Yuvraj Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, who hails from the Kolhapur royal family, has decided to opt out of the Rajya Sabha race. "I made it clear that I wish to contest as an Independent candidate and will not join any political party for the nomination... Now, I shall have nothing to do with the Rajya Sabha elections,” Sambhajiraje said in a decision made on expected lines.The 13th direct descendant of iconic Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhajiraje is the grandson of legendary social reformer Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.Raje decided to opt-out of the rat race after Shiv Sena asked him to join the party on a Rajya Sabha nomination while the BJP was not keen on repeating him.He was a President-nominee Rajya Sabha member from June 13, 2016, to May 3, 2022, and is keen on serving the House of Elders.Earlier, Raje had decided to contest as an Independent but looking at the arithmetic and politics, he has decided to back out.However, while backing out Sambhajiraje targeted the Shiv Sena for going away on the earlier promise.“I had an offer from the Shiv Sena for the Rajya Sabha seat but they put a condition that I should first join their party,” he said, adding that he had sought support from Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to contest as an Independent.“I have not backtracked. I have fought for my self-respect. I don’t want to compromise my self-respect. I will not join any political party and has nothing to do with the Rajya Sabha polls,” he said. The electoral college is the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly - and a candidate needs 42 votes to win a berth to the House of Elders.The MVA has 170 MLAs - Shiv Sena (55), NCP (53), Congress (44), smaller parties/groups (10) and Independents (8).On the other hand, BJP has the strength of 106 and has the support of smaller parties/groups (2) and Independents (5).Shiv Sena candidates Sanjay Raut and Sanjay Pawar, who is the party’s district President from Kolhapur, had filed their nominations.As per the present arithmetic in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, BJP can get 2 seats, and 1 each for NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena. However, the NCP has assured to transfer its extra votes to Shiv Sena.On the other hand, the BJP is keen to contest three seats, however, the state leadership is awaiting the nod of the high command.State BJP President Chandrakant Patil said: “Considering the party’s strength in the Assembly, BJP can easily win two seats of Rajya Sabha. Also, BJP can win even the third seat based on its additional votes. The party’s central leadership will take a decision in this regard and we will take action accordingly.”
Yuvraj Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati, who hails from the Kolhapur royal family, has decided to opt-out of the Rajya Sabha race. "I made it clear that I wish to contest as an Independent candidate and will not join any political party for the nomination... Now, I shall have nothing to do with the Rajya Sabha elections,” Sambhaji Raje said in a decision made on expected lines.The 13th direct descendant of iconic Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Raje is the grandson of legendary social reformer Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj.Raje decided to opt-out of the rat race after Shiv Sena asked him to join the party on a Rajya Sabha nomination while the BJP was not keen on repeating him.He was a President-nominee Rajya Sabha member from June 13, 2016, to May 3, 2022, and is keen on serving the House of Elders.Earlier, Raje had decided to contest as an Independent but looking at the arithmetic and politics, he has decided to back out.
On anticipated lines, Yuvraj SambhajiRaje Chhatrapati, scion of the Kolhapur throne, withdrew from the Rajya Sabha race on Friday.He cited his decision as arising out of self-respect and concern for the masses.Earlier, Sambhajiraje had explained that since the BJP can get only two seats, and the Sena-NCP-Congress one each, he would contest that 'extra' sixth seat solo with the support of various major and smaller parties.
Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party President Chandrakant Patil has come under fire from all quarters following his “go home and cook” remark aimed at Baramati MP and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule.Among the first ones to condemn Patil’s misogynistic comment was her husband, Sadanand Sule.“I am proud of my wife who is a homemaker, mother and a successful politician, one amongst many other hardworking and talented women in India…this is an insult to all women…I have always maintained that they (BJP) are misogynistic and demean women whenever they can…,” Sadanand, who is a businessman, tweeted.Patil’s statement has sparked outrage, with people across social media championing Sule, who is the daughter of NCP founder-president Sharad Pawar.Also read: Go home and cook, Maharashtra BJP chief tells Supriya Sule, stokes controversyPatil made the comment on Wednesday while addressing a protest march on the issue of political reservation for OBCs in Maharashtra, which had been rejected by the Supreme Court. The apex court had recently given a nod for OBC reservations for Madhya Pradesh local body elections.“Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (Shivraj Singh Chauhan) came to Delhi and met 'someone'...I don't know what suddenly happened over the next two days and they got a go-ahead for OBC reservations,” Sule said at an NCP meeting.Patil, reacting to Sule’s comment, had said: “Why are you even in politics? Just go home and cook. Go to Delhi or to a cemetery but get us the OBC quota. Despite being a Lok Sabha member, how come you don't know how to get an appointment with a Chief Minister?”Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also Sule’s cousin, was also angered by Patil’s comment. “He has no right to speak that way about my sister….no one say such things…the Constitution has given her (the) right…similar(ly) I can’t tell him to go and sit to Kolhapur…in democracy, people decide,” Pawar said.DMK leader Kanimozhi wanted Patil to apologise. “The despicable comment made by the Maharashtra BJP President against a highly respected Member of Parliament and seasoned leader is an insult to every woman in the country. Such acts of misogyny should have no place in our political affairs,” she said.Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said: “Misogynistic, distasteful and shameful thought process of BJP in full display yet again. Supriya Sule has been a strong woman’s voice in the state and Parliament, has won accolades too, shame he reduces opposing her to this. Chandrakant ji owes an apology to the women of this country.”“We know you believe in Manusmriti, but we will not remain silent anymore…he should learn to make chapattis so that he can help his wife at home,” NCP’s state women wing president, Vidya Chavan, said.Congress spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed said: “The vile and misogynistic. Such comments have no place in politics or society. Women are 50 per cent of India’s population, and BJP has, time and again, disrespected the women of this country.”She also wanted to know if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take any action against Patil.
NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil's sexist comment has raised a big controversyMumbai: A video has emerged of a top Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party leader making a sexist comment amid a similar controversy involving a rival BJP leader.Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, whose NCP is a member of the ruling alliance in the state, is seen addressing supporters at a public event when he made the sexist comment."For better marriages and to avoid domestic violence, men should stay outside, and women should do housework," Mr Patil is heard saying in Marathi in the video, which has been shared widely on social media.Mr Patil now finds himself firmly in the middle of the sexist comment controversy along with his rival and Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil.Targeting NCP leader Supriya Sule, the state BJP chief during a protest had told her, "If you don't understand politics, go home and cook."Chandrakant Patil made the sexist comment as the two parties sparred over reservations for Other Backward Classes, or OBC, in Maharashtra.Tweeting the video involving Dilip Walse Patil of the NCP, Andhra Pradesh BJP leader Vishnu Vardhan Reddy tagged and took a swipe at Priyanka Chaturvedi, a colleague of the Maharashtra Home Minister: "...Now waiting for you to take credit of his statement."Hello @priyankac19, Maharashtra's Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil ji is saying"Its better men stay outside their homes and women do housework, for better marriages and low domestic violence."Now waiting for you to take credit of his statement! pic.twitter.com/eGK1PHAb2T— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) May 23, 2022Dilip Walse Patil hasn't yet responded to the criticism over the video.The BJP's Chandrakant Patil, facing a backlash, however, attempted damage control today saying he meant Ms Sule should "go to the villages and try to understand them" in politics."It is in my nature to respect women. What I meant was she should learn to live in rural areas where there are sayings like this. I respect Supriya-tai and we talk often," the BJP leader said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe NCP has slammed the comments, even asking Chandrakant Patil to "learn making chapattis so he can help his wife at home"."He has no right to speak like that. He has no right to speak that way about my sister," said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Ms Sule's cousin.
Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil has stirred a controversy with his comments asking NCP MP Supriya Sule to "go home and cook" instead of being in politics, drawing a sharp reaction from her party.Patil made the remarks on Wednesday during a protest by the state BJP unit in Mumbai for seeking reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in elections.After the Supreme Court recently allowed reservation for the OBCs in local body elections in Madhya Pradesh, Sule, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in Maharashtra, had said she had contacted MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his Delhi visit, but he did not divulge what he did to get nod for the reservation.On Wednesday, Patil, during the BJP's protest, hit out at Sule, who is NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter, saying, "Why are you (Sule) even in politics, just go home and cook. Go to Delhi or to a cemetery, but get us the OBC quota. Despite being a Lok Sabha member, how come you don't know how to get an appointment with chief minister."Taking a dim view of Patil's remarks, NCP's state women wing president Vidya Chavan, without taking his name, said a person who denied ticket to a sitting woman MLA and contested from her constituency is bad-mouthing an MP, who has been honoured with the Sansad Ratna award (for good performance) twice."We know you believe in Manusmriti, but we will not remain silent anymore," she said. "He should learn to make chapattis so that he can help his wife at home," the NCP leader quipped.Notably, Patil, who hails from Kolhapur, contested the 2019 state Assembly election from Pune's Kothrud seat, where sitting BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni was denied the ticket to make way for him.Supriya Sule's husband Sadanand Sule also in a social media post criticised Patil's remarks, saying, "This is the Maharashtra BJP president speaking about Supriya. I have always maintained that they (BJP) are misogynistic and demean women whenever they can." "I am proud of my wife who is a homemaker, mother and a successful politician, one amongst many other hardworking and talented women in India. This is an insult to all women,” he said.
Supriya Sule husband posted the exchange on Twitter, calling out the BJP as a "misogynistic" party.New Delhi: Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, targeting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule on Wednesday, made a hugely controversial comment that has triggered outrage. "If you don't understand politics, go home and cook," he told the MP during a protest.The sexist comment was made as the two parties sparred over reservations for OBC (Other Backward Class) in Maharashtra jobs and education.The BJP leader was apparently reacting to Supriya Sule comparing Maharashtra's fight for OBC quota with that of Madhya Pradesh and questioning how the BJP-ruled state got the green signal from the Supreme Court."The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh came to Delhi and met 'someone'... I don't know what suddenly happened over the next two days and they got a go-ahead for OBC reservations," Ms Sule told a party meeting in Marathi.When the comment was relayed to the Maharashtra BJP president at his protest nearby, he snarked: "Why are you in politics? Go home and cook. You are in politics, and you don't understand how to meet a Chief Minister? You (also) go to Delhi or go to hell or wherever but give reservations."PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe BJP has been accusing Maharashtra's Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition of not doing enough for OBC quota, which was put on hold by the Supreme Court. The Maharashtra government, however, blames the Centre for not providing data.Ms Sule's husband Sadanand Sule posted the exchange on Twitter, calling out the BJP as a "misogynistic" party.This is the Maharashtra BJP President https://t.co/eu2TYNvsDZ speaking about Supriya….I have always maintained that they (BJP) are misogynistic and demean women whenever they can…- sadanandsule (@sadanandsule) May 25, 2022"I am proud of my wife who is a homemaker, mother and a SUCCESSFUL politician, one amongst many other hardworking and talented women in India...this is an insult to all women...," Mr Sule commented in a thread.
Sharad Pawar was speaking to reporters in PunePune: NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said his party will support Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati or any other candidate chosen by the Shiv Sena in the upcoming polls to six Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra.Mr Pawar was talking to reporters after meeting representatives some Brahmin community organisations in Pune on Saturday.The tenure of six Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra — Piyush Goyal, Vinay Sahastrabuddhe and Vikas Mahatme (all three from the BJP), P Chidambaram (Congress), Praful Patel (NCP) and Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) ends on July 4.The polls are scheduled on June 10. The BJP can win two Rajya Sabha seats with the number of MLAs it has, while the ruling allies Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP in Maharashtra can win a seat each. The contest will, therefore, be for the sixth seat.Sambhajiraje, a member of the Kolhapur royal family and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was earlier a President-nominated member of the Upper House of Parliament.He recently announced that he would contest the next election to the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate, and appealed to all parties to back him.To a query from reporters here on Saturday, Mr Pawar said, "Two years ago, we had demanded two seats (in the Rajya Sabha) and we got those. But, this time, we will get one seat." "After supporting our candidate, we will have votes to support one candidate of the Shiv Sena. They may choose Sambhajiraje or any other candidate, we will support the candidate chosen by the Shiv Sena," the NCP chief said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comSome senior Shiv Sena leaders recently said the party will field a second candidate in the coming Rajya Sabha polls, a move that could then hamper the prospects of Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati.(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said his party will support Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati or any other candidate chosen by the Shiv Sena in the upcoming polls to six Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra.Pawar was talking to reporters after meeting representatives some Brahmin community organisations in Pune on Saturday.The tenure of six Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra — Piyush Goyal, Vinay Sahastrabuddhe and Vikas Mahatme (all three from the BJP), P Chidambaram (Congress), Praful Patel (NCP) and Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) ends on July 4.The polls are scheduled on June 10. The BJP can win two Rajya Sabha seats with the number of MLAs it has, while the ruling allies Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP can win a seat each. The contest will, therefore, be for the sixth seat.Sambhajiraje, a member of the Kolhapur royal family and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was earlier a President-nominated member of the Upper House of Parliament.He recently announced that he would contest the next election to the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate, and appealed to all parties to back him.To a query from reporters here on Saturday, Pawar said, "Two years ago, we had demanded two seats (in the Rajya Sabha) and we got those. But, this time, we will get one seat.""After supporting our candidate, we will have votes to support one candidate of the Shiv Sena. They may choose Sambhajiraje or any other candidate, we will support the candidate chosen by the Shiv Sena," the NCP chief said.Some senior Shiv Sena leaders recently said the party will field a second candidate in the coming Rajya Sabha polls, a move that could then hamper the prospects of Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati.
Aurangzeb’s life and reign, over the years, have been a case study of criticism, analysis and multiple interpretations for critics and historians alike. His legacy, in Indian history, is at the very least, complicated.In modern politics, too, his ‘existence’ is creating complications. His tomb in Khuldabad has become the epicentre of a political storm in Maharashtra. When he died in 1707, he was buried near the dargah of Sheikh Zainuddin, a Sufi saint who was also Aurangzeb’s spiritual guide and religious teacher. His unmarked grave is situated around 24 km from Aurangabad city.Although dead for over four centuries now, his part in creating controversy in modern-day India has been remarkable. It became a political row when Telangana MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, brother of AIMIM president and Hyderabad Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi, visited Aurangzeb’s grave to pay tribute.The visit prompted several right-wing parties—most notable of which were the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)—to verbally attack the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government over the visit.Although the Maharashtra government increased the security arrangements at the dargah—which comes under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India—Uddhav Thackeray’s party, the Shiv Sena, too, was not happy about Owaisi’s visit. “You are trying to challenge us…the Marathas put him there...Aurangzeb was not a Sufi saint…for 25 years Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Marathas fought him, Aurangzeb ordered the killing of Sambhaji Maharaj…he (Owaisi) too will have to go to the same place,” said Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut.The MNS, and a section of BJP leaders, on their part, have questioned the need to protect Aurangzeb’s grave. “What is the need for Aurangzeb’s grave in the land of Shivaji Chhatrapati Maharaj? Demolish this grave…Even Balasaheb Thackeray had said the same, don’t you want to listen to anything by Balasaheb?” MNS spokesperson Gajanan Kale said.AIMIM, on the other hand, does not want to stir controversy. “There are many dargahs of spiritual leaders at Khuldabad. Anyone coming to Khuldabad comes to the resting place of Aurangzeb. There is no need to interpret this differently,” justified Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel (also an AIMIM member).Senior BJP leader and member of Maharashtra Legislative Council Prasad Lad asked about the necessity to protect the grave of Aurangzeb. “Is it the Hindutva of (late) Balasaheb Thackeray…or is this the Hindutva of (NCP President) Sharad Pawar and (Congress President) Sonia Gandhi…Aurangzeb is the one who destroyed temples…we will not rest till it is removed,” Lad announced.Targeting Uddhav Thackeray, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, at a recent rally announced: “Balasaheb would have been pained to see that during his son's rule reciting Hanuman Chalisa would be sedition and going to Aurangzeb’s tomb would be protocol.”“Aurangzeb’s tomb is under jurisdiction of the ASI. The Modi government can control, restrict or even ban entry. Why does the Modi government not register a complaint against Akbaruddin Owaisi,” Maharashtra Congress General Secretary Sachin Sawant asked, while pointing out that other BJP leaders, as well as, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi had visited Aurangzeb’s tomb when Fadnavis was Chief Minister.“These people know the history of Maharashtra and India. What Aurangzeb did in his era is also known. It is not right for someone from outside Maharashtra to come to the state and create a new issue,” said Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, who was also Maharashtra Chief Minister for multiple terms.
Days after AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi visited Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Aurangabad, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday wondered if such an act was aimed at creating a new controversy in Maharashtra which is functioning peacefully.Owaisi's visit to the tomb of Aurangzeb on Thursday created a controversy in the state, with Shiv Sena and MNS condemning the incident in strong words."These people know the history of Maharashtra and India. What Aurangzeb did in his era is also known. It is not right for someone from outside Maharashtra to come to the state and create a new issue. This is being done to create a new controversy in the state which is functioning peacefully," Pawar told reporters in Nanded when asked about the incident.On the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the NCP chief said his party and ally Shiv Sena each have surplus numbers than what is required to elect an MP. This additional strength can be used to help the third ally Congress in the event of a shortfall. Elections for six Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra will be held on June 10.“We (NCP) have 10 or so votes surplus than what is required to get a candidate elected. The Shiv Sena too has surplus votes. So, it too doesn't have any problem. And our ally Congress also has numbers. If there is any shortage (faced by Congress), then our people will help them,” he added.Pawar also said that Maha Vikas Aghadi constituents can think of allying in the next 10-15 days. An option of the post-poll alliance can also be thought of, he added.The former Union minister also said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress is “running properly” and that he was satisfied with its performance.Asked whether the government will complete its five-year term, Pawar said, "There should be no problem in (the alliance) getting a mandate for another five years as well after its current five-year stint gets over.” To another question, Pawar made light of the reported deadlines given by BJP leaders to predict the fall of the MVA government.
The Shiv Sena, which is seeking to get two candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday alleged that its political opponents were resorting to horse-trading for the sixth seat from Maharashtra in the upcoming polls to the Upper House of Parliament.The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA-comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) in Maharashtra has the arithmetic on its side to win the sixth seat, Sena's chief spokesperson and Sena MP Sanjay Raut asserted. "The jealousy of the opposition can be seen through the attempts of horse-trading for the sixth Rajya Sabha seat by the opposition. The money from corruption and the horse-trading through it...when will this vicious circle stop?" Raut said in a tweet.राज्यसभेच्या ६ व्या जागेसाठीमहाराष्ट्रात घोडेबाजार सुरू करण्याची विरोधकांची इर्षा दिसू लागलीय.. भ्रष्टाचारातून पैसा .. त्यातून घोडेबाजार!हे दुष्ट चक्र कधी थांबेल?सहावी जागा शिवसेना लढेल.कोणी कितीही आकडे मोड करावी.. आकडे आणि मोड दोन्ही महविकास आघाडीकडे आहे. लढेंगे . जितेंगे. pic.twitter.com/VOXRKRDzdk— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) May 18, 2022“The Shiv Sena will contest the sixth seat. Whatever anyone may do, the arithmetic is with the Maha Vikas Aghadi. We will fight and win," the Rajya Sabha member added. His assertion came a day after Sena leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab said his party will field a second candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls and expressed confidence that the second candidate of the Sena will get elected.The tenure of six Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra -- Piyush Goyal, Vinay Sahastrabuddhe and Vikas Mahatme (all three from the BJP), P Chidambaram (Congress), Praful Patel (NCP) and Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) ends on July 4. All four parties are yet to announce their candidates. The BJP can win two Rajya Sabha seats with the number of MLAs it has, while the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP can win a seat each.The contest will, therefore, be for the sixth seat. But the Shiv Sena stand could hamper the prospects of Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, a member of the Kolhapur royal family and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's descendant, who was earlier a President-nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. Sambhajiraje recently announced that he would contest the next election to the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate, and appealed to all parties to back him.He was earlier affiliated with the BJP. NCP president Sharad Pawar has hinted that his party may support Sambhajiraje's candidature, but, if the latter doesn't get votes of the other two MVA constituents, his election could be difficult. The notification for the Rajya Sabha elections will be issued on May 24. The entire process will be completed on June 13
Sanjay Raut said the Shiv Sena will contest the sixth Rajya Sabha seat in Maharashtra. (File)Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, which is seeking to get two candidates elected to the Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday alleged that its political opponents were resorting to horse-trading for the sixth seat from Maharashtra in the upcoming polls to the Upper House of Parliament.The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA-comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) in Maharashtra has the arithmetic on its side to win the sixth seat, Sena's chief spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut asserted."The jealousy of the opposition can be seen through the attempts of horse-trading for the sixth Rajya Sabha seat by the opposition. The money from corruption and the horse-trading through it...when will this vicious circle stop?" Mr Raut said in a tweet.“The Shiv Sena will contest the sixth seat. Whatever anyone may do, the arithmetic is with the Maha Vikas Aghadi. We will fight and win," the Rajya Sabha member added.His assertion came a day after Sena leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab said his party will field a second candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls and expressed confidence that the second candidate of the Sena will get elected.The tenure of six Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra -- Piyush Goyal, Vinay Sahastrabuddhe and Vikas Mahatme (all three from the BJP), P Chidambaram (Congress), Praful Patel (NCP) and Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) ends on July 4.All four parties are yet to announce their candidates.The BJP can win two Rajya Sabha seats with the number of MLAs it has, while the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP can win a seat each. The contest will, therefore, be for the sixth seat.But the Shiv Sena stand could hamper the prospects of Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, a member of the Kolhapur royal family and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's descendant, who was earlier a President-nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.Mr Sambhajiraje recently announced that he would contest the next election to the Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate, and appealed to all parties to back him. He was earlier affiliated with the BJP.NCP president Sharad Pawar has hinted that his party may support Sambhajiraje's candidature, but, if the latter doesn't get votes of the other two MVA constituents, his election could be difficult.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe notification for the Rajya Sabha elections will be issued on May 24. The entire process will be completed on June 13.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Rajya Sabha elections next month for six seats from Maharashtra is set to be interesting with a contest in sight given the arithmetic in the state's Vidhan Sabha.The retiring members are Piyush Goyal, Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Dr Vikas Mahatme (all from BJP), P Chidambaram (Congress), Praful Patel (NCP) and Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena).With Yuvraj Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati - the 13th direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the iconic Maratha warrior, and great-grandson of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the legendary social reformer, deciding to contest as an Independent, the contest has becoming interesting.Sambhajiraje was the President-nominated Rajya Sabha member from June 13, 2016 to May 3, 2022.While, Sambhajiraje had decided to contest as an independent and seek support of all political parties, none of the parties have made any commitment.For both the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and opposition BJP, the polls are crucial.While none of the parties have declared the candidates officially - the BJP is set to repeat Goyal, who Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry in the Narendra Modi-government, Shiv Sena would give nomination again to Raut, the party’s chief spokesperson and pointsman and NCP will field Patel, the close aide of NCP founder-President Sharad Pawar and the party’s General Secretary.The electoral college is the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly - and a candidate needs 42 votes to win the berth to the upper house.Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke had died recently.The MVA has 170 MLAs - Shiv Sena (55), NCP (53), Congress (44), smaller parties/groups (10) and Independents (8).On the other hand, BJP has strength of 106 and has support of smaller parties/groups (2) and Independents (5).Given the arithmetic in the Vidhan Sabha, the BJP can get two members elected while the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, one each.The contest would be for the sixth seat - and in case BJP decides to field a third candidate, it would be a sort of acid test for the MVA.Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar are in touch with each other on the issue of a fourth seat or the MVA. Thackeray had held informal meetings with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of the NCP and state Revenue Minister and CLP leader Balasaheb Thorat.It may be mentioned, during the April, 2020 RS polls, NCP nominee Fauzia Khan had won because Shiv Sena transferred excess votes and the NCP will make a similar gesture to Shiv Sena this time.Last week, Sambhajiraje met Leader of Opposition and ex-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis but the former said that it was to thank him and the BJP leadership for giving the opportunity for his term as Rajya Sabha member. But he made it clear that he would not contest as an Independent and expected that the big four parties, smaller parties and Independents would support him.
NEW DELHI: Taking note of the arrival of monsoon in Maharashtra, which could create problems in holding local bodies elections, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the government and the state election commission could proceed with holding polls in areas which normally receive less rainfall and rest of the elections could be conducted after monsoon. A bench headed by justice AM Khanwilkar allowed the plea of the state election commission, which was directed by the court to notify the election date without any delay. Observing that it is the constitutional mandate to hold polls after every five years and any delay can’t be brooked, the Supreme Court on May 4 directed the Maharashtra election commission to start the poll process for over 2,400 local bodies across the state and directed that notification be issued within two weeks.
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Taking note of the arrival of monsoon in Maharashtra, which could create problems in holding local body elections, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said the government and state election commission (SEC) could proceed with holding polls in areas which normally receive less rainfall and the rest of the elections could be conducted after monsoon. A bench headed by justice A M Khanwilkar allowed the plea of the SEC and directed it to notify the election date without any delay. Observing that it is the constitutional mandate to hold elections after every five years and any delay cannot be brooked, the SC had on May 4 directed the Maharashtra election commission to start the poll process for over 2,400 local bodies. Elections in Mumbai-Konkan belt likely only after monsoonThe Supreme Court had said there are more than 2,400 local bodies in Maharashtra for which elections have to be conducted and the election process could not be linked with the delimitation process. The court also made it clear there would be no OBC reservation in these elections. Sources in the state election commission or SEC said on Tuesday that the process of poll preparation itself would stretch till the end of July. After that, the India Meteorological Department and the local administration would have to be consulted about weather conditions during the monsoon before scheduling the local body polls. In any case, this would mean that in the Mumbai-Konkan belt, which faces a heavy monsoon, the polls would be held only after the rains. In the last hearing earlier this month, the SEC had already informed the apex court that the process of demarcating the ward boundaries, marking reservations and revising the electoral roll in local bodies would stretch till July. It had also informed the apex court that the polls would best be held after the monsoon months given the logistical hurdles and the low voter turnout. "In Maharashtra, floods and disasters have been experienced in different regions," pointed out a senior official who did not wish to be named. "The poll dates will be decided by the state election commission. We are ready to face elections at any time," said state parliamentary affairs minister Anil Parab. "The polls should now go ahead. The state stands exposed because it has not been able to provide for the OBC quota," said BJP MLC and leader of opposition in the legislative council Praveen Darekar. Maharashtra faces elections to a series of local bodies including 15 key municipal corporations, 25 zilla parishads and 284 panchayat samitis. Also 2,000 gram panchayats and 220 nagar panchayats and nagar parishads. (With inputs from TNN)
Amidst the hue and cry over AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi’s visit to Aurangzeb’s tomb at Khuldabad near Aurangabad city and its subsequent the criticism by opposition parties, the Congress on Monday retorted that during Devendra Fadnavis’s tenure as Maharashtra Chief Minister between 2014-19, several BJP leaders have also visited the Mughal emperor’s tomb.State Congress General Secretary Sachin Sawant in a series of tweets, said it was unnecessary to blame the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government for no action against the Telengana MLA and All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen party president.“Aurangzeb’s tomb is under jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India. The Modi government can control, restrict or even ban entry. Why does the Modi government not register a complaint against Akbaruddin Owaisi?औरंगजेबाची कबर भारत सरकारच्या पुरातत्त्व विभागाच्या अखत्यारीत आहे. मोदी सरकार प्रवेश नियंत्रित करु शकते वा बंदीही घालू शकते. मोदी सरकार ओवेसीविरोधात तक्रार का नोंदवत नाही?भाजपाचे अल्पसंख्याक विभागाचे उपाध्यक्ष खालीद बाबू कुरेशी फडणवीस साहेबांनी वर्णिलेले कार्य करताना पहा pic.twitter.com/J9o5efUU1J— Sachin Sawant सचिन सावंत (@sachin_inc) May 16, 2022“Watch Khalid Qureshi, Vice President of BJP's Minority Affairs, doing what Fadnavis ji described,” tweeted Sawant.In another tweet (done in Marathi as well as English), Sawant posted with photographs and videos: “Also, BJP national executive member and spokesperson, Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board president Dr Darakshan Andrabi had also visited Aurangzeb's tomb during the corona period (sic).“When Fadnavis was CM, AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had gone to the grave in 2019. So why blame the MVA govt for no action?”Sawant also slammed the BJP, MNS and the Independent MP Navneet Kaur-Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana for blaming the MVA government for Akbaruddin Owaisi’s visit to Aurangzeb’s tomb last week.
Mumbai: Both the BJP and Shiv Sena slammed AIMIM’s Akbaruddin Owaisi for offering tributes at the grave of Mughal ruler Auragazeb at Khuldabad in Aurangabad district on Thursday.Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis said it was an insult to patriotic Muslim. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said this would be unacceptable, not just to Hindus, but Muslims as well. Aurangazeb cannot be the leader of Indian Muslims, he said, reminding that it was Aurangazeb who had tortured Sambhaji Raje, the son of Shivaji Maharaj, and his glorification is unacceptable. Targeting the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, Fadnavis said, “Those who take action over little things like the tweeting of a photograph from Lilavati [hospital] why are they silent now? Even if they keep quiet, we will not. We shall show them their place.” The Sena warned that Owaisi would meet the same fate as the 17th century Mughal ruler. Sena MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said Aurangzeb fought against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and after his death, with the Marathas for 25 years.“He was an aggressor who invaded Maharashtra and destroyed its temples,” Raut told reporters. He added that by offering namaz at Aurangzeb’s tomb, the Owaisi brothers (Akbaruddin and Asaduddin) were challenging Maharashtra. “The Owaisis are doing politics with an aim to vitiate the atmosphere of Maharashtra. We have accepted this challenge. We buried Aurangzeb in this soil. His [Aurangzeb] followers, who want to do politics, will meet the same fate,” he warned. “You keep coming to Sambhajinagar [formerly Aurangabad] and pay obeisance to Aurangazeb, you needle us and Maharashtra. But I would like to say that the Marathas entombed Aurangzeb in the soil of Maharashtra. You [Owaisi] are now reading namaz on his tomb. Time will come that you will be in the same grave,” Raut added.Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged the BJP is using Owaisi for political gains. He demanded to know what action was taken against BJP leader L K Advani and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for visiting Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s grave in Pakistan. “Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Godse was also glorified by BJP leaders. Do we put them in jail? Entire country knows the fundamentalism of Owaisi. Congress opposes Owaisi the same way it stands against the RSS and BJP,” he said.
A political row has sparked off in Maharashtra after the visit of controversial AIMIM leader Telangana MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi to Aurangabad during which he paid tributes at the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and later slammed politicians of the state.Aurangzeb’s tomb is located in Khuldabad near Aurangabad city.During the visit, Owaisi, who is brother of AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s brother and was accompanied by AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel and former MLA Waris Pathan.During a meeting, Owaisi, without naming MNS President Raj Thackeray while referring to the Azan-Hanuman Chalisa row, said: “I have not come here to answer anyone, nor to call anyone bad. I don't want to answer anyone. I have a MP and you are homeless, you are missing, you have been evicted from your own house. I would say that those who bark, let them bark.”When the party came under fire for visit to Aurangazeb’s tomb, Jaleel said: “There are many dargahs of spiritual leaders at Khuldabad. Anyone coming to Khuldabad comes to the resting place of Aurangzeb. There is no need to interpret this differently,” Jaleel said. The BJP, however, slammed the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi for not taking action against Owaisi.“You are trying to challenge us…we have put them…the Marathas have put him there..Aurangzeb was not a Sufi saint… for 25 years Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Marathas have fought him…he (Owaisi) too will have to go to the same place,” he said.BJP MLA Nitesh Rane said: “I am appealing, please keep the police out for 10 minutes, we will send him to the same place where Aurangzeb is.”Veteran politician and former Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire said ”No one, neither a Hindu nor a Muslim, visits the tomb as Aurangzeb was the cruellest Mughal emperor. But Owaisi and his people are trying to create a controversy for political benefit”.
