India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Maharashtra civic polls: The political pot in Maharashtra is simmering with speculation over the possibility of an alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray who leads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, as the civic polls near. "Whatever people of Maharashtra wish will happen," Uddhav Thackeray asserted, while responding to reporters' questions about the possibility of an alliance between the two regional parties. Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, a close aide of the former CM, suggested there may have been phone calls between the two cousins who share a cold relationship. Raut, however, did not elaborate further. While Raj Thackeray has said uniting in the interest of 'Marathi manoos' (Marathi-speaking people) was not difficult, Uddhav Thackeray has insisted he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided those working against Maharashtra's interests were not entertained, reported PTI. The term of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with major civic bodies in Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik, concluded in March 2022. Several others -- including Navi Mumbai, Vasai Virar, Kalyan Dombivli, Kolhapur, and Aurangabad -- saw their terms end even earlier, back in 2020. By February 2024, the terms of all 29 civic bodies across Maharashtra had officially lapsed.
OCCRP had published news articles against Adani; BJP MP Sambit Patra calls Rahul 'traitor of highest order' After a hiatus of two days, the Winter Session of Parliament plunged into chaos again Thursday, this time due to the ruling BJP targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of being part of a plan to "derail" India's economy and "disrupt" its democracy. Senior BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the matter in the Lok Sabha, alleging that a "dangerous triangle" ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, "When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of M ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at 15 places in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the Mithi River desilting scam that caused a wrongful loss of more than Rs 65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), official sources said. The massive crackdown is underway at the premises across Mumbai and Kochi linked to the accused and suspects as part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities. According to the sources, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at locat ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted searches at the premises of actor Dino Morea and some others in Maharashtra apart from some locations in Kerala as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the Mithi river desilting "scam", official sources said. The fraud is alleged to have caused a Rs 65 crore loss to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The raids are covering more than 15 premises located in Mumbai and Kochi. This includes the premises of Morea, his brother, contractors and some others, the sources said. The investigation is being cond ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 4 (PTI) The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday cleared a bill to provide for the regulation of boilers, safety of life and property of persons from the danger of explosions of steam-boilers and uniformity in registration. The Boilers Bill, 2024 seeks to repeal the century old Boilers Act, 1923. Also Read | Naresh Balyan in Trouble: Delhi Police Seeks Arrest of AAP MLA in Fresh Case, Moves Court. The bill, which aims to decriminalise seven offences and promote ease of doing business, was cleared in the Upper House by a voice vote. The bill also provisions to ensure the safety of person ...Read More >
Mumbai: The death toll in Monday's BEST bus crash rose to seven and the number of injured to 42 even as the driver, Sanjay More, booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, claimed he had noticed a spark and mistakenly accelerated the bus instead of applying brakes. Seeking More's custody, police said they want to investigate if he intentionally used the vehicle as a weapon. The bus on Route 332 had accelerated on a congested 200m stretch near Kurla station hitting vehicles and pedestr ...Read More >
Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has drawn sharp criticism from Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders and Vanchit president Prakash Ambedkar over his recent statements in Parliament on Dr BR Ambedkar. "Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai (It has become a fashion now) - Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. If they had taken God's name as many times, then they would have got a place in heaven," Shah had said in Parliament. The MVA leaders hit out at Amit Shah for such remarks. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said that Amit Shah became the Home Minister only because of the Constitution. Shiv Sena ( ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jan 13 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut met with Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Monday amid doubts over the opposition MVA coalition's future after the former announced going solo in the local body elections in Maharashtra. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Raut slammed Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah for his critical remarks on Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray made during his visit to Maharashtra on Sunday. Sources revealed that the meeting at Pawar's Silver Oak residence, which lasted for 20 to 25 minutes, ...Read More >
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday claimed that caretaker Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was sulking and throwing tantrums at BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis with the backing of the "superpower in Delhi", an apparent reference to BJP's top brass. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Raut described the delay in the formation of a government in Maharashtra as anarchic. He said it has been more than 10 days since the assembly election results were declared, but no party or alliance which has got a complete majority, has either staked claim to form the government or has gi ...Read More >
New Delhi: The opposition INDIA bloc formed to take on the BJP led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is struggling with internal rift with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledging the growing discontent among the alliance partners and asking Congress to justify its leadership role instead of taking it for granted. Suggesting the Congress to raise the issue of raise the issue of restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the leadership "has to be earned" and cannot be taken for granted. "By virtue of being the single largest party in Parliament, and als ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Veteran journalist and writer Humra Quraishi, who died due to heart failure and diabetic complications, was known as an advocate for truth, justice and as a champion for the marginalised. Quraishi breathed her last at a hospital in Gurugram on Thursday, her daughter Sarah Quraishi told PTI. She was 70. Also Read | Indian Army's 'Sambhav' Smart Phone Used During China Border Talks for Secure Communication. Born in Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh on April 25, 1956, Quraishi worked as a Delhi-based writer and columnist. Also Read | Saif Ali Khan Stabbing Case: 'Bring a S ...Read More >
Mhow (M.P), Jan 27 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday urged party workers to unite in saving the Constitution, saying the Dalits, backwards, tribals and poor will suffer otherwise. Addressing the "Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan" rally here, he also branded the BJP-RSS people as "traitors" and said the Congress will never tolerate the exploitation of the poor in the name of religion. Taking a swipe at BJP leaders taking holy dip at the Maha Kumbh, Kharge said taking a dip in the holy Ganga will not help remove poverty. He, however, stressed that he does not wish to hurt ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Also Read | World Environment Day 2025: Italian Deputy PM Antonio Tajani Lauds PM Narendra Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Initiative (See Pics and Video). "Large-s ...Read More >
Former minister Chandrakant Patil on Thursday said that the office of the National Book Trust (NBT) will now be permanently shifted from Mumbai to Pune, and a building space from the Pune Municipal Corporation has been leased to them immediately. This year's book festival, organized by the National Book Trust, will take place from December 14 to 22 at the grounds of Fergusson College. On Thursday, the office of the book festival was inaugurated, and the foundation stone for the pandal was laid by former minister Chandrakant Patil. On this occasion, the festival organizers, including Rajesh P ...Read More >
The Sena UBT chief spokesperson was reacting to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's comment that West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee should be allowed to lead the INDIA bloc. Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that his party was open to discuss if someone outside of the Congress party should lead the Opposition INDIA bloc. Speaking in New Delhi Delhi, Raut said that all the constituents of the INDIA bloc are willing to have a discuss ...Read More >
Nagpur: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday claimed the Centre's move to introduce a bill on simultaneous polls in the Lok Sabha was an attempt to divert attention from issues plaguing the country. Addressing reporters in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, Thackeray demanded a transparent election process before implementation of the 'One Nation One Election' proposal. Even the election commissioners should be elected through polls, the former state chief minister said but did not elaborate on how to go about it. Thackeray also said that the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government ...Read More >
Mumbai: Former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday rubbished Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that the BJP's victory in the Maharashtra assembly polls ended the politics of betrayal and treachery started by him in 1978. "I was the chief minister in 1978. I am not aware about his whereabouts then," Pawar told reporters in Mumbai. "When I was the chief minister, there were people like Uttamrao Patil from Jan Sangh in my ministry," Pawar added. The decorum of the post of home minister should be maintained, the NCP (SP) chief said, bemoaning the lack of communication between present pol ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday inaugurated the final 76-km-long stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, making the entire 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur corridor fully functional and bringing down the travel time between the two cities to 8 hours from around 18 hours. Fadnavis described the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg as an "engineering marvel" and said this "economic corridor" would play a vital role in the state's development. Fadnavis said by connecting the expressway with the proposed Vadhvan port, they are planning to develop it as an "economic corrid ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate on Friday conducted searches in Maharashtra and Kerala as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the Mithi river desilting "scam" that is alleged to have caused a Rs 65 crore loss to the BMC, official sources said. The raids are covering more than 15 premises located in Mumbai and Kochi. The investigation is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said. The ED case against certain officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and some others stems from a Mumbai Police economic off ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 17 (PTI) Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday launched a veiled attack on party president Ajit Pawar over his exclusion from the new council of ministers, claiming Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was in favour of his induction in the cabinet. He said Ajit Pawar, the NCP president, makes decisions for the party like Fadnavis for the BJP and Eknath Shinde for the Shiv Sena. Amid speculation over his "Jahan nahi chaina, wahan nahi rehna" remark a day before, Bhujbal said he would speak on Wednesday after discussing with NCP workers and people from the Yeola cons ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the country will not tolerate Babasaheb Ambedkar's insult and demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah should apologise for his remarks in the Rajya Sabha. Several MPs of the INDIA bloc, including Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest in Parliament premises demanding Shah's apology for his remarks which they claimed were an insult to B R Ambedkar. Sharing pictures from the protest, Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi, "Baba Saheb is the architect of the Constitution, ...Read More >
Kolkata: On the 13th day of teachers' protest outside Bikash Bhavan, the protesting teachers split among themselves and formed a new platform. At least 2,500 protesters stood by the chief minister, as stated in a press conference by education minister Bratya Basu on Monday. Reacting to a question from media, Basu said in Titagarh, "I will trust those who have written to me expressing their faith in the chief minister."The new organisation formed was named the West Bengal Untainted Teachers Associ ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who inaugurated the final stretch of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway on Thursday, swapped the driver's seat with his deputy Eknath Shinde during the inspection of the route - much like their political role reversal last year. In order to inspect the project, Shinde drove an Audi car from Igatpuri in Nashik district for a few kilometers accompanied by Fadnavis and deputy Ajit Pawar, while on their return journey, the trio travelled together with CM taking over the steering of high-end Lexus car. In the last phase of the ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane on Thursday claimed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had insulted Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's Raj Thackeray in the past. Speaking to reporters in Solapur, Rane, a BJP MLA, also said Uddhav Thackeray must admit the 'Ladha Aapalya Shivsenesathi' (fight for your Shiv Sena) was meant to promote his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray. "Uddhav Thackeray consistently insulted Raj Thackeray and forced him to leave the party. Raj was always seen as inheritor of the legacy of late Balasaheb Thackeray. That is why senior leaders of both ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers attacked an auto-rickshaw driver here and forced him to apologise for allegedly using objectionable language against a Marathi-speaking passenger as well as party chief Raj Thackeray. The incident involving the passenger took place in Dadar area of central Mumbai on Wednesday. The passenger shot a video of the driver using objectionable language against him and Thackeray. He later posted the video, which shows the number plate of the auto-rickshaw, on social media, a police official said. On the basis of the video, MNS workers tra ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said whatever people of Maharashtra wish will happen, amid talks of possibility of an alliance between his party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray. Talking to reporters here, the former chief minister said there was no confusion in the minds of the workers of both the parties about this. "Whatever people of Maharashtra wish will happen," Thackeray said. The Thackeray cousins have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with their recent statements indicating that they ...Read More >
Shinde accepts BJP's decision, likely to receive key ministries Shinde has agreed to BJP's decision to make a Chief Minister from its ranks. He is expected to be given important portfolios like Urban Development, Public Works Department, and Water Resources. Sources also say that two Deputy Chief Ministers will be appointed, one each from Shiv Sena and NCP. Pawar has told his party leaders that the swearing-in ceremony could take place this weekend. Despite initial resistance, Shinde announced his party's support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah's decision on the ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 3 (PTI) Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday visited a private hospital in Thane for a "check-up," two days before a new CM is sworn in at an open ground ceremony in south Mumbai. Even as it is not known yet who would take oath as chief minister at Azad Maidan on the evening of December 5, preparations are in full swing for the ceremony, to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, about 2,000 VVIPs and some 40,000 supporters. Shinde, who had been staying at his private residence in Thane for the last few days, visited the hospital in the morning. "I ...Read More >
INDIA bloc MPs, donning black jackets with slogans like "Modi Adani Ek Hai", protested at Parliament demanding a joint probe into the Adani issue. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused PM Modi of evading discussion on the "Adani mega scam" while defending Adani's alleged corruption. Rahul Gandhi asserted that Modi won't investigate Adani as it would be like investigating himself.Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thursday said the country's people want the "Adani mega scam" to be discussed in Parliame ...Read More >