Latest news with #MVA
India Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
Maharashtra approves amendments for Dharavi project land transfer
In a significant development for the ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project, the Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved amendments to the terms and conditions governing the transfer of 8.5 hectares of land at the Kurla Dairy. The land, owned by the Dairy Development Department, will be handed over to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project–Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP-SRA).The Kurla Dairy land had earlier been earmarked for the Dharavi project through a government memorandum dated June 14, 2024. The newly approved amendments, including changes to a draft prepared by the Mumbai Suburban District Collector, are aimed at streamlining the rehabilitation process for Dharavi's project seeks to rehabilitate approximately 8.5 lakh people, including around 5 lakh eligible families who will be resettled within Dharavi. The remaining 3.5 lakh residents, deemed ineligible under current guidelines, will require additional land for rehabilitation. The Kurla Dairy land is expected to address part of this requirement, especially for ineligible families. However, the land transfer and subsequent amendments have sparked strong opposition from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). MVA leaders allege that transferring the Kurla Dairy land to a private developer under the pretext of slum rehabilitation raises serious questions about transparency and public interest. They argue that land originally reserved for public use is being repurposed without adequate consultation with Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has publicly questioned the government's motives, claiming the project prioritises corporate interests over the welfare of Dharavi's people of Dharavi deserve fair rehabilitation, but this hurried transfer of prime public land raises doubts about whether the project truly serves the slum dwellers or is a pretext for commercial gains,' Thackeray said in a recent post on leader Varsha Gaikwad echoed similar concerns, demanding greater clarity on the amended terms and the process through which Adani Realty—tasked with executing the project—was selected. The Congress has called for a detailed public disclosure of the revised agreement to ensure MVA has also expressed concern over the potential displacement of ineligible residents and the absence of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. NCP leader Jayant Patil emphasised the need for inclusive planning, saying, 'The government must ensure that every family in Dharavi is accounted for, and no one is left homeless in the name of redevelopment.'Despite the criticism, the state government maintains that the amendments are essential to expedite the project and ensure the provision of maximum housing and civic facilities. The decision is expected to resolve a key challenge—rehabilitating the ineligible residents—and accelerate the overall implementation of the redevelopment Reel
Time of India
5 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Dowry death: MVA team asks guv to oust women panel's head
Mumbai: A fortnight after the daughter-in-law of a now expelled Pune NCP leader died by suicide allegedly after being tortured for dowry, a delegation of women MVA functionaries called on governor C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday to seek the removal of state women's commission head Rupali Chakankar, who is also president of the women's wing of NCP, alleging partisanship. The delegation told the governor that the Pune woman, Vaishnavi Hagawane, was mentally tortured and driven to suicide, adding that she had lodged a complaint with the women's commission but it remained a silent spectator. NCP (SP) leader Rohini Khadse, who was part of the delegation, alleged that Chakankar failed to take cognisance of multiple complaints by women in different cases in the last six months, following which there was a spurt in violence. "In our opinion, the state women's commission has failed to take action even on serious complaints of gross injustice on women and domestic violence," she said. She said it appears that the Chakankar-led women's commission is casual in its approach to complaints by women and lacks seriousness. "Since she has political affiliations, we have urged the governor to appoint an apolitical person to the post who will perform her duties seriously and ensure justice to womenfolk." Besides Khadse, who heads the women's wing of NCP (SP), Congress legislator Jyoti Gaikwad, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sushama Andhare, former legislator Vidya Chavan, former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar, and Jayashri Shelke called on the governor. Vaishnavi (24) was found hanging in her marital home on May 16. Her family alleged that she suffered harassment at the hands of her in-laws—the family of expelled NCP leader Rajendra Hagawane—over a Rs 2-crore dowry demand. Six people have been arrested in the case so far.
The Print
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
Solo or together? The big question for Maharashtra alliances this BMC poll season
Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat was cautious. He told the media on Monday that MVA will decide together how to proceed. 'Parties with similar ideologies should stay together and for the upcoming polls, as MVA, our leaders will sit and discuss how to take it forward.' MVA leaders—some on record, some off record—say they will assess each other's strengths and then decide. But the sense ThePrint got after speaking to leaders across the alliance was that in high profile seats like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Thane, each party could go alone. Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) may spring a surprise in the BMC polls scheduled later this year—all three allies, the Congress, the Shiv Sena UBT and the NCP (SP), might go solo. But so far, no one is making it official. However, other Congress leaders in Mumbai told ThePrint, they might leave the final decision to local leaders and karyakartas. Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said, 'Our line is very clear. We have left it to our local level leaders. Wherever they decide to go solo, we will go solo. It depends on local level leadership.' Another Congress leader said, 'We will contest alone where we are strong, like Mumbai, Nagpur, etc. And wherever we feel we need to combine our efforts like Kolhapur, Sangli, Pune, we will do that. So MVA is intact. However each corporation, zilla parishad, nagar panchayat will be assessed individually.' This comes in at a time when the Congress's alliance partner Shiv Sena UBT is sending feelers to Raj Thackeray and his MNS, 'in the larger interest of Maharashtra'. Shiv Sena UBT leaders have also said they may go solo in the BMC polls. Former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar told ThePrint they have left the decision to party chief Uddhav Thackerary. 'Whether to go as Aghadi or with Raj Thackeray or solo, he will take that ultimate call. As karyakartas we are preparing our ground. We are angry over what has been happening, and now it is high time elections are held. We are ready for anything.' Political analyst Hemant Desai said it seems likely the MVA will fight separately, especially in big seats. 'At the moment, it doesn't look that MVA is preparing to fight together. Their strengths are different in different pockets. Especially in Mumbai, Sena UBT is able to get Muslim votes as previously seen in assembly and Lok Sabha. So they don't need Congress as such. And in Vidarbha, Congress is stronger. So it doesn't make sense for them to fight it together. Besides, issues will crop up in seat sharing especially between Congress and Sena UBT.' Uddhav-Raj, Sharad-Ajit? There could also be alliances outside the MVA. On the one hand, Sena UBT and MNS might decide to go together citing the Marathi manoos plank, on the other hand, the frequent meetings of Sharad Pawar-Ajit Pawar—the latest on 1 June 1 at Vasantdada Sugar Institute—are leading to speculation of a possible patch-up. 'These elections will be fought on local issues and that is why the equations are totally different. Besides, if we talk about Mumbai, Sena is stronger. Previously, we did not have a great experience with seat sharing with them. So, that could still be an issue,' warned one Congress leader. 'In my opinion, if we go with Shiv Sena UBT, it might hurt both of us if the votes don't get transferred. Besides, in the BMC elections, our poll issues are also different. A post-poll alliance of MVA is also possible,' he added. There are rumblings within the Mahayuti too with BJP preparing to go solo in local body polls. But Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself has said the alliance will be together in most places; while on some seats, there could be friendly fights. Terms of all 29 municipal corporations ended in February and elections to corporations and multiple nagar panchayats and zilla parishads are expected to be held later this year. The Maharashtra State Election Commission has already begun the process of ward formation in an exercise that is expected to be a mini assembly election. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also Read: As Ajit Pawar's NCP cements dominance, what lies ahead for Sharad Pawar & his party
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Cong to go solo in BMC elections, decision taken at meeting in New Delhi
MUMBAI: In a major move, the Congress has decided to contest the crucial upcoming BMC elections on its own. The party leadership is of the view that going solo is necessary to safeguard the party's organisational interests, given that its position is getting weaker with every passing year. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting held in New Delhi on May 13 where all the senior leaders from Mumbai were present, Congress insiders revealed. The decision has come at a time when the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), another Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally, has expressed willingness to join hands with Thackeray's estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray in the interest of Maharashtra and Marathi people. 'All the party leaders in Mumbai were determined that the Congress should not think of contesting the BMC polls as part of the MVA,' revealed a senior leader privy to the development. Another senior leader is believed to have told the party bosses in the New Delhi meeting that the Congress had already started losing its voter base to its alliance partners. 'If we contest the BMC elections in alliance, we will completely lose our ground in the city,' he reportedly said. Some leaders also expressed their unhappiness at the lower number of seats given to the Congress in Mumbai in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections last year. The party got two seats—Mumbai North and Mumbai North Central—in the Lok Sabha elections while in the assembly polls it had to be content with only 11 seats. A Congress MLA present at the meeting confirmed the development. 'The BMC election is directly related to the roots of the organisation,' he said. 'It helps create new leadership. To strengthen the party organisation, it is vital to contest the polls on our own.' Another leader said that the party's voter base was on the decline, for which it was necessary to go alone. 'The option for a post-poll alliance with the MVA partners is always open,' he said. The Congress' Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala too said that the local leadership was keen on contesting the BMC polls, and a discussion had taken place in this regard. 'But first of all, I want to make it clear that the Congress will remain part of the MVA coalition though we may contest on our own,' he told Hindustan Times. 'The MVA will continue to exist.' Chennithala admitted that the predominant feeling in the party was that it should go alone. 'This is because in the Lok Sabha elections we were given only two seats in Mumbai, of which we could win only one,' he elaborated. 'In the assembly elections too, we again got only 11 seats. It is a fact that the party leaders are very unhappy. For local elections, the views of the local leadership and local issues are always considered.' The performance of the Congress, in the city where it was formed, has been in decline since 2007. In 2007, the party won 75 seats, which reduced to 56 in 2012 and even further to 31 in the last elections held in 2017. Of these, several former corporators have left the party and joined the ruling Shiv Sena and BJP. Those present at the meeting were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal, Chennithala, CWC members Chandrakant Handore, Arif Naseem Khan, city chief Varsha Gaikwad, former city president Ashok Jagtap, MLAs Amin Patel and Aslam Shaikh, former ministers Suresh Shetty and Madhu Chavan and treasurer Amarjit Singh Manhas.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Local units to decide on civic poll alliances: Raut
Nashik: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP on Sunday announced that the decision regarding whether to contest the upcoming civic body elections in Maharashtra as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) or independently will be made at the local level. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to the reporters in Malegaon, Raut affirmed the party's preparedness for the upcoming civic polls. He added that senior party leaders are currently touring various parts of the state where these elections are slated to be held, engaging with local party office-bearers. "We are prepared for the coming civic polls. The local leaders in respective municipal corporations will decide whether to contest upcoming civic polls as MVA or contest independently," the official said. Alleging that the Mahayuti ruling partners in the state won the state assembly polls by managing EVMs and using money power, Raut said the BJP delayed the civic polls in the state as it was not sure of winning. "However, the civic polls are now being held in the coming few months as per the directive of the Supreme Court," the MP said. Raut also criticised CM Devendra Fadnavis for holding Kumbh Mela meeting in Nashik on Sunday. "Kumbh Mela was held recently at Prayagraj. Instead of keeping people stuck in the Kumbh Mela, the CM should come and see the roads of Malegaon. He should work in Maharashtra. Kumbh Mela minister Girish Mahajan is efficient enough to carry out the preparations," Raut said.
