Coming down heavily on his Mahayuti ally, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Friday alleged that during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) tenure, the once-prosperous Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) was pushed into bankruptcy due to corruption. Pawar made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Pune as part of his election campaign for the Maharashtra civic polls. He had earlier announced that his party would tie up with the NCP (SP), led by his uncle and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar. The deputy CM alleged that the BJP was attempting to corner him by granting candidature to criminal elements in the city. During the nearly 45-minute press conference, Pawar claimed to have “exposed” the BJP with documentary evidence, detailing alleged corruption in various civic works, including the dog sterilisation programme. He questioned who was responsible for specific projects and who had allegedly siphoned off public money. Launching a sharp attack on the BJP’s governance in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pawar said the municipal corporation’s fixed deposits had steadily declined while bond loans were raised. “Deposits worth Rs 8,000 crore were broken. If that money was spent, then show the development works,” he challenged. Maharashtra civic polls: Ajit Pawar alleges cartelisation, tender irregularities in PCMC He alleged that tenders were fixed through cartelisation and that roads were repeatedly dug up and converted into cement roads, leading to severe traffic congestion. “During our tenure, there were no traffic problems. Today, the city is facing constant traffic snarls,” he said. Pawar further alleged that under the name of ‘urban streets’, roads had been ruined, encroachments had increased in some areas, and illegal collections were being made. He accused the BJP-led administration of large-scale tender irregularities and questioned how the properties of certain individuals grew rapidly, indirectly targeting Mahesh Landge without naming him. “We never indulged in arrogance when we were in power. But now there is an intoxication of power,” Pawar remarked. He also made serious allegations of corruption in the dog sterilisation programme and claimed to have presented evidence. “Corruption has hollowed out the municipal corporation,” he said, adding that for the first time in PCMC’s history, a sitting standing committee chairman, Nitin Landge, was arrested by the anti-corruption bureau. Highlighting the NCP’s past governance, Pawar said that during their tenure, the city’s reputation improved and development works were carried out without emptying the civic treasury or pushing the corporation into debt. He alleged that due to political patronage, an atmosphere of fear had been created in the city, citing incidents of vehicle vandalism and the rise of ‘koyta gangs’. “We have entered the electoral battlefield to burn down the monster of corruption. I love this city, and in this election, the clock and the trumpet will fight together,” Pawar said, referring to the symbols of the two NCP factions.
02 January,2026 08:18 PM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalA talathi, or village revenue official, has been arrested for allegedly taking a bribe in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) said on Friday. The accused, Bajrang Dattatray Chavan (51), was posted at Saza Chafe village, the ACB said in a statement. According to the complainant, he had purchased a plot of non-agricultural land in Agarnaral and submitted an application to the talathi office on October 9 to update the 7/12 extract, which reflects the land title, news agency PTI reported. Chavan allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 from him. Following a complaint, the ACB laid a trap at Chavan’s office on Thursday and caught him red-handed while accepting the money. A case has been registered at Jaigad Police Station, and further investigation is underway, PTI reported. Maharashtra: Government staffer caught taking bribe for land compensation in Jalna An official from Maharashtra’s Irrigation Department was caught allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to process compensation for land acquisition, an official said on Friday. The accused, Rohit Pralhad Deshmukh (35), an executive engineer with the minor irrigation department, was caught red-handed by ACB at his office on Thursday following a complaint, PTI reported. According to ACB, the government had acquired the complainant’s agricultural land, and Deshmukh allegedly demanded Rs 7 lakh to process the compensation. The complainant initially paid him Rs 4 lakh, but the official allegedly continued to harass him for the remaining sum after the compensation of Rs 1.88 crore was credited in July last year. The accused also allegedly took blank cheques related to compensation for the complainant’s gaothan house. Frustrated by the continued harassment, the complainant approached ACB. A case will be registered against Deshmukh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the official said. Palghar cop booked for bribe demand; industry inspector nabbed in Sindhudurg A police officer from Palghar District was booked for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000, while an industry inspector in Sindhudurg was arrested for accepting Rs 22,000, the ACB said on Friday. The accused cop, Assistant Inspector Sahebrao Shivaji Kachre, was posted at Gholwad Police Station. A complaint filed on December 9 alleged that Kachre promised not to arrest the complainant’s brother-in-law, who was involved in a case, in exchange for a bribe. “Kachre has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act after it was established that he demanded Rs 50,000 to refrain from arresting the complainant’s relative and remove his name from a case file,” ACB said. The policeman may be arrested if required. Meanwhile, ACB’s Sindhudurg unit arrested an industry inspector on Wednesday while accepting a bribe of Rs 22,000, officers said. (With PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 07:21 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Member of Parliament (MP) Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday called for urgent government intervention over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, particularly on Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, to sexualise women, news agency IANS reported. In a letter to Union Information Technology (IT) Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chaturvedi sought the introduction of strict “guardrails” for AI chatbots such as Grok to ensure social media platforms remain a safe space for women. She also stressed the need for better education of men from an early age to prevent such behaviour. “Have sought urgent attention and intervention of the IT Minister to take the issue of increasing incidents of AI apps being prompted to sexualise and undress women by unauthorised use of their images on social media,” Chaturvedi said in a post on X. Have sought urgent attention and intervention of Hon. IT Minister to take the issue of increasing incidents of AI apps being prompted to sexualise and undress women by unauthorised use of their images on social media. There have to be guardrails put in place by features such as… pic.twitter.com/pR5tKzDBwi — Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) January 2, 2026 “There have to be guardrails put in place by features such as Grok that do not violate women’s dignity; big tech firms need to take the onus. And I wish men indulging in such behaviour were educated better at their homes & schools so as to not become such sick perverts in their adulthood,” she added. In the letter, the Rajya Sabha MP flagged an emerging trend on social media, especially on X, where men operating fake accounts are allegedly misusing the AI feature Grok by uploading women’s photographs and prompting the chatbot to reduce their clothing and sexualise them, IANS reported. She pointed out that the misuse is not limited to photos shared through fake accounts but also targets women who post their own images online. Priyanka Chaturvedi urges govt safeguards over misuse of AI on X Describing the trend as an “unacceptable and gross misuse of an AI function”, Chaturvedi criticised Grok for “enabling this behaviour by adhering to such requests”. She termed such acts a breach of women’s right to privacy and a criminal offence, adding that similar incidents are going “absolutely unchecked” on other digital platforms as well, IANS reported. “I write to you as an active member of the Standing Committee on IT & Communication, to urge you as a minister to take this up strongly with X to ensure safeguards are built into their AI apps to make the platform a safe space for women,” she said. “Our country cannot be a bystander to women’s dignity being violated publicly and digitally with zero consequences under the garb of creativity and innovation. While we welcome AI and its role in making lives easier, we will not allow the proliferation of such demeaning acts towards women,” the MP added. (With IANS inputs)
02 January,2026 06:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentLeaders 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. Development works inaugurated 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. Rivals seen together The visit also witnessed political rivals coming together. Sahal Chouse, whose daughter-in-law Shifa Fatima Bilal Chouse was elected as Majalgaon civic chief on an NCP (SP) ticket, was seen alongside Majalgaon MLA Prakash Solanke, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. The developments have sparked discussion about improving ties between the two NCP groups at the local level. NCP-NCP (SP) alliance for civic elections Earlier, Ajit Pawar had announced an alliance between his NCP and the NCP (SP), led by his uncle Sharad Pawar, for the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic elections, saying the "parivar" (family) has come together. "For the sake of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections, the 'clock' and the 'tutari' (trumpet) have united. The parivar has come together," he had earlier said. Pawar had urged party workers to work hard and refrain from making any controversial comments during rallies. "We are the ones who work for development. We will edge out those who tried to put this municipal corporation in debt," Ajit Pawar had said, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
02 January,2026 06:15 PM IST | Beed (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentAs many as 66 flights were cancelled at Delhi airport on Friday after dense fog and poor visibility disrupted air operations in the national capital, reported the PTI. Sources told the PTI that airlines cancelled both incoming and outgoing flights as safety conditions worsened during the morning hours. Of the total cancellations, 32 were arrival flights, while 34 were departures, affecting hundreds of passengers travelling to and from Delhi. Sources said several airlines took precautionary measures due to reduced visibility caused by fog. Flight operations were impacted despite improved infrastructure, as visibility levels dropped below safe limits for standard landings, according to the PTI. DGCA declares official fog period India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has declared the period from 10 December to 10 February as the official fog season for winter operations. During this period, airlines are required to strictly follow special operational guidelines to ensure passenger safety. Special aircraft and trained pilots mandatory Under DGCA norms, airlines must deploy CAT-IIIB compliant aircraft and ensure that pilots trained for low-visibility operations are rostered during foggy conditions. These measures help maintain flight safety when visibility is severely reduced. What is category-III landing system? The Category-III landing system is an advanced navigation technology that allows aircraft to land safely during heavy fog. Category-III A permits landing when the runway visual range (RVR) is up to 200 metres and Category-III B allows landings even when visibility drops to below 50 metres. Such systems play a crucial role in keeping airports operational during winter fog conditions. Dense fog and smog blanket Delhi Meanwhile, Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog and dense fog on Friday, sharply reducing visibility across many parts of the national capital. The poor weather conditions affected normal morning movement, even as Republic Day rehearsals continued at India Gate, as per the ANI. Drone visuals from Sarai Kale Khan around 7:15 am showed extremely low visibility. Ground visuals from areas such as AIIMS, Akshardham Temple and other localities showed roads, buildings and vehicles covered in fog and smog. Cold wave conditions further worsened the situation, making travel difficult for commuters, as per the ANI. Air Quality remains very poor Delhi’s air quality stayed in the ‘very poor’ category for the second day of the New Year 2026. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 348 at around 8:00 am, close to the ‘severe’ category. Several monitoring stations reported high pollution levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 348, R.K. Puram 319, Rohini 315, and Mundka 324. Chandni Chowk stood at 340, while ITO recorded 292. Bawana and IGI Airport reported AQI levels of 227 and 219 respectively, indicating poor to very poor air quality across most areas. Weather update from IMD The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Delhi recorded a temperature of around 11 degrees Celsius on Friday morning. Very dense fog was observed during the early hours, and similar conditions were expected to persist through the day. According to IMD, the city’s maximum temperature is likely to remain between 15 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may range from 9 degrees Celsius to 11 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures are expected to stay above normal, while maximum temperatures are likely to remain below normal. Weather conditions are expected to improve from Saturday. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
02 January,2026 04:56 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentCongress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday alleged that the Narendra Modi Government has failed to provide either clean water or clean air, leaving the common people to suffer, and said the Prime Minister (PM) remained silent on deaths caused by contaminated water in Indore despite repeatedly highlighting flagship schemes, news agency PTI reported. Kharge said PM Modi keeps trumpeting the Jal Jeevan Mission but has not spoken about the deaths linked to contaminated drinking water in Indore. “Narendra Modi ji, who never gets tired of trumpeting the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, is maintaining his usual silence on the deaths caused by drinking contaminated water in Indore,” he said. “This is the same Indore city that has clinched the 'Cleanest City' title for the eighth consecutive time in the central government's Swachh Sarvekshan survey. It's a shameful state of affairs that, due to the BJP's incompetence, people here are desperate for clean water,” he said in a post in Hindi on X. जल जीवन मिशन और स्वच्छ भारत अभियान का ढिंढोरा पीटने वाले @narendramodi जी, हमेशा की तरह इंदौर में दूषित पानी पीने से हुई मौतों को लेकर मौन हैं। यह वही इंदौर शहर है जिसने केंद्र सरकार के स्वच्छ सर्वेक्षण में लगातार आठवीं बार “Cleanest City” का ख़िताब जीता है। ये शर्मनाक बात है… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 2, 2026 The Congress chief alleged that for the past 11 years, the country has been fed “long speeches, lies and deceit, empty promises, and boasts” about the so-called double-engine government, PTI reported. “When ministers are questioned, they resort to abuses and intimidation. Drunk on the arrogance of power, they turn the tables on the journalists. The entire machinery swings into action to cover up the misgovernance of BJP governments,” Kharge said. Indore water contamination deaths: Kharge alleges corruption in Jal Jeevan Mission He further claimed that government schemes were mired in corruption and irregularities, adding that 10 per cent of the Jal Jeevan Mission funds were earmarked for purifying contaminated water, PTI reported. “The Modi government and the BJP have failed to provide either clean water or clean air to the country. The common people are the ones suffering,” Kharge said. At least 10 people have died in a diarrhoea outbreak caused by contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore. On Thursday, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Madhav Prasad Hasani said laboratory reports from a city medical college confirmed contamination of the drinking water supply due to a leakage in a pipeline, though he did not share detailed findings. Officials said the leakage was detected in the main drinking water pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura, at a spot over which a toilet has been constructed. More than 1,400 people have been affected by vomiting and diarrhoea in the area over the past nine days. (With PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 04:38 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAmid growing discontent over candidate selection for the January 15 civic polls, a former corporator has accused former Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashok Chavan of granting tickets in exchange for money, news agency PTI reported. Chavan has firmly rejected the allegations against him. In Nanded city, Marathwada, Bhanusing Rawat, Chavan’s long-time associate, alleged that the former CM had accepted Rs 50 lakh to issue tickets to wealthy candidates. “By giving tickets in exchange for money, the party has sacrificed its loyal workers,” Rawat claimed, adding that faithful BJP members were sidelined despite years of service. Rejecting the allegations, Chavan told reporters on Thursday, “I have not asked for money from anyone. I have a long-standing career of 50 years in social life. I have never done anything like this.” Rawat, who has been politically active alongside Chavan since 1980, said he had sought a BJP ticket for his son from ward number 16, but the party denied the nomination at the last moment, PTI reported. Elections to the 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Nanded civic body, will be held on January 15, with votes to be counted the following day. Maharashtra civic polls: BJP workers lock candidate inside house to stop nomination withdrawal In a dramatic turn on the last day for withdrawal of nominations for the January 15 civic polls, supporters of a BJP candidate in Nagpur city reportedly locked him inside his house to prevent him from withdrawing his candidature on Friday. The BJP, in its AB form, had fielded Vijay Holey and Kisan Gawande as candidates from ward 13 (D), but later asked Gawande to withdraw from the race, PTI reported. The move angered a section of BJP workers who wanted representation from Hazaripahad, one of the localities under the ward. Gawande’s supporters locked him inside his home, raising slogans to stop him from meeting the returning officer. BJP MLC Parinay Fuke and local leaders intervened to calm the workers, after which Gawande finally withdrew his nomination. Speaking to PTI, Gawande said, “BJP workers from the area got upset, as they wanted me to contest. We understand the decision made by the party leadership, and hence, I have withdrawn my nomination.” Elections to 29 civic bodies, including the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, will be held on January 15, with counting of votes scheduled for the next day. (With PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 03:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project marked a major milestone with the breakthrough of the MT-5 mountain tunnel, the second tunnel completed in the state for the high-speed rail corridor. Spanning 1,480 meters (~1.5 km), the tunnel connects key points between Virar and Boisar in Palghar district. The tunnel excavation, carried out from both ends over 18 months, employed a cutting-edge drill-and-blast method, allowing real-time monitoring of ground behaviour and enabling the installation of support systems such as shotcrete, rock bolts, and lattice girders based on site conditions. MT-5 is part of the seven mountain tunnels in Maharashtra, contributing to a total tunnel length of 27.4 km along the 508 km high-speed corridor. Of this total, 21 km is underground, while 6.4 km runs on the surface. “All necessary safety measures, including ventilation, fire prevention, and access and egress protocols, were strictly followed during tunnelling activities,” officials said. The first underground tunnel, stretching 5 km between Thane and BKC, was completed in September 2025. With MT-5 now operational, the bullet train project moves closer to achieving its goal of high-speed connectivity along the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday virtually witnessed the final breakthrough of the 1.5-km-long mountain tunnel of the bullet train project in Maharashtra's Palghar district from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi. "This 1.5-km-long mountain tunnel is among the longest in Palghar district and is located between the Virar and Boisar bullet train stations. It is the second tunnel breakthrough in Maharashtra, following the first 5-km-long underground tunnel between Thane and BKC, which was completed in September 2025," a Railway Ministry press note said. Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: India to get its 1st train on Aug 15 next year, says Ashwini Vaishnaw Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that India is likely to receive its first Bullet Train on August 15 next year, reported the IANS. He said the country will witness its first Bullet Train running on tracks next year, marking a major milestone in India’s transport history. "Buy a Bullet Train ticket on Independence Day in 2027. The country will get its first Bullet Train," Vaishnaw said. Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Corridor India’s first Bullet Train project covers a total distance of 508 kilometres between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Out of this, 352 km falls in Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, while 156 km lies in Maharashtra. The corridor will connect major cities, including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi, Thane and Mumbai. Travel time to reduced to two hours According to the government, the Bullet Train will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to around two hours. This is expected to significantly improve inter-city travel and economic activity. Construction progress so far As per the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), more than 85 per cent of the corridor, or around 465 km, is being built on elevated viaducts. Of this, 326 km has already been completed. (With Agencies' inputs)
02 January,2026 01:54 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondentAt least 200 parrots have died on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district due to food poisoning, officials said on Friday. The carcasses were found in the last four days near an aqueduct bridge on the riverbank in the Badwah area, and a post-mortem report has ruled out bird flu as the cause, they said. Some parrots were alive during rescue operations, but the toxicity of the food was so severe that they died shortly thereafter, District wildlife warden Tony Sharma said. The deaths triggered panic in the area after a suspected bird flu scare, but veterinary examinations found no trace of the infection. Forest department officials have banned feeding near the aqueduct bridge and deployed staff at the site for strict enforcement. Viscera samples from the birds were sent to Jabalpur for further examination, officials said. According to officials from the veterinary department, food poisoning and improper diet have caused the deaths. Teams from the veterinary and forest departments, as well as the wildlife wing, have been monitoring the area for the past four days after being alerted by residents. Veterinarian Dr Manisha Chauhan, who conducted the post-mortems, said symptoms of food poisoning were found in the parrots, with no indicators of bird flu. People often unknowingly feed birds food that proves fatal to their digestive systems, she said. Veterinary extension officer Dr Suresh Baghel said rice and small pebbles were found in the stomachs of dead birds. Prima facie, the deaths seem to be linked to improper feeding, he said, citing pesticide exposure from feeding in sprayed fields and water from the Narmada River as contributing factors. Visitors to the bridge feeding cooked or leftover food to birds may have proved fatal, officials said. 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 12:45 PM IST | Khargone | PTIAhead 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. Denied ticket, Shiv Sena leader Rajendra Sapte leads protest march in Thane Former Thane deputy mayor and Shiv Sena leader Rajendra Sapte took out a protest march after being denied a ticket for the January 15 civic polls in the city. Sapte, 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. (With PTI inputs)
02 January,2026 12:44 PM IST | Jalna | mid-day online correspondentGig workers must be treated as human beings, and not just disposable data points, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Friday. AAP MP expresses solidarity with New Year’s Eve strike Chadha had extended strong support to gig workers across the country who observed a nationwide symbolic strike on New Year’s Eve, demanding fair wages, better working conditions and social security from major delivery and e-commerce platforms. “I sat down with delivery riders of Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, etc. This is not a rant. This is a conversation with those whose lives power our everyday comfort,” the AAP MP shared in a post on a social media platform. I sat down with delivery riders of Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit etc. This is not a rant. This is a conversation with those whose lives power our everyday comfort.It’s tragic that millions of delivery riders who helped build instant-commerce companies into what they are today, are… pic.twitter.com/lcFKE8srfu — Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) January 2, 2026 Strike called by gig worker unions across states The nationwide strike, called jointly by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), saw thousands of delivery partners across several states log off their apps or reduce work significantly. The protest impacted services on one of the busiest commercial days of the year, with reports of delays and cancellations in multiple cities. ‘Forced to protest just to be heard,’ Chadha says “It’s tragic that millions of delivery riders who helped build instant-commerce companies into what they are today are now forced to protest just to be heard,” Raghav Chadha said. He noted that the quick delivery platforms succeeded with the sweat and labour of the delivery riders and thus must be treated as human beings. “These platforms didn’t succeed because of algorithms alone. They succeeded because of human sweat and labour,” Chadha said. ‘Gig economy cannot become exploitation economy’ “It’s time companies start treating riders as human beings, not disposable data points. The gig economy cannot become a guilt-free exploitation economy,” he added. Earlier, speaking to IANS, Chadha highlighted concerns over low and unpredictable pay, long working hours, lack of social security and absence of dignity at work. ‘They are humans, not robots,’ says AAP leader “They are humans, not robots or bonded labour. They are also someone’s father, son, husband or brother,” he said, highlighting concerns over low and unpredictable pay, long working hours, lack of social security and absence of dignity at work. He also spoke against the pressure created by ultra-fast delivery models, stating that the “10-minute delivery torture” was taking a toll on workers’ physical and mental health. (With inputs from IANS)
02 January,2026 12:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
