The opposition in the Maharashtra assembly has alleged that teak wood smugglers in the Chandrapur district are receiving political protection, hindering efforts to combat illegal logging.
The Maharashtra government is facing criticism after an acid attack on a Class 6 girl student in Sangamner. The Congress party has slammed the government in the legislative assembly, alleging a deterioration in law and order in the state. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of women and girls in Maharashtra.
Power, patronage and money fuel politics in drought: And the ruling party controls all of those, points out Aditi Phadnis.
Tendulkar urged people to use their voting rights, saying that it is their responsibility.
A heated exchange occurred in the Maharashtra assembly between Speaker Rahul Narwekar and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray regarding the "act of God" defence for heavy rains and related incidents. The debate escalated to include climate change and alleged embezzlement at the Ram temple, leading to a brief adjournment.
Ministers will not be allowed to hold official meetings and meet visitors in the legislature complex during the session. They will have to conduct their official briefings and meetings in Mantralaya, the state secretariat, he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray, and MNS chief Raj Thackeray shared a stage at a book launch in Mumbai, with Fadnavis asserting that such bonhomie is 'part of Maharashtra's political tradition'. The leaders also discussed the art of cartooning and a proposal for a dedicated cartoonists' gallery.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of acting as a 'weapon' for the ruling BJP, while MNS leader Raj Thackeray demanded the cancellation of Maharashtra's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, amidst a large protest march in Mumbai.
A recent report by Praja Foundation indicates a significant decline in the quality and quantity of questions raised by Mumbai MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly. The 'Mumbai's MLA Report Card, 2026' shows a sharp drop in average scores for question quality and a 72 per cent reduction in the number of questions asked compared to previous assemblies, raising concerns about legislative oversight.
Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has moved the Supreme Court to intervene in a significant case concerning the interpretation of legislative privileges of MLAs and their impact on freedom of speech. A seven-judge Constitution bench will hear the matter from October 6. Kamra's involvement stems from privilege proceedings against him in the Maharashtra Assembly over his comedy special. The case also revisits a 2003 matter involving journalist N Ravi, highlighting conflicting views on whether fundamental rights override legislative privileges.
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar has expressed regret for incorrectly uttering certain Marathi words while reading obituary references in the House. He attributed the error to technical issues and an unclear printed copy, stating he had no intention of hurting sentiments, following criticism from MNS chief Raj Thackeray regarding the mispronunciation of names like Asha Bhosle and Deenanath Mangeshkar.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has claimed that 20 to 22 MLAs from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction might break away, hinting at significant political shifts in Maharashtra. He also criticised the ruling Mahayuti's conduct in the Gokul Dairy polls, alleging undemocratic practices and that victory was snatched from the Congress panel.
MLAs cutting across party lines spoke about Thursday's clash, and expressed concern over overcrowding in the legislature premises.
The Eknath Shinde faction on Wednesday defended the Election Commission's decision to recognise it as the real Shiv Sena and allot it the bow-and-arrow symbol in the Supreme Court. Senior advocate N K Kaul argued that no subsequent Shiv Sena constitution was submitted to the EC after 2011 and emphasised the importance of inner-party democracy. The hearing, which also touched upon the timing of the EC's decision and the pendency of disqualification petitions, remained inconclusive and will continue on Thursday.
The Supreme Court is examining the Election Commission's decision to allot the Shiv Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction. The court questioned the validity of relying primarily on legislative strength, particularly when MLAs face disqualification. Arguments from the Shinde faction defended the EC's test, while the court raised concerns about the "sentiment of the symbol" for defectors and the practicalities of assessing grassroots support. The hearing remains inconclusive.
Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Electric GLC 400 4MATIC, marking the first vehicle built on the MB.EA-M electric platform and locally assembled at its Chakan facility in Pune. The luxury EV, priced at 78.50 lakh, has already garnered significant interest with over 650 bookings and features advanced technology, impressive performance, and a long range.
Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti bloc is embroiled in a blame game following its poor performance in the recent Legislative Council polls. The BJP has accused its ally Shiv Sena of non-cooperation, while Shiv Sena leaders defend their actions and one MLA even suggested reinstating Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister, drawing parallels with the Bihar political model.
Former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai has been appointed by the apex court as the sole mediator in the high-stakes Krishna-Godavari basin gas migration dispute involving Reliance Industries. This appointment comes as Justice Desai has also been a prominent figure in leading committees for drafting Uniform Civil Code (UCC) legislation across several Indian states, including Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
The Special Intensive Revision of Maharashtra's electoral rolls has identified over 76 lakh voters classified as permanently shifted across the state. Mumbai Suburban, Thane, and Pune districts reported the highest numbers, highlighting significant discrepancies in voter lists and the ongoing challenge of maintaining accurate electoral data.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kllenius believes India is poised to become a significant manufacturing and export hub for the luxury carmaker, citing the country's growing market, supplier ecosystem, and engineering capabilities. The company also anticipates electric vehicles (EVs) will constitute a substantial 20% of its India sales by 2027.
The Election Commission has provided a fresh opportunity for voters in seven states marked as Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate (ASDD) to be included in the final electoral rolls. This decision comes amidst allegations of disenfranchisement and aims to facilitate the inclusion of electors whose enumeration forms were not returned during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
The Supreme Court has questioned the Election Commission's decision to allot the Shiv Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol to the Eknath Shinde faction, asking if the possibility of denying the symbol to both factions was adequately considered. The court also raised concerns about using legislative majority as a test while disqualification proceedings against MLAs were pending. The Shinde faction argued for the validity of the legislative majority test, citing significant vote share and legal precedents.
Counting of votes has commenced for Legislative Council seats across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Karnataka, with significant political implications ahead of upcoming electoral battles. The elections saw varied turnouts and intense contests between ruling alliances and opposition parties.
The NDA alliance secured 16 out of 28 legislative council seats across four states, while the Congress managed to win only one seat. The Samajwadi Party made significant gains in Uttar Pradesh, and the Jan Suraaj Party opened its account in Bihar. The results show mixed fortunes for major parties, with notable setbacks for the BJP in Nagpur and the Congress in Karnataka.
The Maharashtra government has declared snakebite a notifiable disease, mandating all healthcare providers to report cases and deaths. This move aims to strengthen monitoring, ensure timely treatment, and improve anti-snake venom availability, following a tragic incident where tribal schoolgirls died from snakebites.
Opposition parties in India are demanding the impeachment and arrest of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging he is running the poll panel as a 'one-man autocracy' following revelations that two Election Commissioners red-flagged issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A 37-year-old government contractor in Navi Mumbai died by suicide due to severe financial strain from unpaid bills for completed work. Opposition parties in Maharashtra have accused the state government of negligence, demanding a culpable homicide case against the administration and highlighting a pattern of such incidents among Marathi contractors.
India celebrated Diwali with traditional fervour, marked by diverse festivities across the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar, while other political leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Yogi Adityanath also shared their celebrations. Meanwhile, Delhi faced challenges with 'very poor' air quality and strict vigil on firecracker bursting.
The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections, conducted using ballot papers, have reignited the debate over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) versus ballot papers ahead of the 2027 UP assembly polls. While the BJP maintained its lead, the Samajwadi Party made significant gains, prompting renewed calls for ballot paper usage in future elections.
Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde highlighted ethanol's potential to protect India from volatile petroleum markets and geopolitical risks, advocating for its widespread production and use. He, along with other officials, emphasised ethanol's role in strengthening the rural economy, ensuring timely cane payments, and combating carbon emissions, while also discussing its historical context and current government support.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that Rahul Gandhi has turned creating ruckus in Parliament and resorting to boycotts into a Congress culture.
A criminal case has been registered against five individuals in Mumbra, Thane, for allegedly murdering a 54-year-old man. The victim was reportedly attacked with sticks, pipes, and belts on Tuesday evening following a dispute over a mobile phone. Police have filed charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, but no arrests have been made yet as investigations continue.
Mumbai police have registered an FIR against the organisers and 400-500 unidentified individuals involved in the Cockroach Janta Party's October 2 protest at Shivaji Park. The case cites unlawful assembly and wilful disobedience, stemming from a resident's complaint, with investigations ongoing and no arrests made yet.
The BJP has accused Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut of creating a fake audio clip using AI, alleging a Rs 500 crore payout to Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange. The BJP claims Raut orchestrated the conspiracy to push Rahul Gandhi's agenda and create rifts among ruling allies. Raut, however, claims a BJP MLC leaked the clip due to internal party competition. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis has ordered a forensic probe into the audio clip.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a forensic investigation into a controversial audio clip released by activist Manoj Jarange, which purportedly claims Rs 500 crore was delivered to him through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, amid escalating political accusations.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led a large protest in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke announced a further protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not step down, citing alleged voter deletions and irregularities in recent elections. The protest, which saw participation from various activists and public figures, also called for freezing voter lists and abolishing the 2023 law on Election Commissioner appointments.
Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Yojana has seen 81 lakh registered beneficiaries removed following a multi-month e-KYC verification drive, with the state's Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare clarifying the process was mandatory to filter out ineligible individuals, income-tax payers, and government employee families.
Aerospace major Embraer and the Mahindra Group have identified Nagpur as a potential manufacturing hub for the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, should their bid for India's multi-billion-dollar Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) deal be successful. This strategic partnership aims to establish a localised production and support ecosystem in India, aligning with the 'Make in India' initiative and strengthening the country's indigenous aerospace capabilities.
Tribal students protesting for better facilities and an inquiry into ashram school deaths were detained by police in Mumbai and driven out of the city. They had marched from Nashik and were seeking to meet the Governor.
In the coming assembly election, negotiations over seat-sharing will be as important as actual outreach to voters.
