BY QUAID NAJMI

Mumbai, Dec 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and new Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis' famous pre-election prediction "Mee punha yaeen, Mee punha yaeen, Mee punha yaeen (I will return!)" sparked off some fizzy humour in the special session of the assembly, leaving members on both the treasury and opposition benches in splits.

In his speech, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took friendly jibes at Fadnavis, now sitting in the opposition benches, and said: "I have never proclaimed that 'Mee ithe yaeen' (I will come here), but by fateful circumstance, I have come here (as the CM)."

He added that he was truly fortunate, as "those who were our friends once are now in the opposition and those who were our foes are now our allies".

"Fadnavis ji, we were friends once and shall always remain so... I have learnt a lot from you. But, in your past five years as CM, I never betrayed you or created any obstacles in your work. But, if we had been together, then I would have been watching today's proceedings live on television at home!" Thackeray said, broadly suggesting that allying with the BJP again would have been disastrous for the Shiv Sena.

Nationalist Congress Party leader and Minister Jayant Patil also took a few digs at Fadnavis, saying: "He had promised 'Mee punha yaeen', but never indicated where he would be 'sitting'. Now for the next five years, you don't make any attempts to come this side (ruling). So, your appointment as Leader of the Opposition is quite apt."

He called how in 2014, the BJP legislators had elected Fadnavis as the CM, but this time, the very same BJP MLAs had chosen Fadnavis over Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil (the former Congress Leader of Opposition, now with the BJP).

"Vikhe-Patil is still our man... There's no distance between... We can pull him back," Patil said in a veiled hint that many former Congress-NCP leaders who had left to join the BJP could make a 'ghar-wapsi' and further truncate the BJP.

Replying to the caustic felicitations that had members on both sides in splits several times, Fadnavis said that though he had forecast he would return, he had not indicated any time frame for it, implying he could bid for power again, and the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress beware!

"I thank you all, and Uddhav ji. Most people made nice speeches about me here. But, some of their statements reminded me of the (Amitabh Bachchan-Mausi's) dialogue in "Sholay" film - 'Ladka to accha hai, par'. Those who were in the opposition once, they are now in the government. But, such things keep happening in a democracy," he said.

Despite the fiasco of an 80-hour two-member government, Fadnavis reiterated his intention to return to power again, but this time with a slight poetic twist in the tale: "That's why I had said 'Mee punha yaeen'... 'Mera paani utarta dekh, kinare pe ghar mat banao, Main samunar hoon, lautkar zaroor aaonga' (Don't build your homes on the shore seeing the receding waters; I am an ocean, I will return)."

Addressing Patil's specific jibes, Fadnavis said that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi functions in the interests of the people of the state, the opposition would always support it unflinchingly.

However, if the government failed to function and fulfill the public aspirations, then he warned that the opposition would not think twice before toppling it.

All the good-natured humour and banter on both sides came to end as it was time for Governor B.S. Koshyari to deliver his address to the maiden sitting of the legislature later this evening, preceded by the unopposed election of Congress leader Nana F. Patole as the Speaker and later Fadnavis in his new post.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Well-known farmers' leader Nana F. Patole - who shot to fame after he revolted against Prime Minister Narendra Modi two years ago - was elected unopposed to the post of 14th Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, here on Sunday.

A former Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bhandara-Gondiya in the state, he was among the first to slam the PM, party leaders in centre and state and had quit the party and his seat in December 2017.

He had released a 14-point letter citing the reasons for his resignation and even attacked the Maharashtra government earlier for the manner in which it implemented the farm loans waiver scheme.

Patole's resignation came barely hours before the crucial Gujarat Assembly elections and he made a high profile 'ghar wapasi' to the Congress for which he campaigned aggressively against the BJP in Modi's home-state.

On OBC and farmers leader, Patole, 56, started his political career in 1990 at the Bhandara Zilla Parishad and was first elected as Congress MLA in 1999, later in 2004 and in 2009 on a BJP ticket.

He remained with the Congress till 2008, remained independent for a year and joined the BJP in 2009 and won the Sakoli seat in Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra.

In 2014, he emerged as a 'giant-killer' by trouncing sitting Nationalist Congress Party MP and Union Minister Praful Patel, but quit in Dec. 2017.

Patole rejoined the Congress and contested the 2019 Lok Sabha unsuccessfully against BJP Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Six months later, he contested the assembly elections and was elected from Sakoli constituency, trouncing a BJP minister of state Parinay Fuke.

After the Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Sena-NCP-Congress came to power last week, Patole was elected unopposed as the Speaker after the BJP withdrew its candidate Kisan Kathore from the fray.

He succeeds the BJP's Speaker Haribhau Bagade and his elevation is viewed as a signal that the new MVA government is 'pro-farmer' besides an attempt to maintain 'a political equilibrium' between the eastern and western regions of the state as Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray hails from Mumbai, and especially more since the previous CM Devendra Fadnavis was from Nagpur.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Well-known farmers' leader Nana F. Patole - who shot to fame after he revolted against Prime Minister Narendra Modi two years ago - was elected unopposed to the post of 14th Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, here on Sunday.

A former Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bhandara-Gondiya in the state, he was among the first to slam the PM, party leaders in centre and state and had quit the party and his seat in December 2017.

He had released a 14-point letter citing the reasons for his resignation and even attacked the Maharashtra government earlier for the manner in which it implemented the farm loans waiver scheme.

Patole's resignation came barely hours before the crucial Gujarat Assembly elections and he made a high profile 'ghar wapasi' to the Congress for which he campaigned aggressively against the BJP in Modi's home-state.

On OBC and farmers leader, Patole, 56, started his political career in 1990 at the Bhandara Zilla Parishad and was first elected as Congress MLA in 1999, later in 2004 and in 2009 on a BJP ticket.

He remained with the Congress till 2008, remained independent for a year and joined the BJP in 2009 and won the Sakoli seat in Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra.

In 2014, he emerged as a 'giant-killer' by trouncing sitting Nationalist Congress Party MP and Union Minister Praful Patel, but quit in Dec. 2017.

Patole rejoined the Congress and contested the 2019 Lok Sabha unsuccessfully against BJP Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Six months later, he contested the assembly elections and was elected from Sakoli constituency, trouncing a BJP minister of state Parinay Fuke.

After the Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Sena-NCP-Congress came to power last week, Patole was elected unopposed as the Speaker after the BJP withdrew its candidate Kisan Kathore from the fray.

He succeeds the BJP's Speaker Haribhau Bagade and his elevation is viewed as a signal that the new MVA government is 'pro-farmer' besides an attempt to maintain 'a political equilibrium' between the eastern and western regions of the state as Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray hails from Mumbai, and especially more since the previous CM Devendra Fadnavis was from Nagpur.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was elected unopposed as the Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, here on Sunday.

Speaker Nana F. Patole announced the name of Fadnavis to the prestigious post amid applause and thumping of desks by the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi members and the opposition benches.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders like Jayant Patil, Eknath Shinde, Balasaheb Thorat congratulated Fadnavis and welcomed his election to the post.

Fadnavis, 49, was elected as the first-ever BJP CM of the state in October 2014 and later sworn-in again in November 2019 along with NCP's Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister. However, the two-man government collapsed in barely 80 hours, paving the way for the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress's MVA regime.

A member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Fadnavis hails from the state's second capital Nagpur and was elected as Nagpur Municipal Corporation Mayor for five years in 1997 - the second youngest ever in India.

Earlier, he had served as the BJP state President and has been elected for the fifth consecutive term starting from 1999 as a MLA from Nagpur, also known as the Orange City.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior Congress leader Nana F. Patole has been declared elected unopposed as the 14th Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, here on Sunday.

Pro-Tem Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil made the announcement that was greeted with applause and thumping of desks by both the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and the Opposition Maha Yuti alliances.

The development came soon after the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew its nominee, Kisan Kathore from the contest earlier today for the prestigious post, according to state party chief Chandrakant Patil.

Patole was the candidate of the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which won the vote of confidence in the assembly on Saturday afternoon with 169:000.

Soon after Patole's election was announced, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders of MVA congratulated him and recalled his glowing contributions as a parliamentarian and legislator in Maharashtra for over two decades.

Others who spoke included Congress Legislature Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat, Nationalist Congress Legislature Party Leader Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena's senior leader Eknath Shinde among many more.

The next major appointment pending is that of the critical post of Leader of Opposition, which is likely to be announced in due course.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior Congress leader Nana F. Patole is set to be declared elected unopposed as the new Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly here on Sunday.

This became possible after the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday withdrew its nominee, Kisan Kathore from the contest for the prestigious said, according to state party chief Chandrakant Patil.

Patole was the candidate of the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which won the vote of confidence in the assembly on Saturday afternoon with 169:000.

A formal announcement is likely to be made later when the Maharashtra Assembly meets later on Sunday for a two-day Special Session.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Maha Vikas Aghadi led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday decisively won the vote of confidence securing 169 votes, considerably higher than the minimum of 145 required in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly.

Against the ruling alliance's 169, four members abstained while there were zero against the trust resolution as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party with 105 MLAs and other supporters boycotted the proceedings, and staged a walkout.

The break-up comes to 169 MLAs for the MVA government, four abstentions, and 155 including the BJP's 105 and its supporters who walked out of the House before the voting.

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar - the newphew of NCP President Sharad Pawar also voted at No. 6 in favour of the Thackeray government, as also his nephew Rohit Pawar, and Thackeray's son Aditya Thackeray.

Ajit Pawar had suddenly allied with the BJP's former CM Devendra Fadnavis and was sworn in as Deputy CM in an early morning ceremony on November 23, stunning the nation. However, that shortlived government collapsed in barely 80 hours.

Earlier, the resolution seeking the House confidence in the Thackeray government was moved by Congress' Ashok Chavan, Nationalist Congress Party's Nawab Malik and Shiv Sena's Sunil Prabhu.

The resolution seeking the House confidence in the Thackeray government was moved by Congress' Ashok Chavan, Nationalist Congress Party's Nawab Malik and Shiv Sena's Sunil Prabhu.

After winning the vote, Thackeray expressed his gratitude to the House for reposing confidence in his government and said it would get down to work in right earnest.

The Sena-NCP-Congress leaders attacked the opposition for creating hurdles in the House proceedings and said that the ruling alliance's claim of 169 MLAs support was proved correct in the floor test today.

The trust vote came after a stormy start to the 2-day special Assembly session called specifically for the floor test and the election of Speaker.

Adopting an aggressive stance, the Oppositon BJP led by former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis boycotted the special Assembly session contending that the proceedings contravened the statute and Supreme Court orders.

He said the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress removed the earlier pro tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar and appointed another pro tem Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil in his place, contravening parliamentary rules and regulations.

Fadnavis also took objections to the manner of the oath-taking ceremony held at Shivaji Park on November 28, saying it was not done as per the format, since the names of various past and present national leaders/heroes were invoked.

However, the pro tem Speaker Walse-Patil rejected the contentions saying the special session was as per the directives of the Governor B.S. Koshyari and in accordance with the Supreme Court orders.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Maha Vikas Aghadi led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday decisively won the vote of confidence securing 169 votes, considerably higher than the minimum of 145 required in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly.

Against the ruling alliance's 169, four members abstained while there was a zero against the trust resolution as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party with 105 MLAs and other supporters boycotted the proceedings and staged a walkout.

The resolution seeking the House confidence in the Thackeray government was moved by Congress' Ashok Chavan, Nationalist Congress Party's Nawab Malik and Shiv Sena's Sunil Prabhu.

The trust vote came after a stormy start to the 2-day special Assembly session called specifically for the floor test and the election of Speaker.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid a ruckus by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray introduced himself and his six-member cabinet to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, here on Saturday afternoon.

BJP members, led by former CM Devendra Fadnavis, argued that the two-day special session was in violation of norms.

However, the pro tem Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil rejected the contentions saying the special session was as per the directives of Governor B.S. Koshyari.

The special session will see a floor test for the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Thackeray, and later there will be an election for the post of the Speaker.

The BJP has nominated Kisan S. Kathore as its candidate against the MVA nominee and Congress legislator Nana F. Patole for the post of Speaker.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said it will contest the Speaker's post and nominated legislator Kisan S. Kathore as its candidate against the Maha Vikas Aghadi's nominee, legislator Nana F. Patole.

While Kathore was elected from Thane, Patole from Bhandara.

The election for the Speaker will be held on Sunday, as per an official announcement.

The election will take place a day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's government is scheduled to undergo a floor test, here on Saturday.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) With a combined strength of around 165 legislators in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)-led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is confident of winning the floor test here later on Saturday.

The floor test will be conducted by Pro-Tem Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil after the House assembles at 2 p.m., for a special session of two days.

The development comes four days after the previous Pro-Tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar had conducted the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected legislators, as per a Supreme Court order.

"We have a very comfortable majority with over 165 members supporting us. We shall easily prove our majority in the house today," said newly-inducted NCP Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

On Thursday, Thackeray took the oath as Chief Minister and took charge of the Mantralaya on Friday.

The Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress-Congress and other allies besides some others like Bahujan Vikas Aghadi together have notched up a figure of 165, comfortably higher than the half-way mark of 145 required for simple majority.

After the floor test and trust vote in the new government, the new Speaker of the Assembly will be elected before the winter session of the legislature.

Source: IANS

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The floor test will be conducted by Pro-Tem Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil after the House assembles at 2 p.m., for a special session of two days.

The development comes four days after the previous Pro-Tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar had conducted the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected legislators, as per a Supreme Court order.

"We have a very comfortable majority with over 165 members supporting us. We shall easily prove our majority in the house today," said newly-inducted NCP Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

On Thursday, Thackeray took the oath as Chief Minister and took charge of the Mantralaya on Friday.

The Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress-Congress and other allies besides some others like Bahujan Vikas Aghadi together have notched up a figure of 165, comfortably higher than the half-way mark of 145 required for simple majority.

After the floor test and trust vote in the new government, the new Speaker of the Assembly will be elected before the winter session of the legislature.

Source: IANS

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By Navneet Mishra

New Delhi, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) To support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in forming the government in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had placed two conditions before the saffron party.

First, he wanted the agriculture ministry for his daughter Supriya Sule, who is active at the Central level, and second, he wanted someone other than Devendra Fadnavis to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned down both the demands.

Sources in the BJP told IANS that the party thought that if it decided to offer the agriculture ministry to the NCP, the Janata Dal United (JD-U), its ally from Bihar, will demand for the railway ministry. In this situation, despite having the mandate, the BJP would loose two big ministries.

As far as the second demand of Pawar is concerned, the sources said the party was never ready to replace Fadnavis as the Chief Minister, mainly because he successfully completed the five-year tenure without any controversies and allegations.

Apart from this, the party contested the elections with Fadnavis as the CM face and even the Prime Minister, while addressing the party workers from the BJP headquarters on October 24, had announced him as the Chief Minister. Hence, it was difficult for the BJP to accept this demand from the NCP supremo.

The sources said that Pawar had sent a message to the BJP, Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah expressing his demands. This was the reason why Pawar didn't make any strong remark against the BJP after the results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections were out.

Since there were no positive signals from the BJP on his demands, the NCP chief had a 45-50-minute long meeting with Modi in the Parliament on November 20. But Modi didn't agree to his demands during the meeting.

On November 22, Sharad Pawar's nephew and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar offered support to the BJP. It was said that Ajit Pawar had the backing of around 30-35 MLAs who were ready to support the BJP.

It was also speculated that Sharad Pawar gave his tactical consent to his nephew's move but afterwards he took to Twitter to deny the alliance of the NCP with the BJP.

"Ajit Pawar's decision to support the BJP to form the Maharashtra government is his personal decision and not that of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
We place on record that we do not support or endorse this decision of his," Sharad Pawar had tweeted.

If sources are to be believed, Sharad Pawar was hoping that the BJP will agree to his demands as it was left reeling in the state after the Shiv Sena broke the alliance, but this didn't happen. Finally, he decided to form the government in alliance with the Shiv Sena and the Congress.

Sharad Pawar was aware that the move will be beneficial for him because his decision to side with the Sena will earn him the title of 'modern day Chanakya', while had he gone with the BJP, he would have got a say in the Central government too.

Dilip Deodhar, RSS ideologue from Nagpur, told IANS, "There was a buzz about Sharad Pawar's demands in the Sangh, but Modi's denial was more than that. Since the farmers' issue is one of the main matters in the state, the agriculture ministry would have been the best bet for the NCP. Sharad Pawar had earlier served as the agriculture minister.

"Secondly, Fadnavis was the choice of Modi so there was no question of replacing him. When Sharad Pawar finally understood that the BJP will not agree to his demands, he decided to ally with the Sena and the Congress."

(Navneet Mishra can be contacted at navneet.m@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a significant development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday announced that the work on the upcoming Mumbai Metro car-shed at the Aarey Colony has been suspended.

"The work on the Mumbai Metro will continue unhindered. However, the work of the car-shed will be suspended until further orders. We will not allow even a leaf from Aarey Colony to be removed," he asserted.

Thackeray's statement came barely two months after the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) authorities chopped down 2,141 trees in a few hours, or coming to one tree per minute, shocking the people of the state.

Addressing a meeting organised by the Mantralaya Reporters Association here this evening, he pointed out that he had become the first CM of the state from Mumbai, the country's commercial capital and would ensure that "not a single paise of public money" is misused or spent wrongly.

To a question whether the Maha Vikas Aghadi of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress had diluted the Sena's 'saffron' colour, he managed a hearty laugh.

"I was born with this (saffron) colour. No laundry can ever wash it off," the CM said amidst a loud round of applause.

Thackeray said he would welcome any "constructive criticism" by the media on any aspects of the government or governance always, and agreed to consider suggestions put forth by media persons.

On how he felt about taking over as the Chief Minister, he candidly admitted that in his entire life, he had barely come to Mantralaya on a couple of occasions and has "not even seen the Vidhan Bhavan from inside".

"However, I have taken up the challenges of the MVA government. I will not run away from my responsibilities," he declared.

This was the new Chief Minister's first informal media interaction with the journalists who cover the Mantralaya and Legislature, where he appeared a tad weary, but cheerful, after his first day at work.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The cabinet expansion of Maharashtra's newly-installed Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government is due soon and senior Congress leaders are among those looking for a berth in it.

The Congress, which has 44 MLAs, has been allotted 12 ministerial posts and with two ministers - Balasahab Thorat and Nitin Raut - being among the six sworn-in along with Thackeray on Thursday evening, there are still 10 available.

The Congress, unlike the Nationalist Congress Party whose MLAs are largely first-timers, has no dearth of senior leaders and both its former Chief Ministers, Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan, are also seen as being in the fray, sources said. While the latter is said to be the Congress' choice for Assembly Speaker, the NCP is not very enthusiastic over his candidature for the key post.

The Congress is mulling the option to keep former Chief Ministers out of the cabinet but the final decision on this will be taken by interim President Sonia Gandhi. The party is examining the option to adjust its senior leaders in the the coalition government's proposed coordination and advisory bodies.

Meanwhile, party MLAs are trying to connect to the right lobby to get a post in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, a senior leader said.

However, the Congress, according to the senior leader, is not in a hurry to finalise its list, but wants to fulfil regional aspiration and strike a caste balance.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Dilip Walse-Patil will be the Pro-Tem Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and will preside over a special session of the house called on Saturday, officials said here on Friday.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who was sworn-in on Thursday, will have to prove his majority in the house by December 3.

The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance, may also be required to face a floor-test soon, most likely on Saturday.

The MVA has now claimed a total of over 170 legislators in support and is expected to sail through the floor test easily, MVA leaders said.

On November 26, Governor B.S. Koshyari had appointed a Pro-Tem Speaker to conduct the swearing-in ceremony of the 287 newly-appointed legislators, which was completed smoothly, as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the plea by an Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha member to declare "unconstitutional" the post-poll alliance of the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress in Maharashtra.

A bench, headed by Justice N.V. Ramana, said that in a democracy, the courts cannot stop a political party from allying with another. "Why the court should enter into pre poll or post poll alliance .... do not expect courts to go into an area where it has no jurisdiction," it said.

Pramod Pandit Joshi's lawyer argued that the promises in the pre-poll manifesto were made with BJP-Shiv Sena government on mind, and people voted in the election on its basis.

To this, Justice Ramana said that political parties say a lot in their manifesto. "Can we issue a mandamus, directing them to implement their manifesto?" he asked.

Citing one of its judgements, the court observed: "Constitutional morality is different from political morality."

As the advocate for the petitioner cited the Constitution's Article 19 (right to freedom of speech and expression) and civil liberties, the apex court queried how is this argument connected to this case.

Justice Ramana said if the petitioner's argument is accepted against the post-poll alliance entered by the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, then there is no democracy.

After the brief hearing, the top court dismissed the petition.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Mumbai Congress President Milind Deora on Friday said that Supriya Sule-Pawar is the "rightful heir" to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawars legacy.

"Supriya Sule is the rightful heir to her father's great legacy. She is effective because she believes that social work and policy change are the paths to political empowerment," said Deora.

He said he also shared such values and admired her for staying the course, a day after the Maha Vikas Aghadi of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress took office in Maharashtra.

On the MVA's Common Minimum Programme (CMP), he said it guarantees 500 sq. feet homes to all redeveloped low-income housing in Mumbai and across Maharashtra.

"I had proposed this during the Lok Sabha elections and Rahul Gandhi had promised its implementation with a Congress government in Maharashtra. We say what we believe in and we deliver on what we say," Deora said.

Another former city Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam has conveyed his heartiest congratulations to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the six ministers of the MVA parties who were sworn in in Mumbai on Thursday.

Besides, several other Sena-NCP-Congress leaders have felicitated the new MVA government as Thackeray took formal charge at Mantralaya, here on Friday afternoon.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) New Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday afternoon formally took charge at 'Mantralaya' here with a huge crowd trailing him.

Arriving in the state government headquarters, Thackeray accompanied by wife Rashmi, a few family members, son Aaditya and others first paid homage at the Martyr's Memorial erected in memory of those who sacrificed their lives in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.

Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray placed wreaths, bowed and paid obeisance at the memorial near Mantralaya.

Later, he also paid respects offered flowers before the portraits of B.R. Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and other historical figures, inside the Mantralaya.

Along with Thackeray, his six Cabinet colleagues comprising the Maha Vikas Aghadi - Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, NCP's Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal, and Congress' Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut - also assumed charge in their respective chambers.

Later, he was due to have a brief meeting with his Cabinet colleagues in a meeting hall near his office after the mini-Cabinet met for the first time late on Thursday night.

Though the agenda of the meeting is not yet known, it is expected that the Chief Minister may make a few announcements signalling he's now firmly in the saddle.

Several thousand people had lined the road leading to Mantralaya with many others including staffers in and outside Mantralaya.

Source: IANS

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BY QUAID NAJMI

Mumbai, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Over five decades after the Thackeray family lorded over the state from the famed 'Matoshri' in a shaded lane in Bandra east, the Shiv Sena's new Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will soon move to a new lair -- 'Varsha' -- the spacious official residence of the state Chief Minister in the picturesque Malabar Hill, dotted with VVIPs.

'Varsha' -- barely a kilometre away from the Raj Bhavan and a stone's throw off the historic Jinnah House, built by the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah -- is surrounded by other posh bungalows, several skyscrapers.

Among those living in the vicinity are ministers, diplomats, leading industrialists, glamour personalities, scientists, top civil and government officials, scientists and the Syedna, who is the Dawoodi Bohra spiritual head.

The Shiv Sena founder, late Balsaheb Thackeray lived in 'Matoshri' for decades and it had become a virtual political hub -- he was feared and revered in equal measure -- though the party came to power for the first time only in 1995 in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

As the Thackeray Sr. loved to state often with a mischievous glint behind his dark-shaded eyes, he would function as the "remote-control" of the Sena Government -- and which he did with elan.

The then Sena Chief Ministers -- first Manohar Joshi, who later became Lok Sabha Speaker and then Narayan Rane, who later joined the Congress and later the BJP -- were regularly seen paying obeisance at 'Matoshri', "oft quivering when the Tiger growled at them gently".

Seven years after his passing away, something unimaginable happened on Thursday, when the first-ever Thackeray clan member Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister, as the Sena went into rapturous celebrations all over Maharashtra.

Given state and security protocols, Thackeray would soon be required to shift from 'Matoshri' (Mother's Blessings) to 'Varsha' (Rain or Benevolence) for the next five years.

Thackeray will be the new occupant of the sprawling 12,000 sq. feet 'Varsha' bungalow along with wife Rashmi, son Tejas and legislator son Aditya -- both bachelors.

The former BJP CM Devendra Fadnavis had reportedly secured a three-month extension of stay and meanwhile was sworn-in for his second stint as CM which lasted barely 80 hours.

Currently, he is scouting around for a suitable residence since his wife Amruta is employed in a senior position with a private bank, while daughter nine-year-old Divija is preparing to step into high school soon.

According to a party source, Fadnavis, who is elected as the BJP Legislature Party leader, may even opt to shift to an official residence in case he becomes the Leader of Opposition.

As of now, the Thackeray 'Tiger' will have to cool heels in 'Matoshri' till the 'Varsha' bungalow - which has separate official and residential quarters for the state's numero uno dignitary -- is vacated.

Later, it is likely to go under the lens of his wife, Rashmi Thackeray, who would scrutinize it thoroughly, order touch-ups or a make-over, before the 'muhurat' to check-in there is finalized.

Incidentally, party insiders say that Rashmi Thackeray had fallen in love with 'Varsha' as she stepped inside it for the first time, some 25 years ago when Joshi was the Chief Minister, and secretly harboured dreams of making it as her own home some day...!

However, from November 29, Thackeray will move to a new workplace -- the 6th floor office of Chief Minister in the Mantralaya, the state government headquarters at Nariman Point -- from where he will drive the destiny of the state's 12-crore soulsa

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Extending an olive branch, the Shiv Sena said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray are like 'brothers' though the Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party may have parted ways, here on Friday.

"The Shiv Sena-BJP have gone different ways in Maharashtra politics, but Modi-Thackeray's relations are 'like brothers'... It's the responsibility of the Prime Minister to accommodate his young brother who is Maharashtra CM," said the Sena in edits in the party mouthpieces, "Saamana" and "Dopahar Ka Saamana".

The edit pointed out that the PM belongs to the whole country and not to any single party, and if this principle is adhered to, then there should be "no angst against those state governments with different ideologies".

It urged the need to respect public sentiments which led to the formation of the state government here and ensure that the Centre does not destabilize the new regime in any manner.

Pointing to the challenges before the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, the edit said that former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' term got over but only after pushing the state into "a huge debt of around Rs 5 lakh-crore".

"Given the precarious situation, the new government would have to tread cautiously for achieving its stated objective for public welfare... Mumbai contributes maximum to the national exchequer, it provides the highest number of jobs to people from all over India. Maharashtra's soldiers also sacrifice their lives and secure the country's borders since generations...," the edit said.

Accordingly, the new Chief Minister must take care that the state doesn't suffer any more injustice, nor get relegated to the fourth-fifth position in the queue of the 'Delhi Darbar', but stand as an equal.

"The Sena's saffron flag has started fluttering atop Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavana... Don't adopt a vindictive attitude now, it will end up damaging you. The festival of 'Surajya' (good governance) has just begun... What are you looking at? Come, join!" the edit cautioned the centre.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday predicted that after Maharashtra, there could "be a miracle" and a potential political earthquake in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Goa soon, creating a political flutter in both states.

Goa Forward Party President, Vijay Sardesai, along with three of his party MLAs, called on Raut this morning in Mumbai and discussed the political situation in the state, sending panic-waves in BJP circles.

"At least 4 MLAs, including those with GFP President Vijay Sardesai, are in contact with Shiv Sena. I have also spoken with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party chief Sudhin Dhavlikar. A few other MLAs who are supporting the Goa government are in touch," Raut said.

He added: "The Goa government was installed unethically... We plan to form a separate front in that state with various parties, including Congress...There will be big political churning there and we are hopeful that there could be a 'miracle' soon in Goa also."

Raut said those accusing the Sena of allying with NCP-Congress should realise that the Goa government led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has also allied with corrupt elements which has not gone down well with the people of that state.

Speaking briefly with the media, Sardesai -- former Goa Deputy Chief Minister -- said that "we will try to do a repeat of Maharashtra in Goa".

"We are a regional party... Our opinion is that what has happened in Maharashtra should be emulated elsewhere in India. We shall tie up with Shiv Sena, NCP and other parties to form a powerful front," Sardesai added.

The Sena leader's comments on the political situation in the neigbouring state came a day after the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress's Maha Vikas Aghadi led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took office.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The most contentious issue between the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) before the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra was the word 'secular', which is now a part of the preamble of the common minimum programme (CMP).

The IANS had on November 21 reported that secularism would form part of the CMP preamble.

After it was included in the CMP preamble, the party leaders are saying the Congress didn't compromise on the issue of ideology while supporting the Sena-led government in Maharashtra.

It had been decided that a cabinet committee would monitor implementation of the CMP and the parties would set up another committee, which could be on the line of the National Advisory Committee (NAC), said a senior leader talking to the media during the release of the CMP, here on Thursday.

Sonia Gandhi headed the NAC during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime.

"The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On contentious issues of national importance as well of state importance, especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Sena, the NCP and the Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus," the CMP says.

The Congress stamp on the CMP is quite discernible as it got a major say on farmers, women, healthcare and employment issues.

The MVA government has promised to provide free 500 sqft homes to slum dwellers, instead of 300 sqft houses, in Mumbai as well as across the state under the Slum Rehabilitation Programme, with best infrastructure and basic facilities.

The CMP also promises wholesome meals for Rs 10 for common citizens, which was part of the Sena's original election manifesto on the lines of Indira canteen of erstwhile Congress government in Karnataka

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shiv Sena President Uddhav B. Thackeray was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra at a colourful function held in Shivaji Park here on Thursday evening.

Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari administered the oath of office and secrecy at 6.40 pm to Thackeray - who sported a striking saffron coloured kurta-pyjama, the Sena's colour.

In an unusual gesture of humility, soon after completing the formalities, Thackeray, the first from the politically prominent Thackeray clan to hold the post, stepped to the front of the stage and knelt down, touching his hands and head on the floor to express his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for the honour bestowed on him.

Thackeray is the third from the Sena to be Chief Minister after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane in the late 1990s.

Besides, two legislators from each of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)'s constituents - the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress, also took oath as ministers.

They are: Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, NCP's Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal, and Congress' Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut.

Among the prominent dignitaries present on the occasion were more than 500 farmers and farm widows from all over Maharashtra, Thackeray's cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, Reliance Group industrialist Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani and their family.

At least three Chief Ministers from other states, six former Maharashtra CM like Sharad Pawar, Sushilkumar Shinde, Manohar Joshi, Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan and Devendra Fadnavis were present.

Other prominent personalities from all the three parties included Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Kapil Sibal, Rajiv Shukla, Praful Patel, Kishore Tiwari, Supriya Sule-Pawar, Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Rohit Pawar, and Ajit Pawar and his son Parth Pawar.

Thackeray's son Aditya Thackeray and wife Rashmi Thackeray, besides aunt Kundatai (mother of Raj Thackeray) who was seen shedding tears of joy at her nephew's ascent as CM, were also present.

Scores of leaders, legislators, MPs and well-wishers touched Thackeray's feet as he gracefully accepted their wishes and felicitations.

A group of Jain monks and sanyasins also turned up impromptu to pray for, wish and bless Thackeray and son Aaditya, on the stage after the oath ceremony.

Shivaji Park was transformed into a colourful sea of humanity with an estimated over 100,000 people including activists of the three MVA parties and others coming from all over Maharashtra to witness the historical event.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Congress nominee in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government included Nitin Raut, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, which indicated that the former party chief had a say in the selection of party representatives to be sworn in as Ministers in the Uddhav Bal Thackeray-led government, sources said.

Raut was head of the AICC's SC section and working president of the Maharashtra Congress.

Rahul and his team were initially averse to the party joining hands with the Shiv Sena, but agreed to back the Sena-led government after the common minimum programme (CMP) was finalised and all contentious issues were resolved.

Other Congress Minister, Balasahab Thorat, is Maratha. Raut belongs to the Scheduled Caste. The Congress had tried to strike a social balance, said a leader.

Along with Thackeray, two Ministers from each major MVA constituents have taken the oath of the office. As per the power-sharing agreement, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will get the Deputy Chief Minister and the Deputy Speaker's posts. The Congress will get the Speaker's post.

The Congress is pushing former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for the Speaker's post, but the NCP is reluctant on his name, according to top NCP sources. The NCP wanted a person who would take decisions as per need and not to dial the Congress central leadership, the sources said referring the former CM's backing in New Delhi.

Before appointed as the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Chavan was a Minister in the Manmohan Singh government and was handling PMO and personnel departments.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shiv Sena President Uddhav B. Thackeray was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra at a grand function held at the Shivaji Park here on Thursday.

Governor B.S. Koshyari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Uddhav Thackery at 6.40 p.m. with the Sena chief sporting a striking saffron coloured kurta-pyjama, his party's colour.

In an unusual gesture of humility, soon after completing the formalities, Thackeray stepped to the front of the stage and knelt down, touching the floor with his hands and head to express his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for the honour bestowed on him.

Besides, two legislators each from the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, the key constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), took oath as ministers.

They are: Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai, NCP's Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal, and Congress' Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut.

Among the prominent dignitaries present on the occasion were more than 500 farmers and farm widows from all over Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackery's cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, industrialist Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani and their family members.

Also present were at least three Chief Ministers from other states and six former Maharashtra Chief Ministers, including Sharad Pawar, Sushilkumar Shinde, Manohar Joshi, Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan and Devendra Fadnavis.

Other prominent personalities from all the three parties included Abhishek M. Singhvi, Rajiv Shukla, Praful Patel, Kishore Tiwari, Supriya Sule-Pawar, Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Rohit Pawar, and Rashmi Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray, the wife and son of Uddhav Thackeray.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shiv Sena President Uddhav B. Thackeray was sworn-in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a grand function held at the Shivaji Park here on Thursday evening.

Governor B.S. Koshyari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Uddhav Thackeray, 59, who sported a striking saffron coloured kurta-pyjama, the Sena party's colour.

In an unusual gesture, soon after completing the formalities, Uddhav Thackeray stepped to the front of the stage and knelt down, touched his hands and head on the floor to express his gratitude to the people of Maharashtra for the honour bestowed on him.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray was on Thursday sworn-in as the 29th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, becoming the first of the Thackeray family to hold the top post.

Thackeray, who will be leading the Maha Vikas Aghadi government comprising the Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress, is the third of his party to be Chief Minister after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The historic Shivaji Park was on Thursday evening engulfed by a riot of colourful flags of the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress as Chief Minister-designate Uddhav Thackeray prepared to be sworn-in to his post by Governor B.S. Koshyari.

Besides the saffron flags of the Shiv Sena and its bow-and-arrow symbol, tricolour flags of the NCP and the Congress with their symbols of clock and hand, respectively, fluttered in the gentle cool sea breeze from the Arabian Sea, barely a stone's throw away from the venue.

There were also other surprises -- some large posters of rarely seen photographs of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with the late Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, both arch enemies, but seen greeting each other with folded hands, both at Shivaji Park and near the Sena Bhavan, the party's headquarters.

Nevertheless, Bal Thackeray was always an ardent admirer and supporter of Indira Gandhi and was among the handful who had supported the Emergency in 1975.

Over the years, as the Sena strongly allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA, it became a strong critic of the Emergency.

However, after the recent political turmoil in which the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and NCP's Ajit Pawar were sworn-in as Chief Minister and Deputy CHief Minister, respectively, at dawn on November 23, the Sena did an about turn, terming it as a 'Black Day' in Indian democracy and even said the BJP has lost all rights to criticise the Emergency as a 'Black Day'.

Other posters feature Rahul Gandhi-Sonia Gandhi in some old interactions with the Thackeray family members, Sharad Pawar, pictures of a young and present day Uddhav Thackeray, some with his wife Rashmi, and some images of his son and newly-elected MLA Aditya Thackeray.

One loyal party worker from a rural area came attired in the party's saffron colour -- his cap, glasses, scarf, a full-sleeve shirt, trousers and even leather shoes in saffron -- grabbing eyeballs wherever he moved around.

He also carried a large album with a collection of rare photographs of the Thackerays, the evolution of the Shiv Sena over the past 53 years, the late Bal Thackeray's Dussehra rallies at Shivaji Park, besides forgotten media coverage in Marathi with articles/interviews etc.

A sea of activists from the three parties in the Maha Vikas Aghadi turned up from all over Maharashtra for the swearing-in besides farmers and widows from remotest corners of the state, plus top political leaders from all over India and other celebrities.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major deviation from its known pro-Hindutva stance of the past 30 years, the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi announced a "secular, all-inclusive" Common Minimum Programme as it prepared to form the new Maharashtra government in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress on Thursday.

The preamble of the three parties' Common Minimum Programme states: "The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On contentious issues of national importance as well of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus."

The CMP focuses on hugely on the burning issues of the farmers, unemployment problems, minorities, downtrodden sections, urban roads and housing, girls and women's issues, besides problems plaguing the industry, health sector and other fields for the overall public benefit in the state.

The CMP was announced at a joint press conference by Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, NCP's Jayant Patil, NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress' Balasaheb Thorat.

Spelling cheers for Mumbaikars, the MVA government said it will provide homes of 500 square feet free of cost to slumdwellers instead of 300 square feet in Mumbai as well as across Maharashtra, under the Slum Rehabilitation Programme, with best infrastructure and basic facilities.

The CMP also promises wholesome meals for only Rs 10 for common citizens, which was part of the Sena's original election manifesto.

To ensure proper implementation of the CMP, two committees - one within the state cabinet and another among the three alliance partners - will be formed for better coordination, they said.

Among the CMP's major highlights are: immediate loan waiver to farmers, prompt assistance to farmers suffering due to unseasonal rains and floods, revising the crop insurance scheme to ensure immediate compensation to farmers who have suffered crop losses, ensuring remunerative prices for farm produce and sustainable water supply schemes for the drought-hit regions.

To address unemployment, the MVA regime will take immediate steps to fill up all vacant posts in the government, enact a law to provide 80 per cent jobs to domiciled locals, and provide fellowships to educated unemployed youth.

For women, girls from economically weaker sections will be given free education, working women's hostels will be built in cities and district headquarters, increased honorarium and better service conditions for anganwadi sevikas/asha workers, strengthening women's Self Help Groups to empower them, while highest priority will be accorded to safety of women by the government.

The government will take steps to improve the standards of education, children of farmers and economically weaker sections will be given zero interest loans, the three leaders said.

For urban roads development, the new MVA government will bring a scheme designed on the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana with separate financial provisions for Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations.

To ensure good health for all, the government will launch Re 1 clinics at taluka levels to conduct all pathological tests, super-speciality hospitals and medical colleges will be set in each district in a phased manner, and health insurance cover provided to all citizens of Maharashtra.

For ensuring social justice, the government will take measures on pending questions of the SCs/STs/Dhangars/OBCs/Balutedars, etc so that they are not deprived of basics rights like food, shelter, clothing, education, health, employment, besides schemes to eliminate social, educational and economic backwardness of the minority community, as per the Constitution.

The government will take special steps to develop tourism in the state, increase facilities for senior citizens, and deal sternly with food and drugs adulteration.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Even as the Maha Vikas Aghadi's leader Uddhav Thackeray is all set to take oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister on Thursday, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi and her son and former party chief Rahul Gandhi are set to give the swearing-in ceremony in Mumbai's Shivaji Park a miss.

In a letter to Thackeray, Sonia Gandhi said, "(Uddhav's son) Aaditya met me yesterday and extended your invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony this evening in Mumbai. I regret that I am unable to be present at the function."

The Shiv Sena chief's son and newly-won MLA Aaditya Thackeray flew to Delhi and met her and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday night to seek their "blessings" and invite them for the swearing in ceremony.

Sonia Gandhi also said that the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress have come together under quiet extraordinary circumstances at a time when the country faces unprecedented threats from the BJP. "The political atmosphere has become poisonous and the economy has collapsed. Farmers are facing great distress," she said, adding that the three parties have agreed to a common minimum programme and she was confident that all three parties will strive their utmost to implement that programme in letter and spirit.

Stressing unity of the alliance, she said: "The people of Maharashtra expect the alliance to provide cohesive, purposeful, responsible, responsive and transparent administration and our collective effort will undoubtedly be to ensure that these expectations are fulfilled."

According to Congress sources, the party chief is skipping the swearing-in ceremony due to her health issues.

Meanwhile earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi, asked if he was going to attend the swearing in ceremony, quipped: "Some suspense should be there."

Party sources, however, said that both the Gandhis have conveyed their best wishes to the new government.

The Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Congress have forged the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in the state after series of parleys between their leaders after a month long drama in the state over government formation. President's rule was imposed in the state on November 12 after none of the parties were able to form the government. The President's rule was removed on Saturday after Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister along with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar surprising the three parties. The three parties then approached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court then ordered the Governor to hold a floor test by Wednesday. However, a day before the crucial floor test, Ajit Pawar and Fadnavis both resigned.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major deviation from its known pro-Hindutva stance since the past 30 years, the Shiv Sena announced a "secular, all-inclusive" Common Minimum Programme as it prepares to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress on Thursday.

The preamble of the three parties' Common Minimum Programme states: "The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On contentious issues of national importance as well of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus".

The CMP focuses on hugely on the burning issues of the farmers, unemployment problems, urban roads and housing, girls and women's issues, besides problems plaguing the industry, health sector, social justice and other fields for the overall benefit of the state and its people.

The CMP was announced at a joint press conference by Shiv Sena' Eknath Shinde, NCP's Jayant Patil, NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress' Balasaheb Thorat.

Spelling cheers for Mumbaikars, the MVA government said it will provide homes of 500 square feet free of cost to slumdwellers instead of 300 square feet in Mumbai as well as across Maharashtra, under the Slum Rehabilitation Programme, with best infrastructure and basic facilities.

The CMP also promises wholesome meals for only Rs 10 for common citizens.

To ensure proper implementation of the CMP, there will be two committees - one within the state cabinet and another among the three alliance partners, for better coordination, they said.

Among the CMP's highlights are: immediate loan waiver to farmers, prompt assistance to farmers suffering due to unseasonal rains and floods, revising the crop insurance scheme to ensure immediate compensation to farmers who have suffered crop losses, ensuring remunerative prices for farm produce and sustainable water supply schemes for the drought-hit regions.

To address the problems of unemployment, the MVA regime will take immediate measures to fill up all vacant posts in the government, enact a law to provide 80 per cent jobs to locals, and provide fellowships to educated unemployed youth.

For women, girls from economically weaker sections will be given free education, working women's hostels will be built in cities and district headquarters, increased honorarium and better service conditions for anganwadi sevikas/asha workers, strengthening women's Self Help Groups to empower them, while highest priority will be accorded to safety of women by the government.

The government will take all measures to improve the standards of education, children of farmers and economically weaker sections will be given zero interest loans, the three leaders said.

For urban roads development, the new MVA government will bring a scheme designed on the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana with separate financial provisions for Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations.

To ensure good health for all, the government will launch Re 1 clinics at taluka levels to conduct all pathological tests, super-speciality hospitals and medical colleges will be set in each district in a phased manner, and health insurance cover provided to all citizens of Maharashtra.

For ensuring social justice, the government will take measures on pending questions of the SCs/STs/Dhangars/OBCs/Balutedars, etc so that they are not deprived of basics rights like food, shelter, clothing, education, health, employment, besides schemes to eliminate social, educational and economic backwardness of the minority community, as per the Constitution.

The government will take special steps to develop tourism in the state, increase facilities for senior citizens, and deal sternly with food and drugs adulteration.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress on Thursday afternoon announced a "secular, all-inclusive Common Minimum Programme" which will serve as the guiding principle for the Maha Vikas Aghadi government which will take office on Thursday, top party leaders said.

The CMP focuses on farmers, unemployment, girls and women, besides industry, health, social justice and other sectors for the overall benefit of the state and its people.

The CMP was announced at a joint press conference by Shiv Sena Legislature Party Group leader Eknath Shinde, NCP Legislature Party Group leader Jayant Patil, NCP National Spokesperson Nawab Malik and Congress Legislature Party Group leader Balasaheb Thorat.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Putting to rest all rumours, Chief Minister-designate Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday invited his estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled later in the day at the iconic Shivaji Park, party sources said here.

"Yes... We have been told that Raj Thackeray has been invited for the swearing-in ceremony... It's a historic occasion for the entire family and everybody is proud of him," a senior MNS leader told IANS.

Uddhav Thackeray called up Raj Thackeray earlier in the day to personally invite him and the latter reciprocated by warmly congratulating him on being elected as the Chief Minister -- the first from the family.

A party official said Raj Thackeray plans to attend the oath-taking ceremony but it was not immediately clear whether he would go alone or with the family.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Nov 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dismissing all speculation, Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he will not be taking oath along with Chief Minister-designate Uddhav Thackeray, here on Thursday.

However, he said that two legislators from each of the Maha Vikas Aghadi parties -- Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress -- would take the oath, besides the Chief Minister.

They include NCP state President Jayant Patil and former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, said Ajit Pawar.

The ministry will be expanded after the vote of confidence in the new government scheduled after some days, he said, indicating that he could be inducted into the cabinet at a later stage.

Thackeray will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra at a mega-function planned at the iconic Shivaji Park later in the day by Governor B.S. Koshyari.

Source: IANS

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