The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday pulled off a stunning performance in Maharashtra winning a record number of seats to propel the party-led ruling Mahayuti alliance to a landslide victory while the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) stormed back to power in Jharkhand on the back of a spectacular showing by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
After spending 26 days behind bars in IPL spot-fixing case, former India cricketer Shantakumaran Sreesanth was released from Tihar Jail on Tuesday night along with Ankit Chavan and 17 others.
'The BJP is solely responsible for changing the image of the state, which is now known for political switch overs, and decline in its culture'
On whether Ajit Pawar will be expelled from the NCP, he said the decision will be taken at the party-level.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party's attempt to form a government with his nephew and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar had one benefit, as it ended President's rule in Maharashtra in 2019.
Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra will be held in five phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13 and May 20. Counting of votes will be held on June 4.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar told reporters that his nephew Ajit deliberately made those remarks to avoid media.
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday said there was no question of taking back those leaders who had deserted the two parties.
All the 36 accused persons including former India Test cricketer Shantakumaran Sreesanth along with his Rajasthan Royal team mates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were cleared of all charges in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, by a Delhi court, on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference in Satara, Sharad Pawar also said he has launched a statewide tour to strengthen the NCP and boost the confidence of party workers, unfazed by actions of a few leaders.
Rajasthan Royals player Ankeet Chavan's house wore a deserted look on Thursday morning. His parents refused to comment on his alleged role in the spot-fixing scandal that hit the cash-rich Indian Premier League on Wednesday.
Their lists show that a significant number of contenders are closely related to the current ministers, legislators or MPs, including their sons or daughters, wives and brothers or sisters.
'Can you believe Ashok Chavan was with me in the senior leaders' meeting one day, and next day morning, he switched sides!'
The Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Tuesday fielded Milind Narvekar, a close aide of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, in the biennial elections to 11 seats from the legislative council, taking the number of candidates in the fray to 12.
A total of 4,140 candidates were left in the fray for 288 Maharashtra assembly seats after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on Monday, a poll official said.
By ditching his uncle, the towering Sharad Pawar, and taking his party to the verge of a split, has Ajit Pawar over-reached? asks N Suresh.
Police have launched a probe into the killing of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique from different angles, including a possible contract killing, business rivalry or threat over a slum rehabilitation project, officials said on Sunday.
The Leader of Opposition in the assembly also told an interviewer that he will "100 per cent" like to be chief minister of Maharashtra.
Released on bail after spending 27 days in jail, cricketer Ankeet Chavan, who was arrested for alleged involvement in the IPL spot-fixing scandal, hopes he will not be denied justice by the judiciary.
NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Congress leaders and former chief ministers Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj and former speakers Dilip Walse Patil (NCP) and Haribhau Bagade of the Bharatiya Janata Party were among the members to take oath early.
The Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday posted a four-year-old video of its leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing that he will return to helm the state, prompting speculation in political circles.
The development assumes significance as Congress' ally Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar group) had named Jitendra Awhad as the new LoP in the assembly following a split in the party due to Ajit Pawar's rebellion last month.
There is quiet a bit of history behind NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent outburst about the Maharashtra chief minister, says Neeta Kolhatkar
Nationalist Congress Party blamed former chief minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan for the poor showing by the party and also Congress in the assembly polls.
Maharashtra Governor K Sankarnarayanan on Saturday accepted the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who quit following reports about his alleged involvement in a Rs 20,000 crore irrigation scam.
The NCP chief was accompanied by his wife Pratibha Pawar, Rajya Sabha member Vandana Chavan, NCP spokesperson Ankush Kakde, party's Pune city unit president Prashant Jagtap and many other party workers.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Sunday decided not to challenge the Board of Control for Cricket in India-imposed life ban on tainted player Ankeet Chavan despite a Delhi Court dropping criminal charges against him
Ajit Pawar has the support of more than 40 MLAs of the NCP, according to sources citing a letter submitted to Raj Bhavan.
Twenty-four deaths, including that of 12 infants, have been reported in the last 24 hours in a government hospital in Nanded, a top Maharashtra health official said on Monday.
'Ajit Pawar's speech leaves no room for reconciliation.'
Former BCCI anti-corruption unit chief Neeraj Kumar found superstar Virat Kohli's work ethic "matchless" during his tenure with the powerful cricket board.
After snapping ties with the Congress in the run up to the October 15 Maharashtra polls, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party has decided to support Congress rebel Vilas Patil Undalkar against former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan from the Karad South assembly constituency.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Tuesday didn't discuss the issue of the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly and has decided to take a 'wait and watch' approach amid political developments in the state, a senior leader said.
'No action will be taken against Ajit Pawar. I am sure.'
The Maharashtra chief minister is here to stay for the time being, that's the message to party members. The Congress is in no hurry to replace him or rush into campaign mode, says N Suresh.
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray will not switch to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, Maharashtra Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar president Jayant Patil asserted on Thursday, seeking to scotch speculation about a possible crossover by his key ally.
Sharad Pawar has left the door open for his nephew's return by not suspending him from the party for his rebellion.
A Delhi court remanded Rajasthan Royals' tainted trio Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankit Chavan and 10 others to five more days in police custody, in the Indian Premier League spot-fixing case, it was reported on Tuesday.
Facing a storm of protest over his "urine" remarks on drought situation in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar sat on a day-long 'aatma-klesh' (penance) fast at Karad in Satara district Sunday morning.
Notwithstanding the verdict of a Delhi court dropping charges against former India pacer Shantakumaran Sreesanth and two other cricketers in the 2013 spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to stick to its ban on the three cricketers for the time being.
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