A joint manifesto of the NCP and NCP (SP) meant both factions have effectively come together, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said on Saturday, and referred to speculation about possible induction of NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule in the Central government, reported news agency PTI. ‘Reunion driven by power, not ideology,’ alleges Wadettiwar However, the “reunion” appeared to be driven by the lure of power rather than ideological convergence or concern for party workers, he alleged. Wadettiwar was reacting to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) working president Sule releasing a joint manifesto for the Pune civic polls at a press conference, signalling growing proximity between the two factions after their bitter split in July 2023. Background of NCP split and EC recognition Ajit Pawar had revolted against his uncle Sharad Pawar and walked out with loyalist MLAs to join the then Shiv Sena-led government. The group was later recognised as the real NCP by the Election Commission and was allotted the ‘clock’ poll symbol. The break-up was followed by the NCP and NCP (SP) fielding candidates against each other in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections. Ideology or power is real question, says Congress leader Responding to speculation about reunification, the Congress Legislature Party leader said the real question was whether the move was for ideology, party workers, or merely power. Notably, the NCP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) have allied for the elections to the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations. ‘If manifestos are together, factions are together’ “If their manifestos have come together, then it can be said they have come together,” Wadettiwar said, reported PTI. According to him, the potential induction of NCP (SP) leaders Rohit Pawar in the Maharashtra cabinet and Baramati MP Sule in the Union government is being widely discussed. NCP (SP) part of Maha Vikas Aghadi The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) is an ally of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. “Traditionally, the NCP keeps changing its stand because it cannot survive without power. If it remains out of power, the party will collapse,” Wadettiwar alleged, reported PTI. Congress fighting to protect Constitution, says leader The Congress, on the other hand, is not fighting for power but for safeguarding the Constitution and democracy under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, he said. On the political situation in the Ambernath municipal council involving allies Shiv Sena and BJP, Wadettiwar termed it a “sham fight”. ‘Allies quarrel briefly, reunite for power’ “They quarrel today, but will they walk out of power tomorrow? This is all temporary. Later, they will come together again to enjoy the fruits of power,” he said, reported PTI. After the December 20 local body polls, the local unit of the BJP joined hands with its arch-rival Congress under the banner of ‘Ambernath Vikas Aghadi’ (AVA) to gain power in the municipal council, sidelining ally Shiv Sena. Congress suspends councillors after backlash Left red-faced after the unforeseen tie-up, the Congress on Wednesday suspended its 12 councillors and a block president. On Friday, the Shiv Sena and the NCP headed by Ajit Pawar, along with one independent member, formed a group to stake claim to rule the Ambernath local body by keeping the BJP away from power. Shinde, Ajit Pawar accused of dividing voters Wadettiwar alleged that Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were being used to divide Marathi votes and progressive voters, respectively. “This is aimed at weakening the Thackeray faction and the Congress. Alliances during elections are temporary, but power-sharing happens later,” he claimed, reported PTI. ‘Save BJP from rebels’ jibe Mocking the BJP amid reports of police being asked to warn rebels, Wadettiwar said, “‘Save the BJP from rebels’ should be the new slogan in Maharashtra.” “If the police are being asked to issue warnings to BJP rebels, it reflects the BJP’s declining authority. The BJP has lost so much credibility that it has to seek police help to control its own rebels,” he added, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
10 January,2026 02:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe BJP's ideology teaches its followers to work for everyone irrespective of caste and creed, and it is not against Muslims, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said, reported news agency PTI. Full majority will fulfil people’s aspirations, says minister The people's hopes and dreams will be fulfilled if the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance wins the January 15 election to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation with a full majority, and he will himself guarantee the candidates' performance, Gadkari said while campaigning in the city on Friday. Senior BJP leader campaigns across Nagpur The senior BJP leader, who held three public meetings, sought to dispel misconceptions about his party. ‘Not against Muslims, but against terrorism,’ says Gadkari “We are not against Muslims, but we are against terrorists and Pakistan. The Muslims who commit sacrifices for this country are as dear to us as are the Hindus. One may go to a mosque, gurdwara, or Buddh vihar. But we say that our blood is the same, we are Bharatiya, and we work for all,” the Union minister added, reported PTI. Assurance of governance and development “All your hopes, desires, and dreams will be fulfilled if the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance is elected with a full majority,” he said. ‘I will be guarantor for BJP candidates’ “I will be a guarantor on behalf of the BJP candidates,” Gadkari said, while listing infrastructure projects carried out by him and the Maharashtra government, reported PTI. Addressing a meeting in North Nagpur, he said some opposition leaders were spreading misinformation that violence would occur if the BJP came to power. BJP ideology based on inclusive governance But the BJP's ideology teaches its workers to work for everyone without any bias, the Nagpur MP said. Represents all citizens, not just voters He said he is a staunch BJP worker and believes in its ideology, but as an elected representative, he works for those who voted for him as well as those who did not, irrespective of caste, religion, or language, reported PTI. Gadkari dismisses claims of constitutional change He also sought to debunk “misinformation” that the saffron party wanted to change the Constitution, saying it was the Congress that tried to amend the Constitution 80 times. (With inputs from PTI)
10 January,2026 02:16 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentNationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) MP Supriya Sule has expressed confidence in the party performing well in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, saying "the atmosphere is very good" and her party was prepared to contest the polls with "full strength", reported news agency ANI. Speaking in Mumbai, Sule said, "The atmosphere is very good. Work should be done here in a transparent and honest manner, so we are fighting with full strength." The NCP-SCP, on December 29, released its list of candidates for the upcoming BMC elections 2026. The list includes candidates for seven wards across Mumbai. Ajit Ravarane has been fielded from Ward No. 43, Sanjay Bhimrao Kamble from Ward 140 (SC), Shraddha Javed Despande from Ward No. 78, Ganesh Shinde from Ward No. 48, Rohini Madan Khanvilkar from Ward N 59, and Manju Ravindra Jadhav from Ward 112. Earlier, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP announced its first list of 37 candidates for BMC elections 2026. With the release of its first list of candidates, the NCP has decided to go solo. The list includes candidates Manish Dubey from Ward No. 3, Cyril Peter D'Souza from Ward No. 48, Ahmed Khan from Ward No. 62, Baban Ramchandra Madne from Ward No. 76, Sachin Tambe from Ward No. 93, Mrs. Ayesha Shams Khan from Ward No. 96, Abdul Rashid (Captain) Malik from Ward No. 165, and Sabia Aslam Merchant from Ward No. 224. The list also features candidates such as Akshay Mohan Pawar, Jyoti Devidas Sadavarte, Rachana Ravindra Gavas, Bhagyashree Rajesh Kedare, and Dr. Saeeda Khan, among others. The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Mumbai will see polling across 227 electoral wards on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16. Pune civic polls: NCP factions release joint manifesto; Ajit Pawar and Sule share dais Meanwhile, the NCP, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and the NCP (SP), headed by his uncle Sharad Pawar, on Saturday released a joint manifesto for the upcoming elections to the Pune municipal corporation. Ajit Pawar and his cousin Supriya Sule, the working president of NCP (SP), shared the dais at a joint press conference, signalling growing proximity between the two factions after a bitter split in 2023. The NCP, although a member of the ruling Mahayuti, and NCP (SP), a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, have joined hands for the January 15 elections to Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic bodies. Sule and other NCP (SP) leaders, who had largely remained absent from the campaign so far, were present at the release of the manifesto. Addressing the gathering, Ajit Pawar said the manifesto focuses on key civic issues in Pune. The poll document assures tap water supply, easing of traffic congestion, pothole-free roads, cleanliness, hi-tech healthcare services, pollution control, and slum rehabilitation. He said the manifesto also proposes free travel on PMPML buses and the metro, waiver of property tax for houses up to 500 sq ft, and free computer tablets for students. (With inputs from ANI)
10 January,2026 02:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentResidents of Mulund’s ward 104 have contested Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) voter list for the upcoming polls, citing errors in the names listed. According to the residents of Lok Everest Complex, located on JSD Road in Mulund West, the names of 614 residents have been wrongly listed as residents of BEST Staff Quarters, located on LBS Marg, in the adjoining ward, 103. Residents claim that the neighbours living on the same floor of the same building have their names listed in two separate wards — 103 and 104. Following the complaints, social worker and first-time independent candidate Sameer Patil (ward 104) raised the issue with the state election commission and civic administrative ward office (T ward). “During elections, even 10 votes can swing the outcome of the poll in a ward. We are here talking about errors in 614 voters’ names, depriving them of their right to vote in the correct ward,” said Patil. Speaking to mid-day on Friday, Patil pointed out that members of the Lok Everest Complex have been tagged as residents of the BEST staff quarters, falling in an adjoining electoral ward of 103. “The Lok Everest Complex is part of ward 104. I have submitted the electoral ward maps in my complaints to the authorities,” said Patil. While both the wards — 103 and 104 — are part of the administrative T ward, ward 104 comprises the areas of Tambe Nagar, Indira Nagar, and Siddharth Nagar in Mulund and has a total of 53,343 listed voters, and ward 103 comprises the areas of Bhandup Complex, Vihar Lake, Veena Nagar, and Ghatipada and has 48,055 listed voters. Dharmendra Lohar, assistant assessor and collector in charge of the T ward, responded to Patil’s complaints, saying, “The building in fact falls within the correct jurisdiction and has been listed correctly.” An official from the BMC said, “Citizens were given a window to correct their names or addresses in the voters list. Now that window is closed, and we are in the stage of distributing voter information slips to all residents.” On January 7, Dr Bhakti Devkate, tehsildar, State Election Commission, wrote to the BMC commissioner, drawing attention to the complaints raised by the residents, forwarding all attachments for appropriate action. A copy of the letter is with mid-day. Residents Speak Lalita Soni, 44, a resident of the Lok Everest Complex, said, “I have lived here for 20 years and voted as a resident of this housing society in several previous elections. How is there confusion in the voters list? I should be voting from ward 104, but my name is in the ward 103 voters’ list.” Mulraj Ganatra, another resident, said, “It was different for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in 2024, as the area is larger. Now the size of the ward is smaller. It is not possible that half the members of this society fall in one ward, and the other half fall in another ward.” Priyanka Pavani and Vipul Pavani, both aged 50, who are married and live in the same house, have had their names listed in two separate electoral wards for the first time. Speaking to mid-day, Priyanka said, “My name appeared in the ward 103 voter list, whereas my husband’s name remains in the correct ward — 104.” Voting for the municipal corporation election will be held on January 15 across all 227 wards of Mumbai. The counting of votes will take place on January 16.
10 January,2026 01:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSThe Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed Tushar Apte, the then secretary of a school and a co-accused in the Badlapur sexual abuse case, as a 'co-opted' councillor in the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council in Thane district. Council chairperson Ruchita Ghorpade has confirmed Apte's appointment. He was greeted after the process of selecting five co-opted councillors of the municipal council was completed on Friday. Two among them were nominated by the BJP, two by the Shiv Sena, and one by the Nationalist Congress Party. Besides Apte, other nominated councillors include Shagof Gore (BJP), Prabhakar Patil (NCP), and Dilip Baikar and Hemant Chature (Shiv Sena). Apte, who was then the secretary of the educational institution where the alleged sexual abuse occurred, was booked for allegedly failing to report the offence. A case was registered against the school management under Section 21(2) of the POCSO Act for not filing a complaint in a case of sexual abuse of children. Apte was arrested 44 days after the incident and granted bail within 48 hours. The case is currently sub judice. Defending the decision, BJP councillor Rajan Ghorpade said Apte is a social activist and office-bearer of a reputed educational institution. "Though he was named as an accused, his guilt has not been proven. The main accused has already been punished. Apte worked actively for the party and contributed to the party candidate's victory, and therefore, he was given this responsibility," Ghorpade said. The girls were allegedly sexually abused by Akshay Shinde on the premises of the school, triggering massive protests by parents and citizens. The main accused, Akshay Shinde (24), was arrested in August 2024 for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls inside the toilet of a school in Badlapur in Thane district. On September 23, he was killed in an alleged police shootout while being taken from Navi Mumbai's Taloja prison for questioning. The police claimed he snatched the gun of one of the cops in the van, opened fire, and was killed in retaliatory firing. The accused was being taken for questioning in connection with a case lodged against him by his wife. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
10 January,2026 01:20 PM IST | Thane | PTIShiv Sena (UBT) MP and national spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that the coming together of the Thackeray cousins for the BMC elections 2026 is aimed at “saving Mumbai” and that their alliance has “built trust” among the people of the city, reported news agency IANS. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray have joined hands to contest the BMC elections 2026 together. Joint manifesto ‘Vachan Nama’ unveiled Earlier on Sunday, the two parties unveiled their joint manifesto titled ‘Vachan Nama’, which prominently features photographs of the Thackeray cousins along with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. ‘Mumbai is like a country in itself,’ says Raut Speaking to IANS on the significance of the BMC elections 2026, Raut said, “The point is, this election is not just about the Thackeray cousins. Mumbai is a city that is like a country in itself. Mumbai is often referred to as the financial capital of the country, and additionally, it serves as the capital of Maharashtra. And, in the capital of Maharashtra, Balasaheb Thackeray and the Shiv Sena have always been in power.” Shiv Sena confident of retaining dominance in BMC He further pointed out that while the city has undergone major changes over the past few years, the Shiv Sena’s influence in the civic body remains strong. Raut maintained that the party would once again assert its dominance in the BMC, as it has done for nearly three decades. History of Sena-BJP alliance in civic body However, notably, the Shiv Sena has never secured an absolute majority on its own in the civic body. For most of its tenure in the BMC, the party governed Mumbai in alliance with the BJP, which remained its junior partner until the two parted ways in 2014. “These elections are being conducted after seven years; the entire demography of the state has changed; the entire city has changed. However, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have come together to save Mumbai,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader told IANS. ‘Every section of Mumbai stands with Shiv Sena’ “Shiv Sena has always been there to protect the Maharashtrians. Every section of Mumbai is with Shiv Sena. Whenever there is a talk about Mumbai, its issues and problems that it is facing, then everyone’s first thought is that Shiv Sena will protect us,” Raut said. Emphasising the public response to the alliance, he added, “Thackeray cousins uniting has built a trust in the hearts of people.” Affordable housing, infrastructure push in manifesto Meanwhile, in their joint manifesto, the Thackeray cousins have promised affordable housing and major improvements in infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, public transport and the education sector. The document also includes welfare measures for women, with a proposal to provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to women employed as domestic workers and Koli women under the proposed ‘Swabhiman Nidhi’ scheme. Raj Thackeray returns to Sena Bhavan after 20 years The manifesto was released at a joint press conference held at Shiv Sena Bhavan, an event that marked Raj Thackeray’s return to the party headquarters after nearly two decades. Raj Thackeray had quit the Shiv Sena in 2005 following differences with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray over the future leadership of the party, after Balasaheb Thackeray handed over the reins to his son. (With inputs from IANS)
10 January,2026 01:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe security wall of a residential society collapsed on vehicles parked along a road in Wagle Estate area of Thane, an official said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI. Nobody was injured in the incident that occurred on Friday night. "We received information at 10:41 PM about the collapse of a security wall at Hiramoti Nagar Society in Shivaji Nagar, Kisan Nagar No.1. The wall, approximately 40 feet long and eight feet high, fell on vehicles parked by the roadside," said Yasin Tadvi from the Disaster Management Cell, reported PTI. He said the remaining portion of the wall was in a highly dangerous condition. "After reaching the spot, it was found that the collapsed wall had damaged several vehicles, while the remaining structure posed a serious risk to public safety," Tadvi said, reported PTI. According to Tadvi, teams from the Srinagar police station, the fire department, the disaster management cell, the Thane Municipal Corporation's encroachment department and Mahavitaran staff rushed to the site. "Fire brigade personnel with one fire engine and one rescue vehicle, along with disaster management staff and a JCB machine, carried out emergency operations," he said, reported PTI. Tadvi said the debris was promptly removed, and all affected vehicles were evacuated. Subsequently, the dangerously unstable portion of the wall was demolished using a JCB, he added. The damaged vehicles include a car, two auto-rickshaws, two small tempos and two two-wheelers. Three members of family die as fire breaks out in single-storey structure Meanwhile, three members of a family died after a fire erupted in a residential structure in Bhagat Singh Nagar area of suburban Goregaon in Mumbai early Saturday, officials said. The affected single-storey structure is situated in Rajaram Lane. The blaze was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade at 3:06 AM. The fire was confined to electric wiring and household articles on the ground floor and the first floor, he said. Locals doused the flames using water buckets before the arrival of fire personnel. On reaching the spot, firemen cut off the electric supply, he said. All three occupants were rushed to Trauma Care Hospital, where doctors declared them "brought dead," officials said. The deceased persons were identified as Harshada Pawaskar (19), Kushal Pawaskar (12), and Sanjog Pawaskar (48), an official said. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. (With inputs from PTI)
10 January,2026 12:50 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMumbai experienced a refreshingly cool and pleasant start to Saturday, offering residents a welcome respite from the city’s usual humidity. Clear skies, light breezes and relatively lower temperatures made the early morning hours comfortable. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature dipped to around 18 degrees Celsius, while the maximum was forecast to reach approximately 32 degrees Celsius. The conditions marked one of the more comfortable winter days Mumbai has seen this season. Meanwhile, air quality across the city remained in the ‘moderate’ category. Data from the SAMEER app showed Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 205 on Saturday. At this level, air quality may cause breathing discomfort for individuals with lung disorders, asthma or heart-related ailments. Delhi records season's coldest morning on Saturday Meanwhile, the national capital on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 4.2 degrees Celsius, which was 2.7 notches below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). With this, Delhi recorded the coldest morning of the ongoing winter season since 2024. The previous coldest January day in the past years was recorded on January 15, 2024, when the minimum temperature had plunged to 3.3 degrees Celsius, triggering cold wave conditions across the national capital. Station-wise data showed that the minimum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 4.2 degrees Celsius, Palam recorded 4.5 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road reported 4.7 degrees Celsius, the Ridge station registered 5.3 degrees Celsius, while Ayanagar also recorded 4.5 degrees Celsius, indicating a sharp dip across Delhi's weather stations. Today's reading was followed by Friday's second-coldest morning of the season, when the minimum temperature had dropped to 4.6 degrees Celsius. The third-lowest minimum temperature of the current season was recorded earlier on December 4 and December 5 last year, when the mercury had settled at 5.6 degrees Celsius, followed closely by December 1, when the minimum temperature stood at 5.7 degrees Celsius. IMD has predicted dense fog conditions during the day. Relative humidity was recorded at 100 per cent at 9 am. The air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category at 9 am on Saturday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 366, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed. According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
10 January,2026 11:09 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThree members of a family were killed in a fire that broke out in the early hours of Friday at Bhagatsingh Nagar in Goregaon (West), officials from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) said. The incident was reported at around 3.06 am from a ground-plus-one-storey residential structure located at Rajaram Lane, near Janata Stores. According to fire officials, the blaze was confined to electric wiring and household articles on the ground floor, while wearing apparel belonging to three occupants caught fire on the first floor. Members of the public attempted to douse the flames using water buckets before the arrival of the fire brigade. Firefighters later assisted in extinguishing the fire by cutting off the electricity supply and using water buckets. The fire was fully brought under control by 3.16 am. Fire personnel rescued three occupants — two males and one female — from the premises and rushed them to Trauma Care Hospital in a police van and a private vehicle. However, doctors declared all three dead on arrival. The deceased have been identified as Harshada Pawaskar (19), Kushal Pawaskar (12), and Sanjog Pawaskar (48). Hospital authorities confirmed that all three had sustained severe burn injuries. Further investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. Fire breaks out in residential complex in Mumbai's Parel area In another incident, a fire broke out at a residential building in Parel area of central Mumbai on Friday evening, though no one was injured in the incident, a civic official said. The blaze started at Lodha Grandeur building, located opposite the MSRTC bus depot on Sayani Road, at 6:21 pm and was doused by 7:35 pm after four fire engines and other equipment were deployed, he said. "The fire was confined to bamboo scaffolding and stored bamboo material on the ground floor. However, heavy smoke spread through the building. Fortunately, there are no reports of injuries to anyone. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained," he added. Vehicles damaged in wall collapse; no injuries Meanwhile, the security wall of a residential society collapsed on vehicles parked along a road in Wagle Estate area of Thane, an official said on Saturday. Nobody was injured in the incident that occurred on Friday night. "We received information at 10:41 PM about the collapse of a security wall at Hiramoti Nagar Society in Shivaji Nagar, Kisan Nagar No.1. The wall, approximately 40 feet long and eight feet high, fell on vehicles parked by the roadside," said Yasin Tadvi from the Disaster Management Cell. He said the remaining portion of the wall was in a highly dangerous condition. "After reaching the spot, it was found that the collapsed wall had damaged several vehicles, while the remaining structure posed a serious risk to public safety," Tadvi said.
10 January,2026 10:16 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThere’s a twist in the tale, or route, for athletes running the 42-km (full) and 21-km (half) marathon distance at the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM) on January 18. The route will include the new Coastal Road for both distances, alongside the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The Coastal Road on race day will play host to thousands of heels instead of wheels, offering runners and those who can afford to slow down a bit and stare at uninterrupted views of the Araban Sea and the city skyline. A detailed route map will be unveiled shortly, but full marathoners, when going from Haji Ali to the Coastal Road, will use the northbound Coastal Road and go towards the Sea Link. When returning from Worli Sea Face, runners go towards Coastal Road, Southbound. The half-marathoners, when returning from Worli Sea Face, go towards Coastal Road, Southbound. Vivek Singh, joint managing director, Procam International, the race promoters, thanked the Maharashtra government and all allied agencies for their continued support and commitment to the TMM. Singh described the inclusion of the Coastal Road as a “historic milestone for the marathon and a victory lap for the city’s progress.” The Sea Link is the race’s Kodak moment, runners silhouetted against the steel on the bridge, sunbeams glancing off the waters below. Now, the Coastal Road may offer stunning picture opportunities, too, proving the coastest with the mostest for the Marathon.
10 January,2026 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentPune shivered through its coldest morning of the year on Friday, January 9, with the minimum temperature plunging to 8.4 degrees Celsius at the Shivajinagar weather station, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported. This marked a steep drop from the 13.5 degrees C recorded on January 1, continuing a cold spell across the city. Even typically warmer areas were affected, with Magarpatta logging 15.3 degrees C and Chinchwad 14.2 degrees C, down from 17.8 degrees C, and 17.1 degrees C, respectively on New Year’s Day. The Pashan observatory recorded 8.3 degrees C. IMD scientists attributed the chill to an anticyclonic circulation over Central India, drawing cold northerly winds into Maharashtra via northeast Vidarbha. Clear night skies further intensified the drop in temperatures. Senior IMD scientist SD Sanap told mid-day, “Temperatures have been steadily declining over the past three days and are expected to remain low for the next two days. A slight rise of two to three degrees is expected from January 12.” Historical records show Pune has recorded minimum temperatures around 8 degrees C only three times in the past decade — on January 9 in 2015, 2019, and 2023. By contrast, the same date last year saw a much warmer temperature at 18.2 degrees C. The IMD forecast expects minimum temperatures to stay below 10 degrees C at least until Saturday, with a gradual warming trend bringing night temperatures to around 12 degrees C by January 14. December 2025 was unusually cold, with 18 days of single-digit minimums and an average minimum temperature of 10.5 degrees C, the lowest December average since 2015. The month experienced two prolonged cold phases, from December 9 to 16 and December 19 to 26, with the lowest temperature of 7.9 degrees C recorded on December 12. Meteorologists said the persistent northerly winds over Maharashtra, combined with a lack of western disturbances post-monsoon, contributed to the harsher winter. Looking ahead, the IMD’s probabilistic outlook for January indicates that night temperatures across most parts of Maharashtra — including Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Madhya Maharashtra — are likely to remain below normal, while daytime temperatures are expected to stay cooler than usual.
10 January,2026 08:54 AM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalADVERTISEMENT
-1768031412507_d.png "The BJP has appointed Tushar Apte, a co-accused in the Badlapur sexual abuse case, as a co-opted councillor. File Pic")
