As many as 361 candidates have filed their nominations in 11 constituencies, including the high-stakes Baramati and Satara seats, that are going to polls in Maharashtra in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 on May 7, officials said, reported news agency PTI. As per the information provided by the poll authorities, 28 candidates filed their nominations in Raigad seat, 51 in Baramati, 36 each in Osmanabad and Latur, 41 in Solapur, 42 in Madha, 30 in Sangli, 24 in Satara, nine in Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg, 28 in Kolhapur and 36 in Hatkanangale, reported PTI. Friday was the last day of filing the nominations. The contest in Baramati is being keenly watched as sitting MP Supriya Sule (NCP - Sharadchandra Pawar) will take on her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar (NCP). Kolhapur and Satara have the respective royal scions Shahu Chhatrapati and Udayanraje Bhosale in the fray as Congress and BJP candidates respectively. Union minister Narayan Rane will be contesting the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat as a BJP candidate, while in Sangli, sitting MP Sanjaykaka Patil of BJP is pitted against wrestler Chandrahar Patil contesting on Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket. Vishal Patil of the Congress has also filed his nomination as an independent candidate from Sangli. His party is persuading him to withdraw from the race. Meanwhile, an approximate voter turnout of 61.06 per cent was recorded in Lok Sabha polls held on Friday in Nagpur, Ramtek, Bhandara-Gondiya, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli-Chimur in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, though final figures will be updated by Saturday. The lowest voting was recorded in Nagpur at 54.46 per cent, while it was 69.43 per cent in Gadchiroli-Chimur, 64.08 in Bhandara-Gondiya, 60.35 per cent in Chandrapur and 59.58 per cent in Ramtek, an official told PTI. Nagpur, where Union minister and BJP heavyweight Nitin Gadkari is pitted against Congress' Vikas Thakre, had recorded 54.74 per cent voting in 2019. Among those who voted during the day were Gadkari, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit as well as Congress leaders Mukul Wasnik and Avinash Pande. In Chandrapur, the fight is between state BJP minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and the Congress' Pratibha Dhanorkar. She is the wife of late Suresh Dhanorkar, who was the only Congress winner in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He died last year. In Bhandara-Gondiya, sitting BJP MP Sunil Mendhe is contesting against Congress' Dr Prashant Patole. The contest in Gadchiroli-Chimur is between sitting BJP MP Ashok Nete and Congress' Namdev Kirsan, while in Ramtek, Shiv Sena candidate Raju Parwe is up against Congress' Shyam Barve. (With inputs from PTI)
20 April,2024 01:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying that in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024, "Congress' sahabzade" will lose from Wayanad constituency in Kerala and he will have to look for a safer seat after that. Addressing a rally at Nanded in Maharashtra to campaign for BJP candidates from Nanded and Hingoli seats, PM Modi said the information available for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls indicates that there has been a one-sided voting in favour of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Referring to Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said, "After losing Amethi, the Congress' sahabzade will lose Wayanad as well. So he will have to look for a safe seat after April 26." In an apparent reference to Sonia Gandhi, he said some INDIA bloc leaders left the Lok Sabha and moved to the Rajya Sabha as they have no courage to contest elections, reported PTI. "For the first time, the family will not vote for a Congress candidate in the constituency where they live as there is no party candidate there," he said, reported PTI. PM Modi said he has spent 10 years fixing the bad governance of the Congress regimes. "A lot of work needs to be done," he added. The Congress has been a barrier in the development of farmers and poor people, he alleged. "The agriculture crisis did not happen now. It happened because of the flawed policies of Congress," PM Modi said, reported PTI. Targeting the INDIA bloc, he said it has no face to project and people do not know whom to entrust the country's future. "They may claim anything, but the reality is that Congress leaders have accepted defeat even before the announcement of polls," he said. He termed the opposition alliance a grouping of selfish people who have come together to protect their corrupt practices. He appealed to voters to come out in large numbers to exercise their voting right in the Lok Sabha elections. "You are not doing any favour by voting. you are securing the country's future. I want to boost the morale of the party workers from the opposition. You (opposition leaders) are sure to lose the polls, but you will get a chance some day. But you must appeal to voters to vote," he said. PM Modi said the INDIA bloc constituents were contesting the elections against each other in 25 per cent seats, reported PTI. "After (the election results on) June 4, they will be fighting more with each other," he said. He said that without the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, what fate would have befallen Sikhs who came from Afghanistan. The NDA under PM Modi is seeking a stronger majority for a third consecutive term, while the constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc are hoping for a rebound after facing reverses in the 2014 and 2019 elections. (With inputs from PTI)
20 April,2024 12:58 PM IST | Nanded | mid-day online correspondentCentral Railway General Manager Ram Karan Yadav, along with his team, on Friday took to hike the Khandala Ghat hills to conduct a comprehensive pre-monsoon inspection of the Karjat-Lonavala section on the Pune-Mumbai route. This segment, comprising 52 tunnels, towering hills up to 250 meters, and sharp curves with steep gradients, is vital to the Mumbai division's operations. These mountain stretches have the steepest gradient in the country of 1:37 which means there is a 1-metre rise for every 37 metres. “This is a historical inspection as it was probably the first time an official of the level of General Manager hiked the Hill for an inspection which started at 5 am and reached the hilltop around 7 am almost covering 3.5 km of hilly route, after reaching the hilltop all critical locations from Monkey Hill Cabin to Thakurwadi were inspected. Shri Rajnish Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager and other senior officers accompanied the General Manager during this Hill Inspection,” a CR spokesperson said. Yadav also inspected the Monkey Hill tunnel ghat this morning, a crucial link connecting Mumbai and Pune hiking almost 3.5 km above the Hill. “He inspected both Track and Hill regions and conducted hilltop and slope inspections to understand the crucial information on the causes of rockfalls/landslides and to plan remedial measures for the stability of the Hill, during the inspection, the General Manager also inspected the maintenance of catch water drains, crucial for diverting water away from hill slopes to prevent any incidents rockfall/ landslide & subsidence of rocks etc,” he said. “The Inspection of General Manager to the Hilly Ghat region emphasises Central Railway's commitment to Passenger Safety and efforts to enhance connectivity. The efforts will bear fruits by providing seamless transportation across South East Ghat,” he explained. “The construction of new catch water drains is underway, further bolstering safety measures. The ongoing process of cleaning existing catch water drains is expected to be completed before the start of the monsoon season,” he added.
20 April,2024 12:30 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
The voting for Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections 2024 kickstarted on April 19. A voter turnout of 54.85 per cent was recorded till 5 pm in the state where people in five Lok Sabha constituencies exercised their franchise in the first phase of the polls. As Mumbai gears up for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, all eyes are on Mumbai South, one of the city's 'high profile' seats with Mumbai's top areas in its constituency. Mumbai South is known for its diverse demographics and significant political influence, the seat is set to play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the region. The Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat is a prominent parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra. The seat consists of six assembly segments with posh areas including Worli, Malabar Hill, Mumbadevi, Colaba, Sewri and Byculla. The seat is said to be a representation of urban variety and political vibrancy. The constituency stretches over the busy streets of South Mumbai and is a home to a diverse range of communities, cultures, and socioeconomic origins. Also Read: Lok Sabha elections 2024: Exploring the Mumbai North constituency Mumbai South captures the spirit and essence of India's financial hub, from the thriving markets of Colaba, high-rise commercial and residential buildings in Worli to the affluent areas of Malabar Hill and Pedder Road. The political climate of Mumbai South has changed over the years. For 10 terms, the seat was held by the Congress, with notable figures like Sadashiv Kanoji Patil and the Deora family making an impression. However, things have changed in the last few years. The Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, a senior leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), has ruled the constituency since 2014 when the party was undivided. The intricate socio-political structure of Mumbai South is reflected in its election history. The constituency has served as a battlefield for major political parties in Maharashtra. From the BJP's victory in 1999 to the Congress's comeback in 2004 and ensuing swings. The seat had witnessed Arvind Sawant's huge victory in 2019 with 52.60 per cent of the vote share to the candidate. Over the years, Mumbai South has established itself as a 'high-profile' seat due to its track record of electing outstanding leaders. It has been represented over the years by prominent members of several political parties, all of whom have had an impact on the growth and governance in the city and the country. Mumbai South has a long history with powerful lawmakers. Numerous well-known figures have represented the seat, from Sadashiv Kanoji Patil's groundbreaking work to Murli Deora's powerful decisions. Murli Deora's son Milind Deora who recently quit the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena-led by CM Shinde carried on the family tradition by winning two terms in a row from 2004 until 2014. However, experts suggest that the political landscape has changed after Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's rebellion that had also led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state. The political battle at the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat is now said to be tough for candidates and interesting to watch for, they say. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 in Maharashtra are being held in five phases. Mumbai and its adjoining areas will vote on May 20. The second phase of polls will be on April 26 followed by three more phases on May 7, May 13 and May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. The fifth and final phase of voting will take place on May 20, encompassing 13 constituencies, including Washim, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Welfare, Thane, Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South Central, and Mumbai South.
20 April,2024 11:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviEknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare said on Friday that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has no leadership or agenda and that there is a lot of "tension within the Congress," reported news agency ANI. Speaking with ANI, Waghmare said, "All 5 Mahayuti candidates will get elected from the Vidarbha region; the atmosphere has changed entirely... Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has no leadership or agenda; there is a lot of tension within Congress; the party (Congress) is hollowed out completely; and people also know what will happen if the vote is given to them." He also expressed confidence that the voters have shown immense faith in the Mahayuti. "In all 5 seats in the Vidarbha region, Mahayuti will win by a huge margin. Voters and people have shown immense faith in us," he added, reported ANI. Meanwhile, Maharashtra, which has 48 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha, saw polling in five seats on Friday. The polling was held in Chandrapur, Bhandara-Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur, Ramtek, and Nagpur on Friday. An approximate voter turnout of 61.06 per cent was recorded in Lok Sabha polls held on Friday in Nagpur, Ramtek, Bhandara-Gondiya, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli-Chimur in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, though final figures will be updated by Saturday, as per the data from the Election Commission of India. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) filed a complaint with the Election Commission on Friday against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar and two BJP leaders for allegedly violating the Representation of the People's Act and poll code by promising disbursement of state finances using their official positions. The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) is part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra, also comprising Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. "We had filed complaints with the Election Commission of India for the repeated violation of Provision VII of Model Code of Conduct and Section 123 of Representation of People's Act by Ajit Pawar; Mangesh Chavan and Mr. Chandrakant Patil," it said. It further claimed that the leaders have been repeatedly promising the disbursement of state finances using their official positions only if their candidate is elected. "In blatant disregard of law and dearth of any vision, they have been repeatedly promising disbursement of State Finances using their official positions only if their candidate is elected," the Sharad Pawar-led party said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 seats it contested in alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena. Elections to the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held in five phases. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (With inputs from ANI)
20 April,2024 09:52 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the Akola Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress has invoked the Maratha card, intensifying the stakes in the election. With the BJP’s Anup Dhotre, VBA’s Adv Dr Prakash Ambedkar, and Dr Abhay Patil from Congress in the fray, a three-way contest is imminent in the constituency. Given that the two major candidates hail from the Maratha community, there is a likelihood of Hindu votes being polarised. The outcome of this three-way contest hinges on whose favor the division of votes will fall this time. Historically, it has been observed that in such scenarios, the BJP tends to benefit. Speculation is rife regarding whether this trend will repeat itself this year. Nevertheless, despite the triangular fight in Akola, the sitting MP and grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar, appears to be in a comfortable position. Three-way contest In the Akola constituency, caste politics and the dynamics of vote division have wielded significant influence in every Lok Sabha election. Over the past three and a half decades, barring two exceptions, Akola has witnessed a three-way contest. Remarkably, this scenario has consistently favored the BJP. Historically, until 1989, the Akola constituency was a stronghold of the Congress party. However, since then, the BJP has held sway, with Pandurang Fundkar representing three times, and Prakash Ambedkar twice with Congress support. However, with the former Union Minister of State Sanjay Dhotre of the BJP securing four consecutive terms, Akola earned a reputation as a BJP stronghold, with Congress unable to break the streak of defeats over the years. In recent elections, the Congress’s decision to field minority candidates resulted in a three-way contest among Dalits, Muslims, and Hindus, ultimately benefiting the BJP. Despite the ongoing three-way contest, there are expectations of significant strategic shifts. Maratha card Prakash Ambedkar’s backing of two Congress candidates and one from the NCP in the state raises speculation about Maha Vikas Aghadi’s potential candidate against him in Akola. Congress strategically plays the Maratha card by fielding Dr Abhay Patil, considering the dominance of Maratha voters in Akola. The constituency’s diverse electorate, including Dalits, Muslims, OBCs, Malis, Dhangars, and tribal communities, holds significant sway over the election outcome. While religious sentiments took precedence in the 2019 elections, indications point to a return to caste politics this time. With Congress’s innovative approach, the contest in Akola gains vibrant hues, setting the stage for a closely fought battle among all three contenders, with the outcome hinging on who can navigate the altered political dynamics effectively. Saffron again? The BJP has not lost a Lok Sabha election in the Akola constituency since 2004. Threatening its chances of making it five in a row are, ironically, allegations of parivarwad (dynasticism), with the ruling party fielding Anup Dhotre, son of four-time MP Sanjay Dhotre. The BJP has established Akola as its stronghold by promoting leaders from the majority Kunbi-Maratha community. The last two general elections heavily favored the BJP due to two factors: the influence of Narendra Modi and the Congress’s decision to field a Muslim candidate - Hidayatulla Patel, leading to increased polarisation. In 2019, Patel received 254,370 votes, mainly from the Muslim community, while Ambedkar garnered 278,848 votes, primarily from Dalit voters. Meanwhile, the BJP’s Sanjay Dhotre secured a significant victory with a margin of 554,444 votes. Despite its underdeveloped status, in Akola, caste, and religion take precedence over developmental issues such as water scarcity and inadequate job opportunities in elections. Now, with this enticing battle, between BJP, Congress, and VBA, with VBA going solo this time, will the vote polarisation benefit the saffron party, is the curiosity within the political circles? A ray of hope for Ambedkar Prakash Ambedkar, leader of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), sees a glimmer of hope amid a streak of defeats since 2004. The VBA decided to contest alone in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections due to unresolved infighting among Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents over seat sharing. Ambedkar accused the MVA of sidelining minority candidates from the LS elections. “Clear signs of match-fixing between Congress, Shiv Sena, and BJP are emerging, with weaker candidates being fielded and covert ties being exposed, such as Nana Patole’s withdrawal from the Bhandara-Gondiya seat,” explained Ambedkar, elaborating on his decision to go solo. He added, “They (Congress) have sidelined Muslim candidates not only in Akola but throughout the state. Muslims, Christians, and Jains. Now, is there any distinction between MVA and Mahayuti?” Ambedkar remains hopeful that Muslims will support him despite Congress nominating Patil. VBA emphasises Patil’s ties to VHP and RSS in talks with Muslim leaders. Ambedkar also aims for Maratha votes through his connection with Manoj Jarange-Patil. In 2019, he contested from Akola and Solapur but lost, despite previous wins in 1998 and 1999. In the 2019 General Election, VBA, allied with AIMIM, impacted Congress and NCP candidates in nine Lok Sabha seats. Poll analysts suggest that Prakash Ambedkar’s VBA has the potential to make a substantial impact on the vote share of opposition alliance partners, citing figures from the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Vidarbha. “In many constituencies of Maharashtra, the combined vote share of the VBA and Congress surpasses that of the BJP. In the past, Congress leaders have pointed fingers at the VBA for defeats on several seats by narrow margins, which could have otherwise swung in their favour, they have alleged. Some of the congress leaders even today accuse the VBA of covertly aiding the BJP in both parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2019. However, all attention is focused on one question: While the VBA may significantly influence the vote share of both the BJP and Congress, will it secure victory and secure a seat in Parliament as it has done before,?” said Mayur Ayare, a poll analyst and a teacher of political science from Nagpur. VBA’s past performance in Vidarbha In 2014, Ambedkar secured 2,38,776 (14.28 per cent) votes in the Akola Lok Sabha constituency, a figure that increased by about 40,000 votes in 2019, reaching 2,78,848 votes. Similarly, in Bhandara-Gondia, a BRP-BMS candidate garnered a voter share of 0.16 per cent in 2014, whereas a VBA candidate in 2019 secured a vote share of 3.68 per cent. In Ramtek, BRP-BMS candidate Sandeep Nandeshwar received 2,640 votes in 2014, but in 2019, VBA’s Kiran Rodge received 36,340 votes, marking a significant jump of almost 34,000 votes. Mohan Rathod of BRP-BMS secured 22,143 votes in 2014 in Yavatmal-Washim, whereas Vanchit’s Pravin Pawar garnered 94,228 votes in 2019. Describing Vanchit’s performance in 2019 as exceptional, Ambedkar said: “I am very sure that this time around VBA will come out not only ‘changing the dynamics of the voting pattern’ in this Lok Sabha election but also emerge as a stronger party than before.” Sanjay Patil, a Mumbai-based researcher and an expert in urban politics and elections, said, The VBA’s vote share surged from 2014 to 2019, yet converting this into seats is key. Some VBA supporters feel uncertain, sparking talk of a potential VBA-Congress alliance. However, there’s concern about vote polarization and division, especially with the Congress fielding a candidate linked to the RSS. Winning seats, not just boosting vote shares, is the ultimate measure of success.
20 April,2024 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghThis time, it wasn’t a sea of saffron, but white kurtas and beards that descended on Matoshree. About 60 Muslims from Jogeshwari and Versova met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday. The meeting, an initiative of Jogeshwari corporator Raju Pednekar, saw an interesting exchange of views. Thackeray made it clear that he was a Hindu, but his Hindutva wasn’t that of the BJP, related RTI activist Mansoor Darvesh. “We believe in insaniyat [humanity]; in taking everyone along,” the former CM said. This election was to save the Constitution and secularism, he told the delegation. He reminded the Muslims that his father Sena chief Bal Thackeray had permitted a Sunni ijtema to be held just behind his house when the Sena was in power in 1997. The Intelligence Bureau had cautioned Thackeray then, saying it could be dangerous, given the historical animosity between him and Muslims. However, the Sena founder had dismissed their fears. On their part, the Muslims told him that they appreciated his work during COVID, and also his refusal to compromise with the BJP. “Sanjay Raut even went to jail, but you didn’t bend,” businessman Iqbal Chunawala told him. Riyaz Bhamla, businessman and social worker, thanked Thackeray for sanctioning funds for the upgradation of the Oshiwara municipal maternity home, a project taken up by Pednekar. As CM, Thackeray had inaugurated the project. “The new hospital will be a boon to us,” Bhamla told him. There were some issues that the delegation raised with him: the lack of Muslim candidates this time (“You should have come earlier,” was the reply); the fear that Sena candidates for whom the Muslims would campaign would later defect to the BJP (“I’ll make them take a vow in public that they won’t”); the absence of Sena programmes in Muslim areas (“I’ll set up a committee for this”). Thackeray turned down their request to hold a rally in Jogeshwari for his candidate Amol Kirtikar, saying he was to tour the state, but assured them that his son Aaditya would come to the area. He asked the delegation to attend the last rally of the MVA which would be held in Mumbai on May 17. Incidentally, Amol Kirtikar is the son of Gajanan Kirtikar, whose name featured in the Srikrishna Commission report on the 92-93 riots. Kirtikar had led a rally to the police station which later turned violent, according to the Commission’s report, which described this as the first major violent incident of the 1993 phase of the riots in Jogeshwari. In 2008, Kirtikar was acquitted by a special court handling riots cases. But none of this featured in Thursday’s meeting. The delegation was charmed by the former CM’s “humility”. “He listened to us carefully,” said Bhamla. Darvesh told him, “Election or no election, we must keep meeting.” Chunawala recalled the time when a Sena mayor was elected with the help of the Muslim League in 1973. “It seems those days are back,” he told Thackeray. The latter responded by saying that wherever he travels, he finds Muslims supporting him wholeheartedly.
20 April,2024 07:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Jyoti PunwaniThe Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) and Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) have endorsed activist and filmmaker Ashoke Pandit’s name for the Mumbai North West constituency. These organisations have written a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard. The IMPPA is said to be the largest, oldest, and most esteemed producers’ association in India. Pandit, who is the member of the executive committee has also previously served as the body’s senior vice-president and vice-president. The members associated with the body claim that he has been a strong voice for the Indian film industry working for the welfare of filmmakers and artistes. During the pandemic, Pandit had conducted relief efforts, including fundraising initiatives and facilitating vaccination drives for industry members. It may be noted that Pandit has also been advocating for the rights and welfare of the Kashmiri Pandit community. “Ashoke-ji's passion for the environment and his dedication to preserving open spaces and gardens are commendable. By working closely with citizens, he mobilises community support for the conservation of gardens and open spaces. Through awareness campaigns, public meetings, and collaborative initiatives, he fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents, encouraging them to actively participate in protecting these valuable resources. Ashoke-ji has selflessly dedicated his life for the welfare of all human beings and he has always gone the extra mile for anyone in need and therefore we at IMPPA wholeheartedly endorse the name of Pandit-ji for the candidature of Member of Parliament for the Mumbai North West constituency in the upcoming general elections. We are sure that your kind self shall do the needful in the matter at the earliest and oblige,” stated the letter written to CM Eknath Shinde by IMPPA President Abhay Sinha. Kuku Kohli from IFTDA has written to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis recommending the name of Pandit. IFTDA in its letter has also claimed that it has more than 10,000 member directors/assistant directors associated with it and is the leading association in the whole of India. There have been several speculations and discussions in political circles about who will be Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NDA candidate for the Mumbai North West seat. It was also speculated that said actor Govinda Ahuja who joined Eknath Shinde faction recently might get the ticket from North West but it does not seem that he will be fielded. Speculations of Marathi actor Sharad Ponkshe and Ravindra Waikar to contest from Mumbai North West have fizzled out. With its cosmopolitan character, the voters who are Marathi (37.2%), Muslim (19.3%), North Indian (18.3%), and Gujarati/Marwadi (12.4%) play a crucial role in this constituency. Besides, the constituency also has its share of South Indians (5.6%), Christians (2.8%), Punjabis (1.3%) and Sindhis (1%). The Mumbai North West constituency has six Assembly segments, which includes Andheri East, Versova, Andheri West, Jogeshwari East, Dindoshi and Goregaon. Of the six constituencies, three are with BJP , two with Shiv Sena UBT and one with Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction where Ravindra Waikar of UBT had switched sides and joined Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction.
20 April,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavThe Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency has the most first-time voters in the city—20,519, including two in the transgender category. The seat also boasts the highest number of female first-time voters, with its Borivli Assembly segment alone accounting for 1,851. Mumbai Suburban district has witnessed a surge in new voter registrations, with 75,199 individuals getting onboard to exercise their franchise for the first time. Mumbai City district has a total of 23,196 first-time voters. The Mumbai Suburban district comprises four Parliamentary constituencies and a part of the Mumbai South Central seat. The district also comprises 26 Vidhan Sabha seats. An official from Mumbai Suburban district collector’s officer told mid-day, “We have run various programmes under the SVEEP [Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation] committee to encourage the youth so that they register as voters. The number of first-time voters registered this time in the district is significant. It is not possible to give exact statistics about newly registered first-time voters with respect to demographics as the census did not take place due to the pandemic, but the number is quite healthy.” The official added that the surge in new voter registrations indicates a growing interest and participation in the democratic process among the youth and first-time voters in the region. “It also reflects a sense of responsibility and awareness among the citizens towards their role in shaping the future of the country,” he said. Mumbai North Central has the second highest number of first-time voters—16,837, followed by Mumbai North East (16,768) and North West (16,529). The two Vidhan Sabha seats from the South Central Lok Sabha constituency that fall in the Mumbai Suburban district have 4,546 registered first-time voters while the four in the City district have 7,076 in total. The Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat has 11,097 first-time voters.
20 April,2024 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariA 57-year-old woman and her four-year-old grandson were crushed to death under the wheel of a water tanker, while the driver fled from the scene in Virar West on Friday afternoon. The driver Jeet Narayan Jaiswal, a resident of Virar, is yet to be arrested by Arnala police. Local eyewitnesses told mid-day that the baby Vivaan Yadav tragically died on the spot, while his grandmother, Amravati Yadav, was in distress and fighting for survival after the accident. However, despite her critical condition, no one stepped forward to take her to a nearby hospital. Also, the ambulance arrived at the spot after one hour. “I was passing by the accident scene when I noticed chaos on the road. So, I stopped the vehicle and learned that a baby and a woman were trapped under the wheel of a water tanker. People told me that the accident took place nearly 30 minutes before I reached there,” said Purushottam Singh, a resident of Virar. “People kept calling an ambulance but it arrived after more than one hour, and the cops reached 40–50 minutes after the accident,” said Singh. “My grandson died on the spot and his grandmother was gasping for air and lying in a pool of blood. After the ambulance arrived, she was rushed to Sanjeevani Hospital but was declared dead on arrival,” said Lal Bahadur Yadav, husband of the deceased, who runs an autorickshaw. The baby’s uncle, Arun Yadav, is a solution engineer in a cement company. “We all used to live in Laljipada, Kandivli but shifted to Virar six months ago after I bought a flat here. My mother would escort my nephew from school to home and it would take hardly 10 minutes of walk,” Arun told mid-day. “As usual, on Friday, my mother went to bring my nephew from his school and they were coming back home. Both of them were walking on the footpath near our society when the water tanker driver crushed them under the wheel. The tanker was fully loaded and the child died on the spot,” Arun said. “My mother was struggling to survive but none of the onlookers pulled her out, otherwise she would have survived. In Virar, people are not even safe on the footpath,” Arun added. A security guard of the society, where the accident took place, said, “One tanker was already inside the society's premises to unload water. The other tanker entered the society only after the first one drove out. I don’t know how the accident took place, but the tanker driver was reversing and dragged them for a few meters before it stopped near the gate.” No MV Act in FIR A team of Arnala police conducted panchnama at the crime spot and registered an FIR under sections 304-A, 279, 337, and 338 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). On being questioned about the absence of the MV Act inspector, Vijay Patil said, “The driver was reversing, so the MV Act will not be added to this FIR. If required, we will add a relevant section of MV Act in the charge sheet.” 57Age of the grandmother
20 April,2024 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaWomen advocates who were forced to take a break or say goodbye to litigation altogether post motherhood, have reason to cheer. A day care centre or creche was opened recently. The facility, which is located on the ground floor of the Central Telegraph Office (CTO) in Fort opposite the High Court, was inaugurated earlier this month by the Honourable Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. This centre, conceptualised and designed by Justice Revati Mohite-Dere, will provide day care services initially for the children of the members of the Bar Associations practicing in the High Court at Bombay (Principal Seat) and staff members of the Bombay High Court. Sources said, “Guidelines are already framed, just some Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are still to be put in place. The space though is fully completed and we are ready to go operational, a decision will be taken soon.” The day care will function from 10 am to 5.30 pm, on days the court is working and will admit kids aged 1 to 8 years. The approximate monthly charges, the court website says, is R2,500 for high court staff and R4,000 for advocates. Art ’n’ heart What strikes you first about the air-conditioned, 1,000 sq feet space is its effective use of colour and facilities, with a compact kitchen/pantry for preparation / warming of food, sleeping facility for children, activity and dining area. Basics like toilets are provided, there is a nanny and ayah, as part of the centre staff. There is a play area, too, for the children and the green lawn with a tree amidst it with Warli work on the wall is an eye-catcher. The centre emanates an easy-breezy vibe and pops of colour, like art depicting monkeys swinging of vines bring a chirpy, cheery sentiment and innocent energy to the place. The green scene is perfect The genesis Several hurrahs are being heard across, especially from organisations like the Interactive Lawyers Association for Women (ILAW), which claims that they were one of the first, “to push for a creche, as we have a lot of women advocates who had to take a long break or discontinue working for lack of such a facility”. Anita Shekhar Castellino, advocate, said that a creche “was inaugurated a few years ago, but was not functional after that. We also had the COVID-19 pandemic that brought many initiatives to a screeching halt. We noted that many young women advocates would drop out of the profession or take a long break after marriage, especially after having a child as there was no safe place to leave your child especially one space which was easily accessible during working hours.” Some reports stated that this space was earmarked for a day care but was turned into a documents storage room. This has fortunately gone back to what it was originally meant for: child care. Many women reminded that the Central govt had amended the Maternity Benefit Act making it mandatory for companies with more than 50 employees to have creche/day care facilities, to encourage women to continue working and become self-reliant. That lent more strength to the efforts to make this place functional. After a journey with a few obstacles and speed breakers, the venue is ready and will welcome its young guests, infants and children very soon. 8 yrsAge limit of the children at creche
20 April,2024 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharADVERTISEMENT
