Former Paranda MLA joins NCP; ex-AIMIM state working president set to join Ajit Pawar's party too
Mote, who had represented Paranda since 2004 before losing to Tanaji Sawant of Shiv Sena in the last two assembly polls, had previously stuck with Sharad Pawar's faction after the NCP split. He had anticipated that the Paranda seat would go to Shiv Sena as part of a seat-sharing agreement within Mahayuti.
Speaking on the occasion of his formal entry into NCP, Mote requested deputy CM Ajit Pawar to help him address water issues in his area.
"My only request to dada (Pawar) is to make available water from the Krishna Marathwada Lift Irrigation project to Sina Kolegaon dam via Ujjani," he said.
With Mote now siding with Mahayuti, his cold war with arch-rival Sawant could intensify further, sources said.
NCP is expecting another boost with former AIMIM state working president Gaffar Quadri also announcing his intention to join the party. Once considered a close aide of Imtiaz Jaleel, Quadri parted ways with the former Aurangabad MP during the last assembly election over the choice of assembly seat.
Quadri said his formal entry into NCP was scheduled for Wednesday, but it was postponed for a brief period. "Ajit Pawar was expected to be present during my entry into NCP, but he is unable to visit the city on Wednesday.
I have made up my mind to join NCP. It is up to the party leadership to give time for holding a formal event," he said.
Quadri unsuccessfully contested the last two assembly elections from the Aurangabad East assembly seat.
After leaving AIMIM, he joined Samajwadi Party during the last assembly polls and fought a multi-corner battle involving Atul Save of BJP and Jaleel.
In Parbhani, speculations are rife that former two-time MLA and ex-MLC Babajani Durrani is likely to join Congress. Durrani, a powerful minority leader, sided with Sharad Pawar after the split within NCP. He later joined Ajit Pawar but returned to Sharad Pawar after not getting an MLC berth. Durrani did not respond to calls and text messages till going to press.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
BJP MLC slams cow vigilantes, says anti-slaughter Act is against farmers
Days after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials on the growing menace of gaurakshaks (self-styled cow vigilantes), ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC and farmer leader Sadabhau Khot on Sunday said that the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, that prevents the slaughter of cow, bulls and bullocks is against farmers. Speaking to The Indian Express, Khot said, 'Let's be very clear. No farmer would part ways with productive cows. Dairy is a supplementary business of lakhs of farmers in the state. The earning from this is now being spent on taking care of unproductive animals as transfer of these animals is not only banned but under threat from these so-called gaurakshaks. The Act (against cow slaughter) is actually turning against farmers…' About cow vigilantism in the state, he said, 'These gaurakshaks resort to extortion from genuine farmers and traders, bringing the transport of animals to a complete standstill.' Khot, a farmer leader from western Maharashtra's Sangli district, said that as a farmer leader he feels that if the present act (to prevent cow slaughter) threatens the livelihood of farmers, then it should be 'torn apart'. 'This (the act) is not even helping desi cows as those are getting replaced by Jersey cows. The transfer of newer breeds from different states has totally stopped due to fear of these cow vigilantes. The so-called gaushalas (cow shelters promoted by the state government) should pay the market price to farmers for unproductive cows and must come forward to rescue the farmers,' he said, adding that he was 'ready to pay any price' for his stand. Last week, The Indian Express had reported that Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials in the state over the demands raised by the Qureishi community, which has been complaining against cow vigilantes who allegedly beat up and extort money from animal traders. Following the meeting, state police issued a circular, clarifying that private individuals have no authority to inspect vehicles that transport animals but only police can act against them. Terming the circular issued by Maharashtra police an eyewash, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, 'The circular says that only police can take action against illegal animal trade. But it does not say what action will be taken against the private individuals if they are take law in their hands? The majority of these so called cow vigilantes are linked to BJP and RSS and this issue is used for the politics of polarisation.'
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Chhagan Bhujbal stakes claim on Nashik guardian minister post
The ongoing debate over the guardian minister post in Nashik and Raigad districts is likely to intensify after senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday staked his party's claim on Nashik, claiming the party has the highest number of MLAs from the district in 7. 'In Raigad, we have only one MLA and still we have staked claim on the guardian ministership of the district. In Nashik, we have seven MLAs. I think we must stake a claim on Nashik as well,' said Bhujbal, who is an MLA from Yeola in Nashik district. He said that it does not matter who becomes the guardian minister. 'But, since we have seven MLAs from Nashik, I think that we must get the guardian ministership. I will speak with Ajit dada (deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP chief) and Tatkare (NCP state chief and Raigad LS MP Sunil Tatkare) regarding this,' he added. He was reacting after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Girish Mahajan speaking at a program in Dhule district said, 'I am becoming guardian minister of Nashik.' Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena and NCP have staked claim on Raigad while all three parties within the ruling Mahayuti are eyeing the Nashik district which is set to host Kumbhmela in the next two years. Tatkare's daughter and minister Aditi Tatkare is a sole NCP MLA from Sena wants the post for its minister Bharat Gogawale, citing a higher number of MLAs. Last week, Bhujbal expressed his inability to travel to Gondiya in Vidarbha for the flag hoisting ceremony on Independence day citing health reasons. Sources claimed that he was unhappy after Mahajan was asked to attend the flag hoisting ceremony in Nashik, instead of him.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra BJP MLA's swipe at Eknath Shinde: ‘Won political lottery'
Maharashtra forest minister and BJP MLA Ganesh Naik has said that Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had won a 'lottery', apparently referring to his appointment as chief minister in 2022. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde during the inauguration of the final 76-km-long stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg in Nashik district of Maharashtra on June 5.(PTI) "Eknath Shinde (current deputy CM) had won a lottery. Not everyone has to win the lottery, but Shinde won it. However, what matters is how a person achieves a position and retains it, and common people observe this," Naik said at a bhoomi pujan ceremony on Friday, according to PTI. This is not the first time Naik has targeted Shinde. In July, Naik had alleged that outsiders were exploiting Navi Mumbai's resources, without naming Shinde, the guardian minister of Thane district. According to PTI, Shiv Sena had hit back by accusing Naik of trying to deflect attention from his own long-standing hold over the city's affairs. Shinde toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in June 2022 and became the chief minister. Also Read | 'File War': Proposals stuck as Shinde-Fadnavis turf war intensifies However, in 2024, he had to make way for Devendra Fadnavis after the BJP won a maximum number of seats in the assembly elections and settle for the post of deputy chief ministership. Earlier this week, Shinde had skipped a Maharashtra cabinet meeting on Tuesday, fuelling speculation that he continues to be upset with the Devendra Fadnavis-led government. While Shiv Sena leaders downplayed the matter, saying Shinde had extended his stay in Srinagar, where he had gone for a blood donation campaign organised on Sunday by party functionary Chandrahar Patil, opposition parties alleged the deputy chief minister skipped the cabinet meeting due to disagreements within the Mahayuti government. HT reported in February that Shinde had skipped two meetings chaired by chief minister Fadnavis concerning the urban development department, which is headed by the Shiv Sena chief. Back then, Shinde was reportedly upset with Fadnavis for several reasons, including being denied the chief minister's post in Mahayuti 3.0. Since then, the senior BJP leader had seized every opportunity to assert his authority over the Shiv Sena chief.
