development projects. This gigantic budget is unmatched by any other state or municipal corporation in the country, cementing the BMC's status as Asia's wealthiest civic body. Mumbai is the financial capital of the country, and as its key governing body, the BMC manages to oversee Infrastructure to health, roads to water supply, transport to power supply, education to sanitation. The elections, which were due in 2022, will be held in January 2026. After a setback in the Lok Sabha elections and victory in the Assembly polls in 2024, the Mahayuti will look to develop a stronghold over the BMC. The MVA will look to dent the Mahayuti's chances, making a comeback in Maharashtra's electoral politics. For this municipal election, the State Election Commission said that they will be using the voter list as of the notified date of July 1, 2025. The opposition has raised electoral fraud as an issue ahead of the polls. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray demanded that the Election Commission extend the days for raising objections to the draft rolls of the BMC elections. (With ANI inputs)
16 December,2025 11:07 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe city and its suburbs will experience mainly clear skies on Tuesday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting maximum and minimum temperatures of around 34 degrees Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius, respectively. The minimum temperature in Colaba was 21.7 degrees Celsius with no rainfall recorded (0.0 mm). In Santacruz, the minimum temperature was 17.0 degrees Celsius. However, air quality remains a concern. According to the Sameer app, the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) is 109, falling under the moderate category. This level may cause breathing discomfort for people with lung disorders, asthma, and heart conditions. AQI across key city areas: Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC): 145Borivali: 82Byculla: 136Andheri East: 99Chembur: 128Colaba: 113Deonar: 126Ghatkopar: 134Kandivali: 99Kherwadi, Bandra East: 144 Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained dangerously high on Tuesday, with the overall AQI at 378 at 8 am, placing the city in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marks a slight improvement from Monday, when the AQI had peaked at 427 in the ‘severe’ category. Despite the marginal dip, large parts of the capital were still shrouded in thick, toxic smog, reducing visibility and causing discomfort for residents, reported news agency ANI. Prominent areas recorded alarming pollution levels: India Gate registered an AQI of 380 and Sarai Kale Khan 359, both in the ‘very poor’ range. Ghazipur and Anand Vihar fared worse, with AQIs around 410, categorised as ‘severe’. 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'. Meanwhile, a tourist grappling with Delhi pollution explained his situation, saying to ANI, "The situation here is very serious because of pollution. I arrived in Delhi last evening from Indore. Compared to Indore, I am experiencing difficulty in breathing. Visibility here is very poor; we cannot see the India Gate properly. It is affecting our health." Air quality levels varied across other major Indian cities. Ahmedabad recorded an AQI of 117, Bengaluru 104, Chennai 135, Hyderabad 103, and Mumbai 109, mostly in the 'moderate' to 'satisfactory' range. Jaipur (187), Lucknow (158), Patna (156), and Pune (194) reported 'moderate' air quality, reported ANI. Meanwhile, the first meeting of the Expert Committee constituted by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for in NCR and adjoining Areas to address air pollution from vehicular emissions was held on Monday under the Chairmanship of Ashok Jhunjhunwala and Co-Chaired by Prof Randeep Guleria. The meeting focused on broad discussions on key issues related to vehicular emission sources in Delhi-NCR, CAQM said in a post on X. "Deliberations covered assessment of segment-wise vehicular emission contributions, exposure risks, EV readiness and infrastructure needs," CAQM said. According to ANI, the committee will present concrete, actionable recommendations to reduce vehicular emissions at upcoming meetings. This comes as the national capital battles with severe air pollution, with AQI crossing the 450 mark, reaching the 'severe plus' category, prompting CAQM to impose stage IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). In view of the severe air pollution levels in the national capital, the Delhi Government issued a circular directing schools to shift to online mode from hybrid for students up to class 5. With the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the severe category, the government has directed schools to switch to online mode for these grades until further notice. (With ANI inputs)
16 December,2025 10:00 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
