Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that the Baramati seat in Lok Sabha elections 2024 was a fight for Maharashtra's pride and claimed that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will win 30-35 parliamentary constituencies out of the total 48 seats in the state, reported the PTI. Talking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will soon hold a rally in Khadakvasala, which comes under the Baramati constituency where polling will be held on May 7, according to the PTI. The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi along with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, has renominated its sitting MP Supriya Sule from the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in Pune district of Maharashtra. Supriya Sule, the daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, is pitted against her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar, the wife of state Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar. "All the people of Maharashtra are fully behind Supriya Sule and will ensure her win. The Baramati Lok Sabha contest is a fight for Maharashtra's pride," Sanjay Raut said, the news agency reported on Sunday. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader accused state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of switching sides to the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance alliance to "save his skin". "Ajit Pawar couldn't ensure victory of his son Parth Pawar in the Maval seat in the last Lok Sabha elections 2024 and now the process of his wife's defeat has begun," Sanjay Raut claimed, the PTI reported. "Rahul Gandhi is getting a tremendous response in the country and you will see a change in government after June 4 (the day of vote counting)," he further claimed. Asked about Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde stating that Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray said that he will never allow his party to become the Congress, Sanjay Raut said, "When Indira Gandhi was in trouble, Balasaheb supported her. Both the leaders shared a warm relationship. Balasaheb had not contested an election once to support the Congress," the news agency further reported. "CM Eknath Shinde has become a sycophant of a party which wants to weaken Maharashtra and hurt the Marathi pride," the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged. CM Shinde is yet to officially announce candidates in Thane, Kalyan, Mumbai North West and Nashik Lok Sabha seats, Sanjay Raut pointed out. He claimed the MVA will win 30-35 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. "If you are so confident of winning, why is Ajit Pawar threatening people in Baramati," Sanjay Raut said, reported the PTI. He dubbed the Shinde-led party as "Shiv Sena (Fadnavis) group" and claimed "it's like a Modi-Shah private limited." Asked about the BJP fielding well-known lawyer Ujjwal Nikam from Mumbai North Central seat, Sanjay Raut claimed, "As per my knowledge, multiple leaders from the BJP rejected to contest polls from the Mumbai North Central constituency. No doubt, he (Nikam) is one of the prominent faces but the Maha Vikas Aghadi will win the seat." (with PTI inputs)
28 April,2024 04:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn Saturday, April 27, Mumbai's intensified sanitation delivered huge results, with authorities collecting an astounding 122 metric tonnes of garbage, 21 metric tonnes of bulk waste, and 66 metric tonnes of debris. The Deep Cleaning Drive, coordinated by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani, involved 1,403 workers and employees. A total of 336 km of road were carefully cleaned, first brushing and then washing with water. Municipal Commissioner Gagrani personally monitored the sanitation operation, which began on Captain Prakash Pethe Marg in Colaba and extended throughout Mumbai and its suburbs. He spoke with sanitation personnel, outlining their daily routines and addressing any issues they raised. The increased cleanliness initiative, which has been going on for the past 23 weeks, aims to ensure cleanliness in every nook and corner of Mumbai. Every Saturday, as part of this campaign, sanitation drives are held in all 227 wards throughout the city. "A Deep Clean Drive was carried out at various locations in all the administrative divisions of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Saturday, April 27, 2024. In a single day, 122 Metric Tonnes of Debris, 21 Metric Tonnes of Bulk Waste and 66 Metric Tonnes of Garbage were collected. A total of 336 km of roads have been washed away," the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation stated in their press statement. "Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani also participated in the campaign from 7.30 am onwards during his visit to Mumbai and both the suburbs while inspecting all the cleanliness activities. An intensive cleanliness drive has been going on in Mumbai for the last 23 weeks. Keeping this campaign in view, a regular cleanliness drive is being carried out in every administrative block every Saturday. This campaign is going on continuously in all the 227 wards," the statement read. Dr Sudhakar Shinde, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs), spearheaded extensive department-level measures, coordinating efforts to maximise the campaign's impact. The initiative was a success, as locals expressed satisfaction with the deep cleaning efforts, which included minor streets, waste collection, and other cleanliness operations around Mumbai.
28 April,2024 03:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUnion Minister and BJP candidate for the North Mumbai parliamentary seat, Piyush Goyal, kickstarted his day by interacting with locals during a morning walk in Mumbai. He engaged in conversations with residents and participated in a yoga session at Poinsur Gymkhana. Goyal expressed trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, promising to address drainage concerns and raise Mumbai's infrastructure to world standards. He emphasised the progress made by the ruling Mahayuti alliance and emphasised that considerable initiatives had been taken to address water scarcity and improve drainage, reported ANI. According to the agency report, Goyal recalled the hurdles women faced in accessing basic facilities such as LPG gas connections and emphasised the revolutionary improvements brought about by the Modi government. "We are getting the blessings for the work and leadership of PM Modi and the way he has made India proud on the global stage. This is a matter of pride for us. Drainage issues will now be resolved... Finally, Mumbaikars are delighted that Mumbai is getting the global level infrastructure," Goyal said, per ANI report. He further told the news agency, "Our country has a large number of women...Who can forget those days when our mothers, sisters, daughters-in-law, and daughters had to defecate in the open? Who can forget those days when half of the country's population didn't have LPG gas connections and they had to wait for 15 days to refill the cylinders?" Regarding his candidature for the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, Goyal emphasised the collaborative attitude inside the BJP, adding that party members are adaptive and contribute according to the party's requirements. He confirmed that the party will make future judgements about Gopal Shetty's role as the current MP, the ANI report stated. "We all are party workers. We get to perform different duties from time to time. This is the strength of the BJP that we all are the workers of the party. The party will decide the further contributions of Gopal Shetty (sitting MP from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat)," said Goyal. According to the report, voting in Mumbai North is slated for May 20, and Gopal Shetty, a two-term MP, formerly represented the area in 2014 and 2019. Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats, will hold elections on several dates in May, following the first two rounds in April. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and Shiv Sena won big, while the opposition alliance, which included the NCP, gained a few seats. The political landscape in Maharashtra has shifted, with factional divides, and the results of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are anxiously anticipated, the report added. Vote counting for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will take place on June 4. .
28 April,2024 02:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe arrest of Manohar Madhavi, a prominent figure in Navi Mumbai's political scene, could have implications on the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 and can likely affect the dynamics within the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Manohar Madhavi alias MK, was arrested by the Thane Police Crime Branch on Saturday in the extortion case. A political leader from Navi Mumbai, Madhavi, who is aligned with Shiv Sena (UBT), was caught red-handed by the police as he attempted to extort Rs 2.50 lakhs from a cable operator in the Kalwa area. The officials said that Madhavi demanded a ransom of Rs 2.50 lakhs and of that, he had taken Rs 1.50 lakhs on Friday and the pending money on Saturday. "A complaint was filed by the cable operator after which the investigation was started. Being an extortion case the Thane Anti-Extortion Cell started the investigation. It was learnt that Madhavi called the cable businessman to his office in Airoli with Rs 1 lakh. A team of Thane police laid a trap and caught Madhavi red-handed while taking the money,” said an official. Further investigation into the case is underway.
28 April,2024 08:19 AM IST | Thane | Faisal TandelElection fever grips people, and how! Weddings, receptions, religious ceremonies, social dos, sports events, clubbing etc are no exceptions. A friend from Vidarbha, where the second phase of voting took place on Friday, added one more thing to the list—the funeral. My friend shared with me a story of how solemn last rites held in his neighbourhood transformed into an election rally when some grievers participated in the shok sabha (condolence meet) held at the funeral ground, immediately after the departed soul was put on the pyre for final journey. A couple of speakers spoke highly of the dead, shared the family’s grief and pledged to stand in solidarity with the survivors. The next few stuck to the main agenda, but the scene changed as the next lot, known for their acceptability in the community that the dead and most of the mourners belonged to, articulated. “The shok sabha took a different direction as the respectable speakers, after praising the dead person, suddenly asked the mourners to unitedly support a particular alliance. They justified their appeal with explanation. They appealed to the people present to not support fringe parties to make it a straight fight. They said it will be a real tribute to the person who was laid to rest,” the friend told me, describing how the pall of gloom turned into an impromptu experience of election rallying and excitement, albeit misplaced. The appeal did create an impact, informed the friend, because he saw his fellow grievers nodding in agreement with the speakers. Later, some people were seen exchanging their views with the political messengers. Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajoreSend your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
28 April,2024 04:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreIn 2013, this writer got her first taste of elections when she noticed Vasundhara Raje’s face plastered in every nook and cranny of the city, her voice blaring through the TV in her dining room. The year after, even though the ten-year-old couldn’t entirely comprehend the “abki baar, Modi sarkaar” slogan, the blue ink mark on her parents’ index finger had her excited about the power of a vote. Fast forward ten years and a shift to the maximum city, it’s time for us to cast her first vote. Choosing between travelling back to Rajasthan to vote or staying here and exploring options like postal voting or migrating voter ID was like choosing the lesser of the two evils. Postal voting isn’t an option anymore as it requires eligible voters to apply, Form 12 D, to the returning officer (RO) of their respective constituency and hence was ruled out. The migration of voter ID required filling an online form on the Election Commission of India website. In true government website fashion, the server was down. This called for a trip to the regional office. Coincidentally that morning, a socially aware social media account, Andheri West Shit Posting had posted that it was the last day to migrate the voter ID and shared the procedure for it as well. Tanya Syed Migrating one’s voter ID entails changing the constituency to your current residence, for which, a No Objection Certificate signed by the landlord and a copy of your neighbour’s voter ID is required so that the corresponding polling booth is allocated. Armed with Aadhar, PAN, lease agreement, and five copies for each, we rushed to the nearest election branch listed on the Election Commissioner of India website. Our courteous landlord and his wife came along to see if we needed help. As is stereotypical of government offices—it had been shifted a km away and would shut for the day at 5 pm. It was nearing 1.30 pm and our anxiety levels had shot up considerably, however, in our heads, we knew that no vote was not an option for any of us anymore. When we finally reached the new office at 1.45 pm, we were told to collect Form No. 6 and fill it up, followed up with an official declaring confidently that voter IDs can’t be migrated across state borders. Right. Then another official confirmed that it could be a possibility. Finally, a third official concurred. Government offices have a way of convincing you that you know nothing, even when you do. Before handing out the form, they questioned us tirelessly on the intention. “Are you sure?” asked one. “You’re going to have to change it again if you move. Why do so much work?” said another. “It’s no issue,” we said. From speaking in Marathi—a language we weren’t fluent in—to addressing us indirectly in loud crosstalks ; it wasn’t the best experience. The only respite, before the day ended, our voter ID was active. We were told, officials would drop by to confirm the residence, and then finally, just finally, I’d get to vote for the first time. In Mumbai. As the three of us left that building that evening, our landlord heaved a sigh of relief, looked at our tired faces and asked, “You could have just voted in the next elections” Well, we could have, but this feels better.
28 April,2024 04:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Tanya SyedThe Mumbai airport received a hoax bomb threat call on Friday, warning of a bomb at Terminal 1, following which, the police registered a case against the unknown caller. The call was later declared as “non-specific” by the bomb threat assessment committee (BTAC). The case was lodged following a complaint by Gitanjali Nerurkar, 37, a Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) senior executive officer at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 1. According to the FIR whose copy is with Midday, on Friday, Nerurkar received a phone call from an unknown number on her duty phone. “The caller, without identifying himself said ‘Terminal 1 Bomb’. When I (Nerurkar) asked the caller in Hindi ‘Aap kaha se baat kar rahe ho?’ (from where was he calling?), the caller replied, ‘Navpada’ in an English accent. When I further asked in English ‘Where?’, the person responded ‘Terminal 1, Terminal 1, Gate no. 1… Best of luck’, and hung up the call.” Nerurkar immediately informed her seniors and MIAL officials conducted a bomb threat assessment meeting with BTAC. “All the concerned security agencies were alerted and after due process, the call was declared ‘non-specific’ sources from CSMIA said. Madhukar Sanap, Senior PI, Airport police station said in a conversation with midday, “The call was received from 6301212289 mobile number. We have registered an FIR against the unknown caller. We are actively trying to trace the caller.”
28 April,2024 03:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariFour injuries were reported in a fire that broke out at Wins Hospital, New Link Road, Kandivali West, on April 27. The incident was reported by BMC’s Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at 1.48 pm. The fire, which was confined to the back of the hospital premises, affected the electric wiring, electric installation, and the compressor of the central air conditioning unit. The firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 2.05 pm. An official from the Mumbai Fire control room stated, “The AC compressor of the hospital caught fire, which was reported to us at 1.48 pm.” Speaking of the four individuals who were injured in the incident, Dr Trupti, the Medical Officer at New Wins Hospital, shared, “Swadhin Mukhi, 56, sustained burns covering 35-40 per cent of his body, while Rajdeo, 35, suffered burns on 15 per cent of his body. Narendra Maurya, 45, and Sunil, aged 35, both sustained superficial burns. They are admitted, and their conditions are stable as of 4:30 pm.” “The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and investigations are ongoing,” said an official from the Mumbai Fire Control Room.
28 April,2024 03:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariThe Navi Mumbai police arrested 11 African nationals, who had been living in India without valid passports and other crucial documents, and confiscated various nature of narcotic substances collectively worth Rs 1.83 crore, whose international price could go up to R20 crore. They have been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The drugs seized included cocaine, mephedrone and MCDMA tablets, along with cash and mobile phone—making a total of Rs 2.04 crore. Amit Kale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai police confirmed the raids and said a case has been registered at the APMC police station. “We have arrested around 11 African nationals and seized drugs that include 1668 grams of cocaine, 97 grams of mephedrone and 44 grams of MDMA from the 11 accused who will be produced in court and further taken into custody for further investigation,” he said. The police said the accused were involved in the consumption and illegal supply of drugs across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayandar and suspected their stay to be illegal, thus verifying their passport, visa and other documents. Acting on a complaint registered by Anil Mandole, a police constable based with the Anti Human Trafficking cell of Navi Mumbai crime branch, the police raided the flat in a dilapidated building in Kopri village, Sector 26 A, Vashi. “We received information about them being staying illegally and are into drugs business and running a supply chain. Accordingly, a team of more than 50 members of the local Narcotics cell of Navi Mumbai raided flats on the second and third floors of the building. Proper plans were made to raid different rooms simultaneously and police were also stationed surrounding the building since drug dealers from these nations have a history of throwing drugs and jumping off the building. Of the 14 arrested, 11 men and three women are African nationals but no drug was found on the women. Once we check the legality of their passport and visa, the women will be deported to their home country,” said a police officer. A significant operation by the Navi Mumbai police was carried out recently to crack down on illegal drug activities people are exploiting illegal and unauthorised buildings for such activities.
28 April,2024 03:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Faisal TandelIn a setback to cash-strapped carrier Go First, the Delhi High Court on Friday granted the lessors’ plea which sought the deregistration of the company’s 54 aircraft. Eight of these are parked at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Mumbai, and the airline is restricted from operating them. The court has ordered the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to aid in their export and provide the certificate of airworthiness. The Resolution Professional of the airline is prohibited from tampering (replacing, or taking out any accessories, spare parts, documents or any other material) with the planes and must provide comprehensive documentation to the lessors. The RP has been ordered to provide up-to-date information and documentation in relation to the aircraft to the lessors. “The respondent RP shall forthwith provide up-to-date information and documentation in relation to the aircraft and the petitioner lessors are permitted to export aircraft as per the Aircraft Act, Aircraft Rules and applicable laws,” the court said. The court had ordered the deregistration of Go First’s 54 aircraft in five working days which were the subject matter of the case. A senior official from DGCA airworthiness directorate told mid-day said, “We will start the deregistration process of the 54 aircraft from this Monday. The process will be completed in the next five working days as directed by the High Court. We will also be providing an airworthiness certificate to facilitate the export of these aircraft.” The court ordered that all maintenance tasks in respect of the aircraft will be undertaken by the lessors and all their authorised representatives up to and until the time the aircraft is de-registered and exported, in pursuance of Rule 32A of the Aircraft Rules. “The respondent DGCA and the respondent Airport Authority of India (AAI) shall assist the petitioner lessors and grant them access to the airports,” the court said. Previously, multiple aircraft lessors of Go First had approached a single judge to request deregistration of their planes by the aviation regulator DGCA allowing them to reclaim the aircraft from the airline. Go First’s RP earlier told the High Court that returning the aircraft to the lessors would effectively make the airline, which has 7,000 employees to look after, “dead”. Earlier this month, the National Company Law Tribunal extended the timeline for Go First’s insolvency proceedings for 60 more days, against the previous deadline of April 4, 2024. Go First had stopped flying on May 3, 2023. Go First’s RP informed the tribunal that the insolvency proceedings were in the final stage as the committee of creditors (CoC) was currently talking over the two resolution plans for the bankrupt airlines. Sharjah-based aviation company Sky One and SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh, along with Busy Bee Airways, owned by Nishant Pitti of EaseMyTrip, are the two bidders for the airline. “We have acknowledged the judgment issued by the Delhi High Court on April 26, 2024. We will review the details of the order once we receive the official document. Following this review, we will evaluate our position and consider any necessary adjustments to our proposed offer for Go Air. Our commitment remains to proceed in a manner that respects the legal process and aligns with our strategic objectives,” Nishant Pitti said on X for Busy Bee. 8Number of Go First aircraft grounded at CSMIA
28 April,2024 03:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariJust like us A woman yawns as she motivates herself to work out in a park at Juhu. Destination wedding, anyone? The wedding planner community is abuzz with rumours that having lavish destination weddings may be hard during the election months, as many clients and vendors are prone to making cash payments. And so, many may be travelling to either Turkey or Bangkok. But Parthip Thyagarajan, co-founder and CEO, Wedding Sutra, told us that’s only true for cocktails or receptions that fall on dry days. “Otherwise it’s business as usual.” But he did say that there could be some truth to destination weddings moving out of India, only because much-in-demand places like Jodhpur or Udaipur, are even more expensive than getting hitched in Karabi or Koh Samui. “In Turkey also, Istanbul may be more expensive than Antalia. But if it’s a very basic property, can you really compare it to a Leela in Rajasthan. Maybe not?” Food for thought for all the would-be bride and grooms? Goody for Indian women artists Minal Vazirani with Rajyashri Goody’s work This is surely a moment of reckoning for female Indian artists. For the seventh edition of Women to Watch 2024, hosted by the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), Washington DC, India participated for the first time with a committee that presented five Indian artists to watch—Rajyashri Goody, Farah Mulla, Prajakta Potnis, Ayesha Singh and Prarthna Singh. The final committee selected Rajyashri Goody’s work to represent India at the exhibition. The India committee of NMWA was chaired by Minal Vazirani, co-founder, Saffronart and Art Mumbai, who told this diarist that what stood out most for her was the collective camaraderie and unity among the international and US committees which was directed towards equity in the arts. “During the opening, there was an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the artist’s work and the representation of caste, exclusion and cultural mores which need to be addressed. The ceramic and book installation that Goody had created prompted significant discussion about the high quality of contemporary art emerging from India. Overall, this first exhibit from India has sparked a strong interest in engaging with art from the subcontinent,” she said. Lucknow needlework, Gond art dress up French luxe address It took Hermès, the French luxury house, 13 years to cross the Bandra Worli Sea Link, culminating in the launch of a new address at Jio World Plaza, BKC. “We don’t open stores every day; it’s a very rare moment. We are a 200-year-old family company; a kind of an old lady, and we take our time,” Eric Festy, regional director-Hermès South Asia, told mid-day at the preview. The fashion section showcases tapestry by Lucknow embroiderers Once again collaborating with its longstanding partner RDAI Architecture, the new 5,000 sq. ft. space is enveloped in a grid of angled three-dimensional façade, transitioning from sun-kissed orange to deep blues, mirroring the colourful clouds of pigment that fill the air during the festival of Holi. The window display, titled Faubourg in an Enchanted Forest, designed by art director-filmmaker Aradhana Seth, draws inspiration from the Gond art of Madhya Pradesh. Inside, rooms flow from salon to salon, interconnected through three distinct sections delineated by bronze arcades reminiscent of Indian palaces, housing an extensive range of products from beauty, fashion, watches, jewellery to shoes to equestrian equipment, hats, tableware, perfumes and interior design objects. Eric Festy India’s influence is subtly woven throughout, with features like the luscious blue walls in the watch and jewellery section, inspired by the blue city of Rajasthan, and the fashion section hemmed in fabric. The French house collaborated with skilled hand-embroidery artisans from Lucknow to craft a tapestry bursting with turmeric-hued floral motifs, evoking the lively essence of a bustling cityscape. Let’s figure out Virat Kohli There is a whiff in the cricketing air which Virat Kohli fans would not have anything to do with. And that is, the possibility of him not being part of India’s T20 World Cup squad. A no Kohli situation is unthinkable for them, but nothing is impossible in cricket and that is not restricted to winning or losing matches. Sure, IPL-17 has thrown up a lot of options for Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee, but who can deny Kohli’s aura and track record? Those pundits who don’t include him in their team would do well to remember what he did in the October-November 2022 T20 World Cup game against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where his grand unbeaten 82 clinched the issue for India. It was a tournament in which he scored four half-centuries for a strike-rate of 136.41. And while the IPL is far from over, Kohli has already scored one century and three half-tons never mind if his team happen to be a struggling Royal Challengers Bengaluru. By the way, Kohli averages 81.50 in 27 T20 World Cup games.
28 April,2024 03:34 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMDADVERTISEMENT
