Sharad Pawar predicts Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra to split up before 2017

NCP chief Sharad Pawar suggested that Maharashtra politics may be heading for a political realignment with the alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena, that's in power in the state, breaking up before the 2017 Mumbai civic polls.

NCP open to anti-BJP-Sena tieup

Against the backdrop of the merger of six parties that had united as one Janata Parivar to take on the BJP, the NCP has expressed its readiness to form a progressive alliance against the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in Maharashtra. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that the party will seriously consider the issue if such a situation should arise, but not at the cost of its own identity.

BJP's demand for more seats in BMC polls will lead to break-up with ally Shiv Sena: Sharad Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said the honeymoon between the BJP and the Shiv Sena will be over once the issue of seat-sharing crops up on the eve of BMC election, leading to instability and mid-term polls in the state.

Navi Mumbai civic polls: NCP-Cong enter into post-poll tie-up

Mumbai: The NCP on Monday announced a post poll tie-up with Congress in the 111-member Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, elections to which were held recently.
NCP had bagged 52 seats while Congress had won ten.

Party President Sunil Tatkare told reporters that NCP leader Ganesh Naik had appealed to "like-minded" parties to join hands.

"His appeal has been accepted. NCP will keep Mayor and Standing Committee Chairman post for five years. While the Congress will have the Deputy Mayor post. While other committees would be headed for four years by NCP and remaining one year by Congress. Congress will get adequate representation in different committees," he said.

With NCP and Congress joining hands, NCP has a comfortable majority of 62 in the 111-member civic body. Shiv Sena had won 37 while BJP got six and there are 5 independents.

Navi Mumbai and Aurangabad Municipal Corporation Election Result 2015

Sena slams AIMIM for playing communal card
Mumbai, Apparently disturbed by the spectacular performance of Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the Aurangabad civic polls, the Shiv Sena said on Friday it does not augur well for communal amity in Maharashtra.

"It's a matter of concern how the AIMIM has got strength from Muslim localities in Sambhajinagar where the Owaisi brothers had challenged to uproot the saffron flag and plant their green flag," the Shiv Sena said.

MIM stuns Congress, NCP in Aurangabad civic polls
Aurangabad, The Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen notched a spectacular performance in the elections to the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation and is poised to become the main opposition party following poll results here on Thursday.

AIMIM secured 25 seats in the 113-member civic body, stunning the Congress, which got 10 seats, and the Nationalist Congress Party which managed three seats, while other smaller parties and Independents bagged 24 seats.

AIMIM emerges second largest party in Aurangabad civic polls, Navi Mumbai Civic poll result, Aurangabad Civic poll result

Total voter turnout: 51% voting in Navi Mumbai, 65% in Aurangabad

Navi Mumbai Civic Poll Live: Voting gets underway..Click here..>>

BJP distances itself from poll outcome

The Bharatiya Janata Party is peeved with the Sena at the way tickets have been distributed. "We have told the CM that we have no role to play in the final outcome of the civic poll on Wednesday," BJP party sources.
The currents of discontent in the saffron alliance had surfaced earlier but BJP denied it officially. Their concerns were relayed again after the CM's rally on Sunday.

Owaisi brothers poisoning minds of Muslims: Shiv Sena

MUMBAI: Accusing Owaisi brothers of Majlis-e- Ittehadul Muslimeen's (MIM) of "poisoning" the minds of Muslims, Shiv Sena today said the Hyderabad-based outfit would be defeated in the Aurangabad municipal polls the same way it was routed in the recently-held Bandra bypoll.

Elections to Aurangabad and Navi Mumbai municipal corporations are being held today.

"The Owaisi brothers (Asaduddin and Akbaruddin), who were recently in Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), issued a fatwa to remove the saffron flag from the civic body and replace it with the green one. What else can be expected from them? The green colour of Pakistan's flag has filled up their minds," the Sena said in the editorial of party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Calling MIM a "demon" that is looming over Aurangabad, the saffron party said that the Owaisi brothers should not forget that the people of Sambhajinagar would defeat their party just like in Bandra byelection.

"Everybody has seen the way MIM's ideology was defeated in the Bandra bypoll. They keep poisoning the minds of Muslims in Sambhajinagar. But history will repeat itself in today's polls," it said.

"The patriotic Muslims voters will show their strong nationalistic streak by not supporting the Owaisi brothers. This is a good chance to bury the demon and purify the land from its ill-effects," it said.

Ahead of Navi Mumbai civic polls, police uncover two cases of illegal arms trade

On the eve of the civic elections in Navi Mumbai, the police arrested three men and seized firearms in two separate cases in the past three days. The Anti Extortion Cell of the crime branch on Sunday arrested Dineshsingh Parihar (46) who allegedly planned to sell firearms to a Vinayak Anthony (55) in Navi Mumbai. Three country-made revolvers and two live rounds were seized from their custody, the police said.

MIM effectively uses social media to unite votes for Aurangabad civic polls

Desperate to make inroads in the civic body, members and supporters of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are effectively using social media, websites and mobile applications to reach out to voters and to unite votes for the party ahead of the Aurangabad civic polls.

The campaign for the civic body elections – voting for which takes place on Wednesday, April 22 – came to an end on Monday at 5 pm with the candidates and start campaigners making final attempts to woo the voters. There are 113 seats total and MIM has fielded 60 candidates.

Navi Mumbai civic poll candidates go online to woo residents

Candidates from various political parties have turned to the web to woo voters. They have updated their profiles on Facebook and created groups on WhatsApp. While most are doing it themselves, some are using agencies for a polished online presence.
"I am active on Facebook and WhatsApp. Most people are on social networking sites, so we decided to approach a private company to manage our online campaigning needs. It doesn't mean we don't knock on doors anymore," said Rupali Bhagat, Congress candidate, who will contest from Sanpada.

NMMC poll: Educated voters prefer NOTA

While voters from slum pockets and low income groups even from developed residential nodes are not aware of NOTA (none of the above) button in the EVM, which has been incorporated in Navi Mumbai civic polls for all 111 seats, a section of educated voters seems to be in favour of exercising this option as they have no connect with their local candidates.

Several assembly, LS aspirants to contest civic polls

Several candidates, who will be fighting the upcoming civic elections, are those who had tried but failed to win Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in the past.
Shiv Sena leader Vijay Chougule, who lost to Sanjeev Naik in Thane Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and was also beaten by Airoli MLA Sandeep Naik in 2009 and 2014 assembly polls, is contesting the NMMC polls. Starting out as a corprorator from Chinchpada in Airoli, Chougule was a Cidco director.

Similarly, Namdev Bhagat, another former Cidco director, had contested and lost assembly polls twice in 2009 and 2014 as Congress nominee from Belapur constituency. He has joined the Sena last month and will be fighting the civic polls. "We want to serve the people. Though I have lost two assembly polls I can't afford to call it quits. We have to accept what comes our way," said Bhagat.

Former deputy mayor Ramakant Mhatre, who lost the civic and assembly polls in 2009 and 2014 respectively, has fielded his wife Mandakini from Rabale ward, as it is reserved for women.

Sena veteran Vithal More, who will be seeking reelection from Vashi ward no. 60, has had an eventful political career. He had fought from Hinganghat assembly constituency in Wardha district in 1995 poll and was defeated. He also lost the subsequent civic poll from Vashi but was part of the general body later as a nominated corporator.

April 22 civic polls, an acid test for BJP-Sena

Scheduled for April 22, the municipal elections in Navi Mumbai and Aurangabad will be an acid test for the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena, who are sharing power in Maharashtra after a gap of 15 years.

The civic elections in Aurangabad, a citadel of Shiv Sena, and Navi Mumbai, the stronghold of NCP stalwart Ganesh Naik, are being seen as an important precursor to the municipal polls scheduled for early 2017 in Maharashtra’s 10 main cities, including Mumbai, which has the richest civic body in Asia with a budget more than that of a state like Kerala.

The NCP and Congress are contesting independently in both the civic bodies. The Sena-BJP alliance is ruling the AMC since 1988.

In Navi Mumbai the number of wards increased to 111 from 89. The political landscape of the city, located on the outskirts of Mumbai, has seen Ganesh Naik’s dominance for the last 15 years.

Shiv Sena wins Bandra East by-poll in Maharashtra

Shiv Sena candidate Trupti Sawant was elected to the Maharashtra assembly in the prestigious by-poll from Bandra East constituency here, trouncing her chief rival, Congress candidate and former chief minister Narayan Rane, officials said here on Wednesday.

Sawant, widow of former Sena strongman Bala Sawant, secured a victory margin of over 19,000 votes, comfortably defeating the Congress' Rane and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen's (AIMIM) Raja Rahbar Khan, who stood a distant third.

The outcome indicated a serious setback to Rane's attempts to salvage his political career and future prospects.

The by-election last Saturday in Bandra East was necessitated following the death of Sena strongman and sitting legislator Bala Sawant.

Maharashtra Bye election result live: Counting of votes begins

Counting on votes for the by-elections to Bandra east assembly constituency, where Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane is taking on Shiv Sena and MIM began on Wednesday morning. Read More..>>

Sympathy factor helps Sena, NCP in Maharashtra by-polls
Mumbai/Sangli, Riding on a sympathy wave, the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party nominees, both widows, raced towards victory in the Maharashtra assembly by-polls in Mumbai and Sangli districts, according to latest counting trends available here on Wednesday.

The Shiv Sena's Trupti Sawant and the NCP's Suman Patil have secured strong leads in their constituencies - Bandra East and Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal respectively - where vote counting commenced in the morning and is expected to be completed by afternoon.

The trends indicated a serious setback to the Congress's heavyweight candidate, former chief minister Narayan T. Rane in Bandra East, who was trailing by over 15,000 votes.

In Tasgaon-Kavthemahanmal, Patil easily sailed through the challenge posed by a Bharatiya Janata Party rebel Swapnil Patil, building up a lead of over 100,000 votes.

The Bandra East by-election last Saturday was necessitated by the death of sitting Sena legislator Bala Sawant, and in Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal following the death of sitting legislator and former deputy chief minister R.R. Patil.

ABP News-Nielsen Exit Poll: Shiv Sena likely to win from Bandra East in Assembly by-polls

Owaisi brothers to be MIM's star campaigners

AURAGABAD: The district unit of the All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen, in coordination with the party's Hyderabad-based team, has chalked out a campaigning strategy for the civic polls in Aurangabad. The plan, which is awaiting approval by party president Asaduddin Owaisi, includes road shows, rallies, speeches at public places, door-to-door campaigning by Owaisi brothers, their seven MLAs from Hyderabad and two MLAs from the state. The party president is likely to camp in the city for five consecutive days for campaigning.

MLA Imtiyaz Jaleel said, "Our poll campaigning would highlight city's development, infrastructure and privatisation of water supply. We do not believe in polarisation of votes and we will ensure that the parties who have been fooling the masses for decades together do not return to power."

He also said that party's star campaigners would be Asauddin Owaisi and his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi.

Moderate turnout in Maharashtra bypolls
Voting ended peacefully for the by-polls to Bandra East (Mumbai) and Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal (Sangli) assembly constituencies in Maharashtra on Saturday, officials said.
As per tentative estimates, a modest 43 percent and 45 percent polling were recorded in Bandra East and Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal respectively.
The elections were necessitated by the demise of sitting Bandra East legislator Bala Sawant, a senior Shiv Sena leader and Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal legislator R. R. Patil, former deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader.
In Bandra East, Congress strongman and former chief minister Narayan T. Rane has locked horns with Shiv Sena's Trupti Sawant, widow of Bala Sawant, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Raja Rehbar Khan.
In Tasgaon-Kavthemahankal, Patil's widow Suman R. Patil contested with the support of all major state parties, barring Bharatiya Janata Party rebel Swapnil Patil.

The counting will be done on April 15.

9% voting till 10 am in Bandra (East) bypoll
Voting for the Assembly bypolls to Bandra (East) in suburban Mumbai and Tasgaon Kavthe-Mahankal in Sangli district began this morning.
A voter turnout of 9% has been registered till 10 am in Bandra (East) Assembly by-election, while 6% has been registered in Tasgaon Kavthe-Mahankal constituency.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, Sawant had humbled BJP's Krishna Parkar, MNS's Shilpa Sarpotdar and Congress leader Sunil Bagdi to win the seat.

Counting of votes will be done on April 15.

AMC struggles to collect poll-related data

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is apparently struggling to collect detailed election-related information from its ten returning offices in the city and present it in a systematic manner.
After scrutiny of all the nomination forms for the upcoming civic body elections, the municipal administration was supposed to declare the list of eligible and ineligible candidates on Wednesday. However, the authorities were unable to share the list with the media till late in the evening.

Couple tickets new formula for parties in Navi Mumbai civic polls

The rise in the number of wards, including the ones reserved for women, in the city has prompted several corporators to rope in their better halves to fight the municipal corporation election, and the Shiv Sena is leading the way.
Delimitation of wards has taken the total up to 111 from 89, and as many as 55 seats are reserved for women.
The couple formula appears to have found most favour in the Shiv Sena party. At least four couples will be among the 68 candidates to contest the polls. "Shiv Sena has emerged as a party that is rooting for family members. Apart from married couples, there are instances of daughters-in-law joining the poll battle along with fathers-in-law," said a political observer.

BJP candidate Ramchandra Gharat said his wife, Vijaya, secured the lone BJP seat in the last election. "This time, the party decided to let us fight the election together. I am representing ward number 66 of Turbhe and Vijaya will be contesting from ward number 72 of the same node," he said.

NMMC Polls: Newcomers try to break family fiefdom in Rabale

Rabale’s ward number 19 and 20 has seen corporators from the Sonawne family since the last three civic polls. Newly married sitting corporator of ward 20, RPI’s Dr Gautami Sonawne has decided to not contest the elections and instead make way for her father Sudhakar Sonawne.  Sudhakar was the ward’s corporator before his daughter and will be contesting as an independent this time.

Another member of the family, Sudhakar’s wife Ranjana, will be contesting from ward number 19. With members of the family themselves contesting, several close aides have jumped ship to different parties, as they were denied tickets.