Western Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will carry out a 13-hour major block between Grant Road and Mumbai Central on January 3-4. An official statement said that the block was being undertaken for essential maintenance and construction work over the weekend. It will affect train operations between Grant Road and Mumbai Central stations on Saturday and Sunday, officials said. 13-hour block for re-girdering of bridge A 13-hour major block will be in effect on both UP and Down Slow lines to facilitate the re-girdering of Bridge No. 5. The block will start at 23:00 hrs on January 3 and continue until 12:00 hrs on January 4, 2026. During this period UP Slow line trains will operate on UP Fast lines between Mumbai Central and Churchgate and Down Slow line trains will run on Down Fast lines between Churchgate and Mahim, the statement said. It said that due to platform unavailability or inadequate length, trains will not stop at certain stations including Mahalaxmi, Prabhadevi, Matunga Road (no platform), Lower Parel and Mahim (short platform). Some suburban trains may be cancelled, while others will be short-terminated or reversed at Bandra/Dadar stations, the officials said. 7.5-hour block for ROB dismantling at Prabhadevi The statement said that simultaneously, a 7-hour 30-minute block will be undertaken on the Down Slow line for dismantling the Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Prabhadevi. The block will run from 23:30 hrs to 07:00 hrs. During this time, the passengers will be allowed to travel in the opposite direction to reach affected stations, it further said. - Passengers from Churchgate aiming for Mahalaxmi, Lower Parel, and Prabhadevi can alight at Dadar and take UP Slow line trains on the same ticket, officials said. - Passengers heading to Matunga Road and Mahim can alight at Bandra and travel on UP Slow line trains in the opposite direction. The Western Railway's Mumbai Division has requested local train passengers to plan their journey in advance and some expect delays during the period. It has advised check train schedules during the block period. Alternative travel arrangements are advised to avoid inconvenience.
02 January,2026 07:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDays before BMC Election 2026, former corporator and Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Irfan Khan on Friday withdrew his nomination from Govandi’s Ward 138 and announced his full support for the Congress candidate Sufiyan Vanu, reported the PTI. The BMC elections are scheduled to be held on 15 January. Speaking to supporters and party workers, Khan said that the decision was taken after careful thought and in the larger interest of local residents. He said the future development of the ward was the key factor behind his move, according to the PTI. Praise for Congress candidate Khan said the Congress had fielded a well-educated, experienced and capable candidate who understands local and grassroots issues. He described Sufiyan Vanu as a visionary and hardworking leader committed to public service. Congress candidate welcomes support Sufiyan Vanu thanked Irfan Khan and his supporters for the backing. He said the support has strengthened his resolve to work honestly, transparently and with dedication for the people of Govandi, as per the PTI. Leaders from NCP factions in Beed unite during Ajit Pawar's visit Meanwhile, leaders from both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) showed signs of unity during Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s visit to Beed district ahead of Maharashtra local body elections. Ajit Pawar was in Beed on Thursday to felicitate winners of the recent municipal council elections, the results of which were declared on December 21. Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction won municipal council elections in Beed, Parli Vaijnath and Dharur. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) secured victory in Majalgaon, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won in Georai and Ambajogai. At a public event, Beed MP Bajrang Sonawane from the NCP (SP) and MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar shared the stage with Ajit Pawar. Kshirsagar was also seen seeking the deputy chief minister’s blessings, a gesture that drew attention amid the ongoing political divide. After the programme, MP Sonawane also travelled in Ajit Pawar’s helicopter, further underlining the show of bonhomie between leaders of the two factions. During his visit, Ajit Pawar also inaugurated several development projects in the district. Addressing the gathering, he said that Parli MLA and former state minister Dhananjay Munde could not attend the event as he was on vacation. (With inputs from PTI)
02 January,2026 07:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the BMC Election 2026, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray jointly presented the alliance’s vision for Mumbai to party candidates on Friday. The two leaders were seen sharing the stage at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar area of Mumbai. Aaditya Thackeray said that a detailed manifesto would be released within the next two to three days. Affordable housing, financial support for women, and stronger public services are among the key promises made by the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance ahead of the Mumbai civic elections scheduled for January 15. ‘Swabhiman Nidhi’ for domestic helps and Koli women According to the PTI, the alliance announced a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 under a proposed ‘Swabhiman Nidhi’ scheme for women working as domestic helps and for Koli women. The scheme is on the lines of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides financial support to eligible women. Subsidised food through 'Maa Saheb' kitchens The Thackeray cousins also announced the launch of ‘Maa Saheb’ kitchens, named after their grandmother Meenatai Thackeray. These kitchens will offer breakfast and lunch at Rs 10, similar to the Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme, as per the PTI. Protecting Mumbai’s Marathi identity Aaditya Thackeray said that the alliance is committed to protecting the “Mumbainess of Mumbai” and ensuring the city remains rooted in the Marathi identity. He added that the alliance would work towards affordable housing for Marathi people if voted to power. Property Tax relief and parking reforms The alliance promised to waive property tax on homes up to 700 sq ft. It also proposed changes in parking rules to ensure one parking space per flat in redeveloped buildings. Public Transport and health infra push Aaditya Thackeray accused the current ruling dispensation of weakening Mumbai’s public transport system, including the BEST bus service, as per the PTI. He said the alliance would reduce the minimum bus fare to Rs 5, introduce new buses, and expand routes across the city. On healthcare, he announced plans to set up five new medical colleges in civic-run hospitals and vowed to oppose any attempt to privatise public health facilities. Cancer hospital and early detection Amit Thackeray said a dedicated cancer hospital would be established in Mumbai. A cancer survivor himself, he stressed the importance of early detection for faster and more effective treatment. Education, childcare and animal welfare On education, Aaditya Thackeray said BMC-run Mumbai Public Schools would offer education from junior kindergarten to Class 12. Amit Thackeray announced that creches would be set up in every assembly segment to support working parents. The alliance also promised pet parks, veterinary clinics and pet ambulances across Mumbai, the news agency reported. Support for gig workers The alliance said gig workers would be offered interest-free loans of Rs 25,000 to purchase e-bikes, helping improve livelihoods and sustainable transport. Before the presentation, Aaditya Thackeray met MNS president Raj Thackeray at his residence, signalling continued coordination within the alliance. (with PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSix Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates have been elected unopposed to the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) after the scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination papers, the party claimed on Friday. Party’s Bhiwandi city chief Harshal Patil said Paresh Chandrakant Chowgule, Sumit Purushottam Patil, Ashwini Sunny Futankar, Deepa Deepak Madhvi, Abushah Lallan Sheikh, and Bharti Hanuman Chaudhary were declared elected unopposed for the January 15 polls. Similar trends have been reported in the neighbouring Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), where the Mahayuti alliance has secured several seats without a contest. “With these unopposed wins, the BJP has officially opened its account in the Bhiwandi civic polls, positioning itself strongly against the opposition,” Patil said. Formal certificates of election will be issued by returning officers on polling day. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena claimed that five of its candidates have been elected unopposed to the 131-member Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). A party spokesperson said Jaishree Phatak, Sukhada More, Ram Repale, Ekta Bhoir, and Shital Dhamale won from the Wagle Estate region ahead of the civic corporation polls. Phatak is the wife of former Member of Legislative Council (MLA) Ravi, an ally of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while More is married to the state secretary of Shiv Sena and former Thane mayor. Poll authorities are yet to confirm these developments. Thane civic polls 2026: Mahayuti will win at least 100 out of 131 seats, says BJP Spokesperson BJP Spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said the party is poised to dominate the municipal corporation polls on January 15, similar to its performance in recent municipal council elections. “The Mahayuti will win at least 100 seats in the 131-seat Thane Municipal Corporation. BJP will emerge as the number one party,” he said. BJP Thane unit chief Sandeep Lele stated the party expects to win at least 32 of the 40 seats it is contesting in the city. Addressing internal dissent over ticket distribution, he added that the party does not label protesting workers as “rebels.” MLA Sanjay Kelkar said that 85 percent of activists who filed nominations against official candidates had been convinced to withdraw. (With PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 06:31 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the next Mumbai mayor will come from the ruling Mahayuti alliance and will be both Hindu and Marathi, reported the PTI. Fadnavis' remarks come amid growing political debate over who should hold the city’s top civic post ahead of the BMC Election 2026. Responding to a question, CM Fadnavis said, “The Mumbai mayor will be from the Mahayuti. The Mumbai mayor will be a Hindu and a Marathi person.” The issue gained momentum after Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam said his party would not allow any 'Khan' to become Mumbai’s mayor. The statement drew strong criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Raj Thackeray’s stand on Marathi mayor After recently joining hands with Uddhav Thackeray, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said that Mumbai’s mayor would be Marathi and would belong to their alliance. His statement added to the political sparring among parties contesting the civic elections. By stressing that the mayor will be both Hindu and Marathi, CM Fadnavis has further sharpened the BJP-led alliance’s stance, intensifying the campaign battle as the BMC polls draw closer, sources said. Remarks made during metro interaction The Chief Minister made these comments while speaking to the ‘Mumbai Tak’ news channel during a special interaction titled ‘Mahachavadi’. He was travelling on Mumbai’s underground Metro line at the time and answered questions on various political issues. Clarification on Kripashankar Singh’s comment Addressing questions about former minister Kripashankar Singh, Fadnavis clarified that Singh’s reported remarks were not related to Mumbai. He said Singh is not an official party spokesperson. Singh had earlier said efforts would be made to elect a north Indian, Hindi-speaking mayor in the Mira Bhayandar municipal corporation, which falls under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the BMC, will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for the following day. Fadnavis hails BJP's local polls performance Meanwhile, CM Fadnavis on Friday said the BJP has received an unprecedented mandate in the elections to municipal councils, winning 130 president posts and more than 3,000 councillor seats across the state. Addressing party workers in Satara while felicitating newly elected presidents and councillors of municipal councils, he said that the BJP's tally was double that of all other recognised parties combined. (with PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 06:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhed of the BMC Election 2026, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Friday asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to register a criminal case against State Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar for an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), reported the IANS. In a letter to State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, Sapkal accused the Narwekar of misusing his constitutional position to influence the municipal corporation election process, the news agency reported. The controversy relates to the nomination process for the Municipal Corporation elections in the Colaba constituency, covering Wards 225, 226 and 227. Sapkal alleged that Narwekar was personally present at the nomination centre around 5 pm and used police personnel to intimidate Opposition candidates who were filing nominations against his family members, as per the IANS. BJP tickets to speaker’s relatives Rahul Narwekar’s brother Makrand Narwekar, sister Gauravi Shivalkar, and sister-in-law Harshada Narwekar have filed their nomination papers as BJP candidates from the same constituency, according to the IANS. Sapkal claimed that the Speaker pressured officials to delay or reject Opposition nominations, thereby obstructing the legal electoral process. ‘Mockery of democracy’, says Sapkal “For a person holding such a high constitutional office to obstruct the electoral process is a mockery of democracy,” Sapkal said in his letter to the Election Commission, reported the IANS. Alleged misuse of govt machinery The Congress leader further alleged large-scale misuse of government resources, claiming that around 70 officers and employees from the speaker’s office were involved in campaigning for Narwekar’s relatives, as per the IANS. He demanded disciplinary action and criminal cases against the officials for violating service rules and election norms. Call for probe Raising concerns about the fairness of the upcoming polls, Sapkal urged the SEC to take strict action. He also called for an immediate investigation into the conduct of Speaker Rahul Narwekar and the police officials present at the nomination centres, stressing that the Election Commission must ensure free, fair and transparent elections in Maharashtra. AAP alleges poll process violation in Colaba The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged serious irregularities in the BMC Election 2026 nomination process in Mumbai’s Colaba area, accusing Maharashtra Assembly Speaker and BJP MLA Rahul Narwekar of interfering in the electoral process and misusing official machinery. Addressing a press conference, AAP leaders claimed that the party’s Ward 227 candidate, Margaret Da Costa, was unlawfully prevented from filing her nomination papers despite being present inside the Returning Officer’s (RO) premises well before the stipulated deadline of 5 pm. The party described the incident as a “grave subversion of democratic norms” and alleged that due process was deliberately ignored. (with IANS inputs)
02 January,2026 05:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Police have arrested a 25-year-old man for playing the provocative song “Kashmir Banega Pakistan” at high volume near a temple in Chinchoti in Palghar, sparking outrage among residents. According to the FIR registered at Naigaon Police Station, Sub-Inspector Pankaj Kilje, while patrolling the area in a private vehicle around 1.30 p.m., heard the anti-national song blaring from Ruhann Hair Cutting Salon in Karamdpada, located opposite the Durga Mata Mandir. The song, streamed via Bluetooth from a mobile phone to the salon’s loudspeaker and audible on the street, was considered a serious threat to India’s sovereignty, unity, and public peace, with the potential to incite enmity and communal tension. Upon entering the salon, SI Kilje found two individuals: Guljari Raju Sharma (51), a local resident and salon worker, and Abdul Rahman Sadruddin Shah (25), originally from Gauri Sirajpur village in Lalganj, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. Investigations revealed that Shah was streaming the song from the YouTube app on his Techno Spark Go 2021 phone. Locals, angered by the incident, detained Shah and handed him over to the police. The content of the song was subsequently verified on his device by authorities. The incident caused considerable tension among residents in the busy Chinchoti neighbourhood, given its proximity to the Durga Mata Mandir. Following the verification, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Shah under BNS Section 197(1)(d) for acts prejudicial to national integration. Shah was arrested immediately, while no charges were reported against Sharma, the salon worker. Police have stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities emphasised that acts threatening national unity or inciting public unrest would not be tolerated. This case highlights growing concerns over the circulation of provocative content in public spaces and the need for vigilance to maintain communal harmony, particularly in sensitive neighbourhoods. 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.
02 January,2026 05:19 PM IST | Palghar | IANSShiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Spokesperson Anand Dubey has urged Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan to immediately drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the team, news agency ANI reported. Many critics have voiced their opinion that Mustafizur Rahman, who was acquired by KKR for a hefty Rs 9.2 crore, should not be allowed to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season. These statements have come after repeated violent incidents against religious minorities in Bangladesh. Speaking to ANI, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Spokesperson said that Bangladeshi players shouldn't be allowed to play on Indian soil in the IPL. He added that if KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan didn't remove Bangladesh player (Mustafizur), then he doesn't understand this nation's sentiments. "...Bangladeshi players shouldn't be allowed to play on Indian soil in the IPL... Pakistani and Bangladeshi players should be prohibited. They harbour hatred towards us for the murder of our Hindu brothers and sisters... Shah Rukh Khan should immediately remove that Bangladeshi cricketer from his team... If he doesn't do this even after all this uproar, it will prove that, while he lives in this country and earns money here, he doesn't understand this nation's sentiments," said Dubey. Recently, Congress and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge shared a post on his X account, slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its "Vichaar Parivaar" over the inclusion of a Bangladeshi Player in the IPL. He added that overseas players take part in the tournament because the Board of Control for Cricket in India) BCCI or IPL allows them. Kharge said that BJP leaders should be questioned on why BCCI is allowing Bangladesh players to participate in IPL, when they should be banned from the tournament. "The BJP and their 'Vichar Parivaar' are outraged over the inclusion of a Bangladeshi player in the IPL. If an overseas player is in the IPL, it is because the BCCI or the IPL rules allow him. Instead of blaming the franchise, shouldn't the BJP leaders ask why BCCI is allowing Bangladesh players to participate in IPL, when they should be banning it?" Kharge wrote. Kharge slammed BJP leaders while giving examples of India playing Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, and IPL matches or auctions shifted to Islamic countries during the Covid pandemic. "The same BJP leaders have no problem when India played with Pakistan soon after the Pahalgam attack. IPL shifted matches to Islamic countries during COVID. IPL auctions are held in Islamic countries. Instead of questioning franchisees, BJP stooges should be asking tough questions to the Home Minister as to why he is allowing the ICC and BCCI to function like this. For the BJP, "nationalism" appears only when it suits their politics," he added. (With ANI inputs)
02 January,2026 03:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPolitical tension in Mumbai has reached its peak as Friday marks the deadline for candidates to withdraw their nomination papers for the upcoming BMC elections 2026. Till 3.00 pm, candidates can pull out of the race. Major alliances scramble to control rebel damage Major political fronts, including the Thackeray-MNS alliance and the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition, are working frantically to pacify "rebel" members who have filed independent nominations after being denied official party tickets, reported IANS. Party leadership is making last-minute efforts to resolve internal discontent to avoid a split in the vote bank that could prove fatal in a closely contested election. CM Fadnavis, Dy CM Shinde intervene to quell rebellion Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already swung into action to pacify rebels, and so has Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to quell the rebellion, reported IANS. Thackeray brothers reach out separately to rebels Similarly, the Thackeray brothers have separately launched communication with rebels, asking them to withdraw their nominations. The alliance between Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is facing significant internal heat. Independents challenge official alliance candidates in nine wards Several loyalists have filed independent papers against official alliance candidates in at least nine wards. In ward no 95, Shiv Sena(UBT) candidate is Hari Shashtri (party rebel Chandrashekhar Wingankar), ward no 106 MNS nominee Satyavan Dalvi (Shiv Sena rebel Sagar Devore), ward no 114 Shiv Sena (UBT) nominee Rajol Patil (MNS rebel Anisha Majgaonkar), ward no 169 Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Pravina Morajkar (party rebel Kamalakar Naik) and ward no 193 Shiv Sena(UBT) candidate Hemangi Woralikar (party rebel Suryakant Koli), reported IANS. More rebel challenges in UBT and MNS strongholds In ward no 196 Shiv Sena-UBT nominee Padmaja Chemburkar (party rebel Sangita Jagtap), ward no 202 Shiv Sena UBT nominee Shraddha Jadhav (party rebel Vijay Indulkar), ward no 203 Shiv Sena(UBT) nominee Bharati Pednekar (party rebel Divya Badve and ward no 197 MNS nominee Rachana Salvi (Shiv Sena (UBT) rebel Sharvani Desai), reported IANS. BJP nominees challenged by rebels across Mumbai Similarly, the BJP is also dealing with a wave of "friendly fight" in several key wards, where established workers have revolted against the party's choice of nominees. In ward number 177, BJP nominee Kalpana Kothari's nomination is challenged by the party rebel Nehal Shah, ward number 205 (BJP nominee Varsha Shinde) (rebel Janhvi Rane), ward number 155 (BJP nominee Varsha Shetye) (rebels Jayshree Kharat, Harsha Salve, and Sashikala Kamble), ward number 225 (BJP nominee Harshita Narwekar) faces challenges from rebels Kamalakar Dalvi and Sujata Sanap, in ward number 226, BJP nominee Makarand Narwekar is being opposed by rebel Anil Patil, ward number 7, BJP nominee Ganesh Khankar (Shiv Sena rebel Bhupendra Kashinath, ward number 8, BJP nominee Yogita Patil (rebel Amruta Koli) and ward number 25, BJP nominee Nisha Parulekar (rebel Shekhar Shere), reported IANS. Further, in ward number 182, BJP nominee Rajan Parkar (rebel Shraddha Patil), ward number 54, BJP nominee Vilas Avasare (rebel Gajendra Dhumal), ward number 200, BJP nominee Sandeep Pansande (rebel Gajendra Dhumale), ward number 60, BJP nominee Sayali Kulkarni (rebel Divya Dhole), and ward number 64, BJP nominee Sarita Rajapure (rebel Maya Rajput), reported IANS. In ward number 173, Shiv Sena candidate Puja Kamble faces a challenge from rebel Vaishali Pagare, reported IANS. As the 3.00 pm clock ticks down, the final landscape of the BMC elections 2026 will become clear, revealing whether party loyalty or individual rebellion will dominate the ballot box on January 15. (With inputs from PTI)
02 January,2026 01:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday attacked the Mahayuti government, saying that BJP leader Kripashankar Singh’s assertion that the next Mayor of Mumbai will be from the North Indian/Hindi-speaking community is not an isolated comment but is the "official stance" of the party to dilute the Marathi identity of the city and is a direct attack on Maharashtra’s regional pride, reported news agency IANS. Saamana editorial warns of backlash over ‘non-Marathi mayor’ The Thackeray camp, in an editorial in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamana', titled “Traitors, Shame on your lives! Mumbai’s Mayor will only be Marathi', warned that any attempt to "impose" a non-Marathi mayor on the city would trigger a backlash similar to the historic struggle for the state’s formation. "Mumbai belongs to the Marathi manush emotionally, geographically, and historically,” it said, reported IANS. The editorial used sharp rhetoric to remind the BJP of Mumbai’s history. It stated that Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, earned through the sacrifice of 106 martyrs during the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. "No outsider can stake a claim over Mumbai. This state has already proven that the Mayor of Mumbai will be, and must be, a Marathi Manoos,” the editorial asserted, reported IANS. ‘Fake Shiv Sena’ accused of silence and submission “The BJP has finally spat out its bitterness through Kripashankar's mouth..., but the 'fake' Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) remains silent, licking the boots of Amit Shah. They claim it is Singh's 'personal opinion' to hide their own cowardice. Shame on your lives!" said the editorial. It accused the current state leadership of "tucking their tails" instead of defending the pride of Maharashtra, alleging that they have surrendered Mumbai’s interests to their political masters in Delhi. Kripashankar Singh termed ‘pawn’ in larger BJP plan The Thackeray camp alleged that Kripashankar Singh is merely a "pawn" in a larger scheme orchestrated by the BJP leadership in Delhi. It claimed there is a systematic conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and dilute the influence of the Marathi-speaking population in the city. Addressing Singh’s clarification that he meant a "Hindu Mayor", the editorial dismissed the explanation as a cover-up. “Mumbai has always had Hindu mayors, but they were Marathi Hindus. The BJP doesn't want the Marathi Manoos; they only want to protect their vote bank under the guise of religion," the editorial noted, reported IANS. BJP cannot ‘buy’ Mumbai, says Saamana The editorial asserted that the BJP cannot "buy" Mumbai with money and that the city's soul cannot be traded for votes. It urged BJP leaders to visit the Hutatma Smarak (Martyrs' Memorial) at Flora Fountain to understand the blood-soaked history of the city before making such claims. The editorial claimed there is a deliberate plan by the BJP to systematically reduce the influence of Marathi Manoos in the upcoming BMC elections 2026, reported IANS. ‘Mumbai will remain with sons of the soil,’ says UBT Sena The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said that the citizens of Mumbai would teach a lesson to those playing with the city’s identity in the upcoming BMC elections 2026, reiterating that the reins of Mumbai will remain in the hands of the "sons of the soil" and any dreams of a "Hindi-speaking Mayor" would be crushed by the people. (With inputs from IANS)
02 January,2026 12:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSapte, who had sought to contest from ward number 25 (Kalwa), missed out after the seat was allotted to the BJP under the seat-sharing arrangement, reported news agency PTI. The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has entered into an alliance with the BJP for the January 15 Thane civic polls. A staunch loyalist of the late Anand Dighe, Shinde’s mentor and an immensely popular leader in the undivided Shiv Sena, Sapte led a protest march from Kalwa to Dighe’s memorial on Thursday. According to the PTI, he accused the BJP of taking Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde by surprise and using “blackmail” tactics to secure the Kalwa seat at the eleventh hour. Sapte was earlier elected from Kalwa for four consecutive terms. The nomination process for the elections began on December 23 and ended on December 30. While January 2 (Friday) is the last date for the withdrawal of nominations, the final list of candidates will be published on January 3. Elections to 29 municipal corporations in the state, including the Thane civic body, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the following day. Mahayuti fields Muslim candidates to woo voters ahead of January 15 polls Ahead of the January 15 civic elections in Maharashtra’s Jalna city, the Mahayuti allies, the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, are making a concerted push to court Muslim voters by fielding candidates from the community, according to the news agency PTI. Marking a shift from its earlier approach, the BJP has nominated four Muslim candidates in the city. Political observers link this change in strategy partly to the influence of former Congress MLA Kailash Gorantyal, who recently joined the BJP and has been actively working to consolidate Muslim support. While the Mahayuti partners were initially expected to contest the elections jointly, the alliance fell apart at the eleventh hour following disagreements over seat-sharing. The Jalna Municipal Corporation comprises 65 electoral wards. As per PTI, Muslim voters account for nearly 20 to 25 per cent of the electorate in Jalna and wield decisive influence in wards 2, 4, 10 and 11. Among the other Mahayuti partners, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has fielded seven Muslim candidates, while the NCP, headed by Ajit Pawar, has nominated 17 candidates from the community. On the other side, the opposition Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), is contesting the elections as an alliance. The Congress has fielded 51 candidates, including 19 Muslims. Shiv Sena (UBT), despite contesting 13 seats, has not allotted any tickets to leaders from the community, while the NCP (SP) has nominated two Muslim candidates. Meanwhile, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has decided to contest 17 seats in Muslim-dominated areas of Jalna. Its district president, Shaikh Majeed, said people are looking for an alternative and that AIMIM represents their aspirations. (With PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 11:57 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
