The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on Wednesday opened the bookings for the ‘tent city’ with train boarding points at Karjat, Panvel and Kalyan for the special Maha Kumbh Punya Kshetra Yatra train. The IRCTC, under the railway ministry, has announced its plans for the tent city—Maha Kumbh Gram—with various facilities to provide a unique experience to the devotees attending the Maha Kumbh Mela next year in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. The round-trip train will begin its journey from Pune on January 15, 2025 and conclude on February 5, 2025 having a duration of seven nights and eight days. Gaurav Jha, Group General Manager, IRCTC (West Zone) said, “The tents offer state-of-the-art comfort, convenience, medical support, round-the-clock security, high-end culinary experiences, and overall hospitality, for which IRCTC is renowned.” “The tents are well connected to the bathing ghats and other places of interest at Prayagraj. A separate dining area with sit-down facilities and top-class catering completes the experience,” said Jha. Rates for the well-equipped tents, available in two categories, start at Rs 12,000 plus taxes. Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj will begin on January 13, 2025 and end on February 26, 2025. The train route is as follows: Pune—Varanasi—Prayagraj—Ayodhya—Pune, with boarding points at Pune, Lonavala, Karjat, Panvel, Kalyan, Nashik, Manmad, Chalisgaon, Jalgaon and Bhusaval. The ticket fares of the train are divided into three—economy (SL-500) is priced at Rs 22,940, Standard (3AC-200) is priced Rs 32,440, and Comfort (2AC-50) is priced at Rs 40,130. IRCTC Maha Kumbh packages . Maha Kumbh Punya Kshetra Yatra: Duration of 7 nights/8 days. Route: Pune—Varanasi—Prayagraj—Ayodhya—Pune. Boarding Points: Pune, Lonavala, Karjat, Panvel, Kalyan, Nasik, Manmad, Chalisgaon, Jalgaon, Bhusaval. Price: Economy (SL-500): R22,940. Standard (3AC-200): R32,440. Comfort (2AC-50): R40,130. Domestic Air Package: Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Ayodhya (5N/6D Ex Mumbai). Tour Dates: January 19, 2025 to January 24, 2025 and February 24, 2025 to March 3, 2025.. Tour Itinerary: Three nights in Varanasi, one night in Prayagraj and one night in Ayodhya. Rail Tour Packages: Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya from Ahmedabad (train no. 19167/68) with 3AC-8, SL-8 and Ayodhya and Varanasi from Nagpur in train no. 12791/22614 with classes—2AC-6, 3AC-16.
05 December,2024 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe Maharashtra State Housing Federation and the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MahaSEWA) have issued a checklist and a word of caution for homebuyers planning to use their life savings to secure home loans for purchasing resale flats or under-construction properties. The advisory comes in response to recent mid-day reports on the demolition of 65 illegal buildings by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and 41 unauthorised structures by the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation, following directives from the Bombay High Court. Buyers beware Speaking to mid-day, Advocate Shreeprasad Parab, expert director, Maharashtra State Housing Federation said, “The days are gone where the developers initially use to execute construction irrespective of the mandatory sanctions, which resulted in huge loss not only to the buyers of such illegal/unauthorised properties but also a large impact on our environment. The state federation is working on the solutions of sustainable development and integration of the day-to-day construction on the RERA portal providing the public at large, authorities and the buyers the day to day updates of construction vis a vis the approvals obtained.” Many buyers still prefer resale flats over new ones due to their lower cost and the absence of GST, which saves 5 per cent of the flat's value. However, buyers must follow the principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware). CA Ramesh Prabhu, founder chairman, MahaSEWA; (right) Advocate Shreeprasad Parab, constitutional expert Right to housing CA Ramesh Prabhu, founder chairman, MahaSEWA said, “Right to housing is a fundamental right under the Constitution, and the State government is responsible for providing affordable homes to the masses, which unfortunately, is yet to see the light of the day.” Buildings without OC Prabhu added, “In Maharashtra, around three lakh buildings lack an occupation certificate (OC). The newly formed government should consider introducing an Amnesty Scheme to regularise these projects with a nominal penalty. Penalising flat buyers, who are not at fault, is unfair. Many invest heavily or take large loans to purchase their dream homes, only to face the shock of being told their building is illegal and might be demolished. 65No. of illegal buildings demolished by KDMC Checklist before buying a resale flat 1. Verify that the seller has clear title to the flat, acquired through registered sale, gift, succession, or will (check if probate is needed). 2. Ensure the flat is owned by one or more people; if jointly owned, both must sign the deed. 3. Confirm that the seller holds full membership rights, as associate or provisional members cannot sell. 4. Even if an NOC isn’t mandatory, request one to check for outstanding maintenance or other issues. 5. Verify whether the building has a conveyance deed and whether the society has an Occupation Certificate or at least a Completion Certificate (CC) for the flat. 6. Check who holds possession of the flat (e.g., bank, lease) and ensure all taxes and bills are paid. Also, verify the redevelopment status of the society. 7. Ensure the flat matches approved plans and check for any alterations, as well as the need for repairs. A registered sale deed should be executed upon full payment. 8. If applicable, confirm that NOCs from authorities like CIDCO, MHADA, or SRA are obtained.Source – State Housing Federation Expert Director Checklist before buying a property 1. Verify the land’s title and project legality through a legal expert. 2. Use digital platforms in Mumbai, MMR, and Pune to check approved plans by planning authorities. 3. Search the IGR Maharashtra portal to ensure the property isn’t already mortgaged or registered to someone else. 4. Visit the MahaRERA website to check project details, pending litigations, and the developer’s track record. 5. Physically inspect the site at various times to assess accessibility, nearby amenities, and the flat’s location and view. 6. Remember, a loan sanction doesn’t guarantee legal compliance. Ensure thorough due diligence to avoid future liabilities. (Source: CA Ramesh Prabhu)
05 December,2024 07:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonDead marine snakes are reportedly being used as bait to catch crabs, to the dismay of animal activists. Wildlife photographer and snake rescuer Karan Solanki recently visited Marve beach in Malad and discovered a couple of dead snakes. Upon further investigation, he learned that these snakes were being deliberately killed to serve as bait to catch crabs. “It was at Marve Beach in Malad, where I noticed a man handling a pair of file sea snakes. I saw the man using a sickle to cut eels, with several dead hook-nosed and file sea snakes scattered around him. When I approached him to ask about his actions, he explained that the snakes were being used as bait for crabs. My friend Kiyan Mugaseth accompanied me on this visit,” Solanki said. “We believe it’s crucial to raise awareness about marine creatures and their protection status, encouraging the public to support conservation efforts,” he added. It may be noted that using any wild animal as bait is a violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Honorary Wildlife Warden of Thane and President of NGO RAWW, Pawan Sharma, said, “Most sea snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act, and therefore catching them or using them as bait amounts to hunting, which is an offence that can lead to both imprisonment and fine under the WPA, 1972. Sea snakes are caught as non-target species in the fishing nets and are usually discarded by maximum fishermen. They usually die as they need to be released back in deep waters, which is an expensive affair and therefore avoided by the fishing community.” Speaking to mid-day, Sharma said that cases in which small-time fishermen use such discarded species as bait to catch larger fishes need to be regulated by spreading awareness and information about protected species. Sharma also told this newspaper that he will be discussing the same with the Mangrove Cell and Mangrove Foundation, which has achieved great success with sea turtles that get caught in fishing nets. “A similar model can be created for sea snakes as well because they are an equally important part of the food chain balance in marine habitats,” he added.
05 December,2024 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet JadhavA senior citizen, who had been struggling for the last 22 months to get back his 2BHK Andheri apartment from the possession of serial con artist Clarence Pereira, has finally got the keys to his flat. Bharat Patel, 66, thanked mid-day for highlighting the truth which prompted the cops to swing into action, which ultimately helped him secure possession of the property worth nearly Rs 2 crore. Patel had rented out his flat in Andheri East to Raphael Pereira, the son of Clarence, in February 2023. Soon after, the Patel family decided to sell the property and asked Raphael to vacate in March 2023. “The entire Pereira family—Raphael, his parents Clarence and Nancy, and his sister Rachelle—had been staying at my Andheri flat. After he learnt that I was planning to sell the property, Clarence tried to defraud me. I sent him multiple notices to vacate the property and he stopped paying me rent from March 2023,” Patel recalled. Bharat Patel, flat owner “I was deeply concerned about saving my property and felt absolutely helpless when my son searched for his name online and discovered that he had previously been arrested by Khar police for attempting to usurp a multi-crore bungalow belonging to a woman. Since it was a story highlighted by mid-day, we decided to approach the newspaper. The first article carried by mid-day gave me hope that it would help me regain possession of my property,” Patel said. Patel said the series of reports carried in mid-day not only mounted pressure on the Andheri police to register an FIR, but also helped the police trace the location of Clarence, who was arrested from Goa. “Since Clarence had forged documents to stake claim to my property, the court directed him to hand over the keys to the flat, whose possession I received on December 2. I’m a common citizen and the huge support from mid-day helped me get back my property after 22 months of struggle. Thank you, mid-day for helping me.” However, the senior citizen lamented that though the keys to the flat were surrendered in the court in Bandra, the property was left in a complete mess. “The geyser, shower and fans are missing from the property. The beams of the flat have been damaged to install air conditioners. The jet spray and exhaust fans from the toilets are also missing,” he said, adding that the court has asked him to list and evaluate the damage to the property and accordingly, he has mentioned everything in his complaint which will be submitted before the court on December 13. “The total damage amounts to R1.50 lakh. The family needs to pay me outstanding rent amounting to Rs 7.46 lakh. So, the collective loss sums up to Rs 9 lakh, which I am going to highlight in the court,” Patel said. A fresh FIR was registered against Clarence for cheating, forgery and house trespassing in December 2023, two months after mid-day highlighted Patel’s property issue. After he learnt that he had been booked in a fresh FIR, Clarence went underground and had been hiding in Goa. Subsequently, he was arrested from Goa. In November 2021, mid-day exposed Clarence after he seized a bungalow worth Rs 25 crore in Khar, evicting the owner. The 54-year-old woman, Marietta Fernandes, had been living in the bungalow in Chuim Village in Khar West with her deceased mother for 10 months due to depression. The Khar police received a complaint from a neighbour, removed the body, and sent Marietta to a mental hospital in Thane for treatment. However, Pereira posed Marietta’s uncle and got her released from the mental hospital. He then took her to Khar police station, claiming ownership of the bungalow. After obtaining the keys to the bungalow, Pereira abandoned Marietta on the road near the airport. A local resident helped her out and informed her brother in Dubai and mid-day about the incident. Clarence has a criminal record and had been arrested by the Bandra and Khar police earlier for cheating and sexual abuse cases against him.
05 December,2024 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Diwakar SharmaThe police have booked more than 200 people from Markadwadi village and nearby areas in Solapur for allegedly trying to conduct a “re-election” using ballot papers on Tuesday, officials said. They were also charged for allegedly spreading misinformation about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the police said. Authorities said the move by a group of residents of Markadwadi was illegal as there was no provision for conducting a re-poll using ballot papers under any circumstances. Meanwhile, state Congress chief Nana Patole hailed the residents of Markadwadi for their courage, and said they took the first step in the fight for protecting democracy. The group of villagers had insisted on a re-election with ballot papers while casting doubts on the votes counted through EVMs for a polling booth at Markadwadi in the recently-held state polls. However, they relented and gave up their plan after police’s intervention. The village comes under the Malshiras Assembly constituency, where NCP (SP) candidate Uttam Jankar defeated BJP’s Ram Satpute by 13,147 votes in the November 20 election, the results of which were declared on November 23. Though Jankar won the seat, Markadwadi residents claimed the quantum of votes polled by the NCP (SP) leader was less compared with Satpute, expressing doubt about the EVMs. A section of villagers had approached the district administration seeking apermission to conduct the re-poll on the ballot paper but the permission was rejected. Solapur district collector Kumar Ashirvad said an offence was lodged on behalf of the government under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023. As per the FIR, the accused allegedly spread rumours about the alleged misuse of EVMs through digital flex boards and social media, falsely claiming the need for a re-poll. They are also accused of violating the orders of the Solapur district collector and Malshiras sub-divisional magistrate in Akluj by announcing an “unauthorised re-poll in Markadwadi”. This act allegedly created fear among the public and instigated feelings of animosity. Jankar said a meeting was held with police officials, followed by talks with the villagers. After that, they cancelled the re-poll plan. 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
05 December,2024 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesAn extremely long queue of traffic at either end of the Tilak bridge, Dadar, which is in the heart of the city has been worrying motorists. mid-day visited the bridge to find out the cause and most of the motorists, locals and the traffic police on the ground said that the traffic problem had increased after the shutting down of the Sion bridge, which was a key east-west link and also due to the under-construction work of the new bridge. “Construction work on the new bridge is already underway, and since the closure of the Sion bridge in August, traffic at BKC and Tilak bridge has increased significantly. The Sion bridge provided a direct route for commuters heading to the suburbs or using LBS Road from the city. With its closure and the Dharavi bridge being less popular due to the required detour, most commuters now prefer Tilak bridge. Additionally, the Matunga bridge was temporarily closed for urgent repairs last week,” a traffic official said. “Work on the new bridge has been going on simultaneously but has not yet affected traffic movement majorly. Due to the work, some of the footpaths and staircases are blocked leading to problems for pedestrians. The Tilak bridge is proving to be very narrow for the volume of vehicles,” Ramesh Gadkari, a local commuter said. What is the new bridge? The new cable-stayed bridge is being constructed with a cable-based structure and work will be completed in two phases. “Keeping in mind earlier experiences of traffic jams being caused by the closure of bridges, the authorities are building the new bridge parallel to the existing one, without closing the latter. Since the existing bridge is an important link, the bridge is being planned to be constructed in two phases. In the first phase, the construction of a new bridge adjacent to the old bridge will be completed without disturbing the existing traffic flow. Then the traffic will be diverted to the new bridge and the old bridge will be dismantled. In the second phase, the reconstruction of the other side of the bridge will be completed. The project is being jointly done by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) and the BMC. The work at Dadar where land has been made available has been going on at a good pace and will be expedited once more land is procured,” a civic official said. When mid-day visited the site, it was seen that all foundation works had been completed and girder launching and superstructure work was in progress along with work for the construction of a pylon for the cable-stayed road overbridge. In numbers The total length and width of the new four-lane bridge will be 663 metres and 16.7 metres height. There will be 190-m cables over the bridge area. The existing 4.5 metre-high Tilak bridge was built exactly a century ago, in 1925. The cost of the construction of the bridge is about 375 crore. 1925Year Tilak bridge was built
05 December,2024 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarThe prime accused in the Worli hit-and-run case, Mihir Shah, and his driver, Rajrishi Bidwat, have approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Bombay High Court’s rejection of their bail petition. Shah and Bidwat, through their lawyers, have filed a special leave petition in the apex court. A special leave petition is filed in Supreme Court when the petitioner wishes to appeal against a judgment passed by lower courts. On November 25, a division bench of the high court dismissed the bail plea of the accused, stating that it was making a special exception considering the facts of the case. The bench further stated that it was aware of the rights of the accused, but the rights of the victim should also be prioritised. “We had approached the high court as the reasons for the arrest were not mentioned, making the arrest illegal. Now we have approached the Supreme Court seeking the release of the duo,” advocate Rishi Bhuta told mid-day. On July 7, Mihir Shah’s BMW rammed a two-wheeler and dragged Kaveri Nakhwa for over 2 km, which proved fatal. What is a special leave petition? . A special leave petition (SLP) is filed when the petitioner wants to be heard in the Supreme Court to appeal against a judgment given by lower courts or tribunals. Military tribunals are an exception. . A SLP can be filed within 90 days of a high court order, or within 60 days when the high court refuses to grant a certificate of fitness for an appeal to the apex court. . The Supreme Court has the discretion to grant or deny the request for leave. The apex court may refuse to grant leave without providing reasons. July 7Day the accident occurred in Worli
05 December,2024 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will issue notices to bakeries using wood as fuel. Officials stated that action would soon begin against such establishments. In order to reduce pollution in the city, the civic body said that it would audit each bakery to ensure all their ovens are electric or fuelled by piped natural gas (PNG). According to the findings of an NGO, the Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG), 47.10 per cent of bakeries in the city use wood as fuel. mid-day had reported on the practice on August 22. According to the BEAG’s report on 200 bakeries out of the 628 registered with the BMC, the bakeries primarily use wood from old furniture and dilapidated buildings due to its lower cost compared to logwood. Larger wood-consuming bakeries reported daily usage of 250 to 300 kilograms of wood, while the average wood consumption for wood-fired bakeries was approximately 130 kg, daily. To process 20 kg of flour, about four to five kilograms of wood is required. The cost of scrap wood is around R4-5 per kg, whereas logwood costs R10-12 per kg. According to the data from the BMC, there are around 1,200 bakeries in Mumbai. The BEAG’S research report states that only 28.10 per cent of bakeries in the city use electric ovens and 20.90 per cent use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while only 1.30 per cent of bakeries use PNG and 1.30 per cent use diesel. “We have stopped issuing licences to firewood-based bakeries since 2007. But we have been receiving complaints that there are still many bakeries running on firewood,” an official of the environment department of the BMC said. The civic official added, “During the audit, we will issue notices to all bakeries to use electric or PNG ovens.” The BEAG’s report estimated around 700 bakeries are running illegally in the city. “We do not have the exact numbers, but our team will identify such bakeries and will decide on our course of action by consulting the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board,” said an official. 1,200No. of bakeries in Mumbai as per BMC data
05 December,2024 07:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer SurveDays after being evicted from Borivli’s Court Lane, popularly known as Bhaji Market Gully, illegal hawkers were seen surreptitiously returning to the spot, exploiting the apparent lack of coordination between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai police. Despite civic vehicles being stationed in the lane in shifts, a makeshift market thrives as soon as officials wrap up their monitoring around 7.30 pmA three-day spot check by mid-day from Sunday revealed a recurring pattern. In the morning and afternoon, when BMC vehicles were present, hawkers were notably absent or seen in very few numbers. However, by evening, once the vehicles left, the lane was immediately reoccupied. BMC vehicles typically arrive at the spot around 10 am after which action is taken against the hawkers sitting on the road. The vehicles are stationed there till about 7.30 pm until which the road is clear. However, once the vehicles leave, hawkers make a beeline to the gully with their wares. Bhaji Market Gully in Borivli West around 11 am on Wednesday, when civic officials were present at the spot. Pic/Prasun Choudhari; (right) Illegal hawkers flood the stretch a couple of hours later. Pic/Nimesh Dave This routine has sparked concerns among residents and shopkeepers, who question the effectiveness of the current measures and the apparent disconnect between the civic body and cops. Sandhya Nandedkar, assistant municipal commissioner, R Central ward said the BMC had formally requested the police to patrol the area, particularly during the hours when civic teams were unavailable. “We have requested the police to make the rounds so that the hawkers do not return after BMC vehicles leave,” she said. A senior citizen, requesting anonymity, said, “As long as BMC vehicles are present on the street, the road is free of hawkers. After the vans leave, hawkers flood the spot. We’ve been told that the police are supposed to patrol the area in the absence of BMC vehicles. The road is just beside a police station. It is not like the cops have to travel a great distance to monitor the situation. Are the police blind or do they never come out of the police station?” Maloji Shinde, senior police officer, Borivli police station said, “Since the past three days, we have been short of staff owing to bandobast duty for the swearing-in ceremony and Mahaparinirvan Diwas. As soon as the bandobast for these two days is done, we will resume patrolling Bhaji Market Gully.” Anand Bhoite, DCP, Zone XI, said, “We have appointed six constables to deal with hawkers specifically. Apart from this, whenever the BMC takes action, we make sure that necessary police protection is provided to their officials.” Sudesh Naik, a Borivli resident, said, “This is an endless cycle. The BMC clears the hawkers during the day, but the vendors are back once they leave. It feels like a waste of resources unless the authorities work together to enforce the rules.” “The return of hawkers after BMC vehicles leave has also raised concerns, as the entire road becomes impossible to walk on,” Naik added. Selective action? Some residents and illegal hawkers have alleged certain makeshift stalls on the footpath were not demolished when the BMC was cracking down on hawkers. Nandedkar said, “These are baseless allegations. We take action regularly. Some stall owners return after action is taken.”
05 December,2024 07:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariThe Mumbai police’s traffic department has implemented temporary traffic restrictions on southbound routes ahead of the Maharashtra government’s swearing-in ceremony at Azad Maidan on December 5. Security measures have been heightened, as Chief Minister-elect Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries are set to take the oath at 5.30 pm. A large crowd is expected, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah also attending the event. Due to anticipated traffic congestion, temporary restrictions have been imposed across south Mumbai. The no-entry and alternate routes are as follows: 1. Mahapalika Marg: Traffic will be prohibited from the CSMT junction to Vasudev Balwant Phadke Chowk (Metro Junction) in both directions. Alternate route: L T Marg - Chakala Junction—right turn—D N Road—CSMT Junction—towards the desired destination. 2. Mahatma Gandhi Marg: Traffic will be prohibited from Chafekar Bandhu Chowk (OCS Junction) to Vasudev Balwant Phadke Chowk (Metro Junction) in both directions. Alternate route: L T Marg - Chakala Junction—right turn—D N Road—CSMT Junction—towards the desired destination. Traffic will also be diverted to Maharshi Karve Road towards desired destination. 3. Hajariminal Somani Marg: Traffic will be prohibited from Chafekar Bandhu Chowk (OCS Junction) to CSMT Junction. Alternate route: Chafekar Bandhu Chowk (OCS Junction) - Hutatma Chowk—Kala Ghoda—K Dubhash Marg— Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg—towards desired destination. Security drill underway on Wednesday 4. Meghdoot Bridge (Princess Street Bridge) [southbound]: Traffic from N S Road and Coastal Road towards Shamaldas Gandhi Junction will be prohibited. Alternate route: Commuters are advised to use N S Road. 5. Rambhau Salgaonkar Road (One Way): From 12 pm to 8 pm, the stretch from Indu Clinic Junction (Sayyed Jamakar Chowk) to Vogla Chowk will be open for traffic in both directions. Additionally, the Mumbai police have deployed 3,500 personnel, including 520 police officers, along with a platoon from the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Quick Response Team (QRT), Riot Control Team, Delta and Combat teams, and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad for enhanced security. 3,500No. of security personnel deployed
05 December,2024 06:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheDevendra Fadnavis’s political life has come full circle. He did return in 2019 following his poll campaign based on the tagline ‘Mi Punha Yein (I will be back)’, but subsequent political machinations kept him away from the chief minister’s office. True to his political self, he did not lose heart and spirit in those years. Maharashtra’s only second CM after Vasantrao Naik to complete a full term (2014-19) will be sworn in as the state’s 21st chief minister on Thursday. Fadnavis’ journey is nothing short of a potboiler. Over the past ten years, he has been a constant feature, firstly as the CM who learned on the job how to run the government. Then came a three-day tenure in the top seat before he and his deputy Ajit Pawar quit in the winter of 2019, followed by a stint as a fiery Opposition leader in the Assembly. He played a vital role in displacing the Uddhav Thackeray government but couldn’t come back as the leader of the government that came into being later. He was reluctant but finally took on the job of Deputy CM in the Eknath Shinde regime, which officially ended a few days ago, only to be back in the saddle once again. It was a defining moment for him when BJP legislators’ deafening cheers on Wednesday endorsed him as the head of state. (From left) Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister-elect; Shiv Sena chief and caretaker CM Eknath Shinde; and NCP chief Ajit Pawar during a press conference at Raj Bhawan on Wednesday For Fadnavis, memories of 2019 are indelible. “The people had given us a mandate in 2019 as well. But it was snatched away. The people were betrayed. In their [MVA’s] two and a half years [in power], we were troubled a lot. But in such an adverse situation, none of our MLAs defected. They struggled [against the MVA] instead. It was because of it that we came back in 2022, and now the people have given us a massive verdict,” he told MLAs after he was elected as the leader. The 1970-born leader will be taking oath as the CM thrice in succession as the BJP's representative on Thursday at the iconic Azad Maidan. A mammoth mandate of 137 MLAs—132 of his party’s and five from the smaller parties and independents—backed him to give Maharashtra a stable government. Ajit Pawar’s NCP (41 MLAs) and outgoing CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction (57 MLAs) have also pledged their support to him. Fadnavis, who, at 44, became the state’s second youngest CM after Sharad Pawar, who was 38 when he first headed the state. This time around, Fadnavis beat a jinx. He is the first deputy CM to become a CM. Gradual ascent Hard-pressed, abused and praised, heckled and cheered in equal measure in the later stages of his political career, Fadnavis has come up step by step. He began as a city corporator at 22 in Nagpur, where he was made the first mayor-in-council at 27 in the 1990s. Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister-elect The son of a BJP legislator, Gangadhar Fadnavis, he lost his father when he was not even 18. He beat the odds, worked relentlessly for the RSS and BJP and fought student union elections as he became a lawyer with a gold medal in Hindu Law. His first success in the Nagpur Assembly elections came in 1999. He hasn't lost an Assembly election ever since. PM Narendra Modi picked a chubby but energetic Fadnavis, then state BJP president, to be the CM of a minority government in 2014. Minority it was, because Uddhav Thackeray, who had fought separately like all other parties that year, hadn’t joined the government. Thackeray’s party did join Fadnavis a month later. Before that, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP had lent outside support to the BJP. The BJP-NCP love-hate story is now part of the nation’s political folklore.Since 2023, Pawar’s nephew Ajit has been supporting the BJP, citing his uncle’s tacit trysts with the party. Ajit will also be sworn in as Dy CM on Thursday after Fadnavis takes his oath. Fadnavis said he had urged Shinde to be part of his government. Shinde said he would let everyone know by Wednesday evening. Words of gratitude “Modi-ji has made a booth worker like me a CM thrice. Once, I was only there for 72 hours. But technically I was the CM. The party has changed under Modi-ji’s leadership, which gave common workers big positions,” Fadnavis said while thanking the prime minister, the party’s National President J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who, according to him, contributed a great deal to the party’s biggest win ever.He thanked the state BJP team led by Chandrashekhar Bawankule. “I’m here because you are here,” he told the MLAs and party workers, advising them to take the alliance partners along, because the BJP worked for the larger interests. Fadnavis’ nomination didn’t come as quickly as expected. It came 10 days after the victory even as the BJP negotiated with Shinde. In the interim, Fadnavis’ supporters flipped through the past—his unceremonious exit in 2019 and demotion in 2022, but they hoped very strongly that the party command would do justice to their collective wish of seeing Fadnavis in the CMO yet again. There was no visible jubilation in the streets and BJP offices, but a constant flow of MLAs, well-wishers in the party and supporters to Fadnavis’ homes in Mumbai and Nagpur, reaffirmed a feeling that denying him the top post would not be taken lightly, not just by those who wanted him to lead the ‘shat pratishat BJP in 2029 (100 per cent BJP by 2029)’ mission, but also by the RSS, which backed him like never before to take the party’s tally to 132. Add to 132 five others, and it is only eight short of the halfway mark needed to form the government on one’s own. These huge numbers will power Fadnavis’ agenda, and make allies think twice before attempting to loosen the nuts and bolts that hold the CM’s chair together. Balancing act In fact, it is expected of Fadnavis to be the master of alliance. His balancing act began with a visit to Shinde on Tuesday night to convince him to participate in the government. The CM-elect was gracious in requesting Shinde to lead them to the governor while submitting the claim to form the government. But then, BJP insiders feel that it was his ‘kind’ approach towards Uddhav Thackeray that had created more trouble rather than ease for him when he was the CM between 2014 and 2019. Lessons learnt. Fadnavis hardened his approach later. No wonder, in the past five years he has made more enemies than friends (a sign of a successful politician?). So, it is in this context that his third tenure will be most watched, carefully scrutinised and assessed. The poor strength of the Opposition notwithstanding. Fadnavis, who, as a CM, is known for his flagship projects, spelt out priorities for the next tenure. He said the massive mandate had not only made them happy but more responsible. “We will have to work to continue the schemes and fulfil the promises we have given to our beloved sisters, brothers, youth, farmers, dalits, adivasis, minorities and the underprivileged. In addition, we will have to make Maharashtra number one in the country on all fronts,” he added. He invoked the Indian Constitution and its greatness, Ahliyadevi Holkar for reviving the places of worship that were destroyed by foreign invaders, Bhagwan Birsa Munda for fighting the British to preserve jal, jamin and jungle (water, land and forests) and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for conceptualising the idea of ‘Nav Bharat’ that Modi has been taking forward. The choice of proposers and seconders, who supported Fadnavis’ sole candidature at the party MLAs meeting showed the BJP's deep insight into social engineering. The MLAs who took up the microphone in the Central Hall of Vidhan Bhavan represented various communities. “I assure all sections of the society that our government will work 24x7 for them,” Fadnavis said. 132No. of Assembly seats secured by BJP Shinde says he is happy to back Fadnavis Shiv Sena president and outgoing CM Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that he was happy to have backed Devendra Fadnavis as the chief minister. “It was here two years ago that Fadnavis backed me to be the CM. Today I’m happy that I have backed him,” he said after meeting the governor, adding that he had already expressed his support last week to the BJP’s candidate. He said the news reports about his being unhappy were unfounded. “I speak straight. In fact, this government is being formed in a very friendly manner, and I’m happy about it. We have worked as a team, and we will continue to be a team,” he added. He said the people’s big verdict had added to Mahayuti’s responsibility. “Fadnavis has experience working as the CM for five years and later as the DyCM for two and a half years. I congratulate him on his future journey. We assure our support to him,” he said. Asked about his participation in the government, Shinde said he would let everybody know by evening. Earlier, Fadnavis said that he had requested Shinde to be part of his government, and he was very hopeful about it.
05 December,2024 06:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Dharmendra JoreADVERTISEMENT
