Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said the BJP is mistaken if it believes it can destroy his party, stating that Shiv Sena (UBT) is not merely a political organisation but an idea. Uddhav Thackeray shared the stage with his cousin and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray an event held to mark Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray's birth centenary. Party leaders from MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) including Aaditya Thackeray, Amit Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and others also attended the event which was held on Friday evening at the Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion area of central Mumbai. Addressing party workers, Uddhav Thackeray said that attempts were being made to erase the Thackeray name, but such efforts will not succeed. “The BJP is wrong if it thinks it can finish Shiv Sena (UBT). Shiv Sena (UBT) is not just a party, it is an idea,” Uddhav Thackeray said. साहेबांची जन्मशताब्दी | श्री षण्मुखानंद सभागृह, सायन, मुंबई - #LIVE https://t.co/O6261hA27Z — ShivSena - शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) January 23, 2026 Remarks come in after BMC polls His remarks came in days after the results for high-stake BMC Election 2026 were announced, where the BJP emerged as the single largest party by winning 89 seats in the 227-member civic body. With the support of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which won 29 seats, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance ended the Thackeray family’s three decades-long control over BMC. The Mumbai civic body is considered the richest in the country. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance put up a stronger-than-expected fight but failed to prevent the BJP-led alliance from crossing the majority mark. In the elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 65 seats, while the MNS, led by Raj Thackeray, secured six seats. Money power in polls Uddhav Thackeray also alleged that money power was used in the Mumbai civic polls, claiming that such practices were witnessed for the first time in the city’s municipal elections. Current political situation indecent: Raj Meanwhile, addressing the crowds on Friday, Raj Thackeray said that it might be better that Balasaheb Thackeray did not have to witness the current political climate. He described the present political situation as “indecent and disgusting”. Earlier, in a post on X, Raj Thackeray expressed his emotions in memory of Balasaheb Thackeray at the beginning of his birth centenary year. In his speech, Raj Thackeray shared a humorous anecdote reflecting the post-election political mood in Maharashtra. स्व. बाळासाहेबांची आज १०० वी जयंती. इतिहासात जन्म शताब्दी वर्ष अनेकांची साजरी झाली आहेत आणि होतील देखील, पण एखादी व्यक्ती हयात नसताना देखील ती लोकांच्या स्मृतीत रहावी, आणि त्या व्यक्तीने आज देखील एखाद्या प्रांताच्या राजकारणाला आणि समाजकारणाला आकार देत रहावं हे दुर्मिळ. हे फक्त… pic.twitter.com/iDRAjiYWSh — Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) January 23, 2026 He told the audience that Uddhav Thackeray had been unwell before the elections, but after the polls, the situation changed, leaving Raj Thackeray himself unwell. He then spoke about his family doctor, Dr Yadav, clarifying jokingly that despite the name, the doctor is Marathi and not from North India.
23 January,2026 11:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Police on Friday said that it has questioned actor Kamaal Khan in connection with the Oshiwara firing case and was further probing the matter. The police said it was further investigating the firing incident at Nalanda Society in Oshiwara. Two fired bullets were recovered from different floors of the building on Sunday. No injuries were reported in the incident, police said. Bullets found on two floors According to police officials, one bullet was found on the second floor and another on the fourth floor of Nalanda Society. The bullets were recovered from the residence of a writer-director and a struggling model. On the second floor, writer and director Neeraj Kumar Mishra resides along with Pratik Baid, who is a model. Police confirmed that used bullets were found at both locations. Actor’s house located nearby Police stated that Khan’s house is located close to Nalanda Society. During the investigation, officers recreated the scene of the firing to understand the direction from which the bullets were allegedly fired. Based on the recreation of the incident, police sources said they suspect that the shots may have been fired from the direction of Kamaal Khan’s bungalow. CCTV footage and forensic investigation The Oshiwara Police, along with the Crime Branch, checked several CCTV cameras in the surrounding area, including those near the society and the bungalow. The forensic team seized the used bullets for further examination. A police source said, “After recreating the scene, the police allegedly suspected that the bullet was fired from the Kamaal Khan bungalow. We also checked several CCTV cameras of the area, society and bungalow area.” Actor questioned by cops On Friday, the Oshiwara Police questioned Khan as part of the ongoing investigation. Confirming the development, DCP Dixit Gedam of Zone 9 told mid-day, “The actor Kamaal Khan is suspect in the firing case. We are further investigating it (the matter).” Police have said the investigation is still ongoing and no arrests have been made so far.
23 January,2026 10:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced that a door-to-door health check-up campaign titled ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Arogya Aaplya Daari’ will be launched by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The announcement came in on Bal Thackeray's birth centenary. An official statement said that the programme will begin in Mumbai and will later be extended to other parts of Maharashtra. Shinde said that patients in municipal hospitals will be provided zero-prescription services and cashless treatment facilities. The Shiv Sena also announced a series of public welfare programmes across Maharashtra to mark the birth centenary of party founder and Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray. The announcement was made Eknath Shinde at a press conference held at Balasaheb Bhavan in Mumbai on Thursday. Several senior leaders were present at the event, including Ministers Pratap Sarnaik and Uday Samant, Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Dr Neelam Gorhe, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Chairman Siddhesh Kadam, Shiv Sena General Secretary Rahul Shewale and party leader Sheetal Mhatre. Fort cleanliness campaign As part of environmental initiatives, the state will launch the ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Fort Cleanliness Campaign’ through the Pollution Control Board. The campaign will start with 11 forts that are included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list. RO water filters will be installed at forts, and efforts will be made to make them plastic-free. Organisations and volunteers participating in the campaign will receive an honorarium of Rs 1 lakh. Financial allocations Shinde also announced several financial allocations, including Rs 100 crore each for women’s self-help group empowerment, Marathi language promotion, and road safety campaigns. A special scheme for senior citizens, the ST pilgrimage travel scheme, will also be implemented. Additionally, 10,000 girl students will be trained in self-defence, and the School Education Department will organise essay writing, speech, painting and cartoon competitions. He said that efforts are underway to fulfil Balasaheb Thackeray’s dream of a slum-free Mumbai through agencies such as MHADA, CIDCO and MMRDA. The government aims to provide permanent housing to 40 lakh Mumbai residents. Urban civic welfare campaign The ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Urban Civic Welfare Campaign’ will be implemented across 29 municipal corporations and 394 municipal councils in the state. Municipal councils will receive Rs 1 crore each, while municipal corporations will receive Rs 3 crore each. A total budget of Rs 539 crore has been allocated for this initiative. Under this campaign, the top three municipal and municipal council schools will be honoured for excellence. Prize money will range from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, depending on the category. Eighteen schools from six administrative divisions will be selected. The aim of the programme is to improve school quality, infrastructure and healthy competition. Balasaheb gave voice to Hindutva and Marathi identity: Shinde Speaking on Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, Shinde said that he gave a strong voice to Hindutva and Marathi identity across the country. He added that Shiv Sena continues to work based on Balasaheb’s ideology and has grown into a strong grassroots-based party across Maharashtra.
23 January,2026 10:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA rake of the push-pull Amrit Bharat Express train on Friday reached Mumbai for 130 km/h trials, officials said. The trials are being conducted by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the train is being tested at a speed of 130 km/h, they said. The push-pull configuration means that the train has locomotives at both ends, allowing for better speed and quicker turnaround. Designed for long-distance and high-volume travel The Amrit Bharat Express is a long-distance, sleeper-class non-AC train service introduced by Indian Railways. It is designed to provide affordable, high-speed travel, especially during festive seasons and peak migration periods, when passenger demand is high, said the officials. The train is aimed at handling large volumes of passengers while ensuring comfort and speed on long routes.
23 January,2026 09:12 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarMumbai Police on Friday issued a list of traffic diversions and alternate routes for motorists around Dadar area in city ahead of the Republic Day 2026 parade. In a traffic notification, Mumbai Police said that on January 26, 2026, due to the Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park ground in Dadar, all adjoining roads shall be closed for vehicular traffic from 06:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs. In order to manage traffic, vehicular traffic on the said roads will be diverted temporarily. The police said that in order to prevent danger, obstructions and inconvenience to the public, some traffic diversions were being issued. The police said the following traffic management will be in place on January 26, 2026 from 06:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs, the traffic notification said. Road closed and one-way for vehicles N.C. Kelkar Road and Keluskar Road from L. J. Road Junction (Gadkari Junction) up to South and North junctions shall be closed for vehicular traffic. Keluskar Road South shall be one way for east-bound vehicular traffic. Traffic from Swatantra Veer Savarkar Road shall be allowed to come through this way. Right turn from Meenatai Thackeray statue on Keluskar Road North shall be one way for vehicular traffic proceeding towards the west. S. K. Bole Road shall be one way from Siddhivinayak Junction to Portuguese Church. Swatantra Veer Savarkar Road shall be closed for vehicular traffic from Siddhivinayak Junction to Yes Bank. Vehicular traffic proceeding from Siddhivinayak Junction through Swatantra Veer Savarkar Road shall take a right turn at S. K. Bole Road, take a left turn towards Portuguese Church, proceed through Gokhale Road, Gadkari Junction, L. J. Road, Raja Bade Chowk towards the western suburbs. Entry for vehicular traffic is restricted from Yes Bank Junction to Siddhivinayak Junction. Therefore, general public vehicles shall proceed by taking a left turn at Yes Bank Junction – Shivaji Park Road No. 5 – Pandurang Naik Road – right turn at Raja Bade Chowk – L. J. Road – Gadkari Junction – then proceed through Gokhale Road towards South Mumbai. No Parking Keluskar Road (Main, South & North) Lt. Dilip Gupte Road from Keluskar Road (North) to Pandurang Naik Road Pandurang Naik Road (Road No. 5) N. C. Kelkar Road from Gadkari Chowk to Kotwal Garden, Saint Dnyaneshwar Road Route March The parade route march commencing from Shivaji Park ground through Gate No. 5 would proceed along - Left turn – Keluskar Road North – C. Ramchandra Chowk (Keluskar North Junction) – left turn – Swatantra Veer Savarkar Road (southbound) – Sangeetkar Vasant Desai Chowk (Keluskar South junction) – right turn – and will terminate/end at Narali Baug. "The motorists are advised to avoid the above-mentioned roads between 06:00 hrs and 12:00 hrs. Signage boards as well as police personnel shall also be present at various places to direct motorists/pedestrians to ensure that the least inconvenience is caused to them," the police said.
23 January,2026 08:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Central Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will operate a mega block between Matunga-Mulund and its Harbour line on Sunday. The block will affect both the Main Line and the Harbour line, resulting in train diversions, delays and suspension of some services, an official statement said. It said that the mega block will be taken on the suburban sections on Sunday, January 25, 2026, for engineering and maintenance work. On Main line, Fast services to be diverted The Central Railway said that on its Main line, the mega block will be in effect on the Matunga-Mulund UP and DOWN fast lines from 11:05 am to 3:45 pm. DOWN fast line trains leaving CSMT between 10:36 am and 3:10 pm will be diverted to the DOWN slow line at Matunga. The trains will stop at all scheduled stations between Matunga and Mulund and are expected to arrive 15 minutes late. "Trains travelling beyond Thane will be diverted back to the fast line at Mulund," officials said. They said that the UP fast line trains leaving Thane between 11:03 am and 3:38 pm will be diverted to the UP slow line at Mulund. These trains will also stop at scheduled stations and will be diverted back to the fast line at Matunga, arriving 15 minutes late. Services to remain suspended on Harbour line The Central Railway further stated that on its Harbour line, the block will be from 11:40 am to 4:40 pm on the CSMT-Chunabhatti/Bandra down Harbour line and from 11:10 am to 4:10 pm on the Chunabhatti/Bandra-CSMT up Harbour line. During this period - - Down Harbour line services to Vashi, Belapur and Panvel from CSMT will remain suspended. - Down Harbour line services to Bandra and Goregaon from CSMT will also remain suspended. - Up Harbour line services to CSMT from Panvel, Belapur and Vashi will remain suspended. - Up Harbour line services to CSMT from Goregaon and Bandra will also remain suspended. To assist commuters, special services will run between Panvel and Kurla (Platform No. 8) every 20 minutes during the block period. Alternative services for passengers Harbour line passengers are allowed to travel via the Main line and Western Railway between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm during the block. Central Railway has stated that these mega blocks are necessary for infrastructure upkeep and safety. Passengers have been requested to cooperate and plan their journeys accordingly, the Central Railway said.
23 January,2026 08:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday said that it has filed multiple FIRs during a crackdown on illegal banners in city and removed at least 41 unauthorised banners from parts of Mumbai. An official statement said that the civic body has taken strict action against individuals and organisations for putting up unauthorised banners in public places across Mumbai. Despite the civic body providing designated spaces for temporary advertisements, several banners were found illegally installed on electric poles and along roadsides without prior permission, officials said. "The BMC’s Licensing Department has registered cases against unidentified persons at Gamdevi, Malabar Hill and Dr D. B. Marg police stations. The action was taken on January 21 and 22, 2026, during which 41 unauthorised banners were removed," an official statement said. The Mumbai civic body has appealed to organisations, associations and businesses to display advertisements only at approved locations and after obtaining proper permission. Action carried out under senior supervision The operation was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special) Chanda Jadhav. Removal drives were conducted in several areas including Peddar Road, Pandita Ramabai Road, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Walkeshwar, Malabar Hill, Dr Dadasaheb Bhadkamkar Road, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road and Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road. Based on complaints and findings, First Information Reports (FIRs) were formally submitted and registered at the concerned police stations. Legal provisions and court directions The BMC stated that, as per directions of the High Court, it is strictly prohibited to display any banner, hoarding or poster in public places without prior permission. Unauthorised advertisements violate provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, and relevant sections of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, including Sections 328, 328A and 471. Offenders may face criminal cases and legal proceedings. Citizens urged to report violations The BMC has urged citizens to report unauthorised banners and hoardings by calling the toll-free helpline number 1916. Complaints can also be registered through the BMC’s official website www.mcgm.gov.in and on social media platforms including official X account. The civic body has made it clear that strict enforcement will continue against all illegal advertisements in public spaces.
23 January,2026 07:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Western Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, said that it will operate jumbo block between Andheri-Goregaon and Andheri-Mahim on Sunday. An official statement said that several Mumbai local train services on the Harbour line will remain cancelled on Sunday, 25 January 2026, due to a jumbo block being undertaken for maintenance work. The block has been planned to carry out maintenance of tracks, signalling systems and overhead equipment. According to Western Railway, a jumbo block will be taken on both UP and DOWN Harbour lines: - Between Andheri and Goregaon: from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm - Between Mahim and Andheri: from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm Train services to remain cancelled As per a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, all CSMT–Bandra–CSMT and CSMT/Panvel–Goregaon–CSMT/Panvel Harbour line services of Central Railway will remain cancelled during the block period. In addition, some slow local services between Churchgate and Goregaon will also be cancelled. Railway authorities said that the detailed list of cancelled services will be available at station master offices. Passengers advised to plan travel Passengers have been advised to take note of the changes and plan their travel accordingly to avoid inconvenience during the block period. Western Railway resumes services after work at Kandivali Days after cancellation of as many as 204 services, the Western Railway on Wednesday said that the engineering teams have completed the scheduled work in Kandivali. An official statement said that the Western Railway teams worked through the night and into the early hours of Wednesday, January 21, to make the Kandivali carshed line operational, successfully reversing several train cancellations by the morning. The intensive maintenance effort was undertaken to ensure smooth suburban services on the Mumbai local network, which had been disrupted due to infrastructure-related work. According to railway officials, the Kandivali crossover was inspected and declared fit for operations early on Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the resumption of scheduled services. “The Kandivali crossover was given fit in the morning, and the first Malad-Churchgate fast train service was operated today,” an official said.
23 January,2026 07:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentConstruction of the flyover between Dindoshi Court and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari under the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project in Mumbai is nearing completion, the BMC said on Friday, adding that it aims to open by May 31. Officials said that the work of the flyover was progressing at a fast pace. According to civic officials, 75 per cent of the work has been completed, and 30 out of the proposed 31 pillars have already been constructed. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar inspected the site on Thursday and directed officials to speed up the remaining work. He instructed the project team to deploy additional manpower and machinery so that the flyover can be opened to traffic before the monsoon. The BMC has set a target to open the flyover for public use by May 31, 2026. Structural work progressing as per schedule Officials said that work on bridge spans, solid approach roads on both sides, deck slab casting and other structural and civil works is being carried out as per the planned timeline. Out of the total 30 bridge spans, 17 spans have been completed, while work on the remaining 13 spans is underway and expected to be completed soon. Part of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project is being developed in four phases. The flyover between Dindoshi Court and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari is part of Phase 3(A), which also includes an elevated rotary. This flyover is being built in two sections — the Goregaon side and the Mulund side. It starts near Dindoshi Court, takes a 90-degree turn near Ratnagiri Junction Hotel, and descends near Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari. Major relief for east-west traffic The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road will be Mumbai’s fourth major east-west corridor, connecting the eastern and western suburbs. The 12.20-kilometre project is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion, especially in north Mumbai. Once completed, travel time between Goregaon and Mulund is expected to reduce from around 75 minutes to about 25 minutes. The project will also help save fuel and improve Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI). Focus on safety and quality standards Officials said that all construction work is being carried out while meeting required technical standards related to structural stability, traffic load capacity and public safety. Executive Engineer (Bridges) Naresh Meghrajani, along with other engineers and officials, was present during the inspection.
23 January,2026 07:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Friday announced a list of 40 star campaigners for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in the state. The elections will be held for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis across Maharashtra on February 5. The party said the leaders will campaign in different districts to strengthen the Congress organisation at the grassroots level. The list includes several senior leaders from both the state and national level. Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, State Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal, and Leader of the Congress Legislature Party Vijay Wadettiwar are among the prominent names. Other senior leaders include Member of Parliament Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Legislative Council group leader Satej alias Bunty Patil, AICC General Secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, and Congress Working Committee member Balasaheb Thorat. Former ministers, MPs and MLAs to campaign The list also features MP Rajni Patil, Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakre, former state president Nana Patole, Rajya Sabha MPs Imran Pratapgarhi and Chandrakant Handore, and senior leaders Naseem Khan and Yashomati Thakur. आगामी जिल्हा परिषद व पंचायत समिती निवडणूकांसाठी भारतीय राष्ट्रीय कॉंग्रेस पक्षातर्फे उमेदवारांच्या प्रचारासाठी स्टार प्रचारकांची यादी जाहीर करण्यात येत आहे. #कॉंग्रेस_लढणार_महाराष्ट्र_जिंकणार pic.twitter.com/67Z6jM5Tv3 — Maharashtra Congress (@INCMaharashtra) January 22, 2026 Other star campaigners include MP Praniti Shinde, MLAs Amin Patel, Amit Deshmukh, Dr Vishwajit Kadam, former ministers Dr Nitin Raut, Ramesh Bagwe, Vasant Purke, and former MP Hussain Dalwai. Representation from party wings Leaders from various party wings have also been included. These include Minority Department president Wajahat Mirza, senior spokesperson Atul Londhe, OBC Department president Yashpal Bhinge, Women’s Congress state president Sandhya Sawwalakhe, Youth Congress state president Shivraj More, Seva Dal state president Vilas Autade, and NSUI state president Sagar Salunkhe. According to the Congress, the star campaigners will focus on local governance issues, rural development and strengthening democratic institutions during the campaign. Elections in 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis on Feb 5 Elections to 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in Maharashtra will be held on February 5, 2026, with the counting of votes scheduled for February 7, a senior official said on Tuesday. The election programme was announced a day after the Supreme Court extended the deadline for completing Maharashtra local body elections by two weeks beyond the earlier January 31 timeline. With the announcement of the schedule at a press conference addressed by State Election Commission (SEC) Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the concerned districts. Polling arrangements across districts The elections will cover Zilla Parishads in 12 districts along with their corresponding 125 Panchayat Samitis. The SEC is making arrangements for approximately 25,482 polling stations across the state. Polling will be conducted from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm on February 5.
23 January,2026 06:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentKalyan Station Deputy Station Manager (Commercial) Umesh Vishwakarma, along with his team, helped a passenger retrieve his lost belongings. On Thursday, Rahul Kumar, the head booking clerk at Kalyan, Thane district, found a jacket and bag near the booking office and immediately informed Vishwakarma about it. The bag, opened in the presence of the deputy station manager and on-duty Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, contained Rs 12,060 in cash and jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh. Passengers can dial 139 for assistance in case of lost belongings With RPF’s assistance, the passenger was traced to Kasara in Thane district. Vishwakarma verified the ownership of the bag and handed it over to the passenger, who was grateful to the staff for their swift action, honesty, and professionalism. CR lauded Vishwakarma and his team for upholding the values of trust and service and urged passengers to take care of their belongings. In case of any lost items, passengers are advised to dial 139 for assistance.
23 January,2026 06:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarADVERTISEMENT
