BJP leader Nitesh Rane reportedly made derogatory remarks saying, "EVM means, Every Vote against Mullah."
Narayan Rane, son get protection from arrest till March 10
'Jhatka' meat is the flesh of animals slaughtered by a single blow of the blade.
The 'Malhar' nomenclature of a platform announced by Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane for certifying mutton shops exclusively operated by Hindu community members has divided trustees of the famous Malhari Martand temple. One trustee has demanded a name change as the deity is "vegetarian" and loves animals, while another trustee supports the use of 'Malhar'. The certification program aims to certify 'jhatka' mutton shops, which are 100% operated by Hindus.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections witnessed the continued influence of political dynasties, with prominent families retaining their strongholds across the state. The Thackareys and the Ranes emerged as dominant forces, securing victories in various regions. The Rane brothers, Nilesh and Nitesh, won in Sindhudurg, while Uday and Kiran Samant secured victories in Ratnagiri. In Mumbai, Aaditya Thackeray retained his Worli seat, while his cousin Varun Sardesai won in Vandre East. The results underscore the enduring power of family connections in Indian politics.
Breaking the nearly three-decade-old dominance of the undivided Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday emerged victorious in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, and also vanquished the alliance of Nationalist Congress Party factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar in the Pune civic body.
Parents of celebrity manager Disha Salian have written to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking action against Union Minister Narayan Rane, his MLA-son Nitesh and others for allegedly spreading fake news about their daughter's death and defaming the family.
The real surprise in these results came from Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM. Of the 29 Muslim candidates who got elected to the 227-strong BMC, the Congress and the AIMIM between them bagged 22.
Nitesh Rane, suspended Congress leader Narayan Rane's the 26-year-old son, on Wednesday quit as general secretary of the Mumbai Youth Congress, saying he was disillusioned" with the leadership. "My father has said he was disillusioned with Sonia Gandhi's leadership. Likewise, youngsters are disillusioned with Rahul Gandhi's leadership," Nitesh told reporters while announcing his decision to quit the post.
Chintu Shaikh, a member of an NGO run by Nitesh Rane, Maharashtra Revenue Minister's son, on Friday demanded his arrest for allegedly firing at him, a charge dismissed as 'politically motivated' by the Rane family.
Two weeks after the Bombay high court transferred investigation of Chintu Shaikh case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the central agency on Friday registered a first information report against Nitesh Rane, the son of Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane.
Manoj Jarange's protest for Maratha quota at Mumbai's Azad Maidan enters its third day. Jarange is demanding 10% quota for Marathas and recognition as Kunbis. Maharashtra ministers suggest the community avail the existing EWS quota.
Maharashtra Revenue Minister assures investigation into an alleged land deal involving a company linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar, after receiving a formal complaint.
Division Bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A R Joshi passed the order on Thursday, granting the prayer made by Chintu Shaikh, the petitioner, who had alleged that Nitesh shot at him at Swabhiman's office in Mumbai last September.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticised Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane for calling Kerala a "mini Pakistan", saying the remark is "highly provocative and condemnable". Vijayan said Rane's comments expose the Sangh Parivar's approach towards Kerala, which he said involves alienating and spreading hate campaigns against the state. He also criticised the leadership of the ruling party for not reacting to Rane's "serious breach of oath". Vijayan called for all democratic and secular forces to unite against the Sangh Parivar's "hateful propaganda".
Maharshtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane's son Nitesh Rane is in trouble after an activist belonging to his own organization Swabhimaan alleged on Thursday that Nitish had shot him. According to police officials, they received a call from the Powai's Hiranandani hospital informing them about one of the patients undergoing treatment in the hospital had suffered a bullet injury.
Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, inducted 39 ministers into his cabinet on Sunday. The new cabinet includes members from the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, reflecting the coalition government formed after the recent state elections.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that Maharashtra minister Narayan Rane called him up and sought the release of his son Nitesh Rane after he was arrested for vandalising a toll-booth on Goa-Maharashtra border and assaulting the staff on Tuesday.
Amid violence against Hindi-speaking people, Maharashtra minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashish Shelar on Sunday drew parallels between the Pahalgam terror attack and the beating of 'Hindus' in Mumbai, which he said is condoned by some leaders.
After Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said the government would examine Nitesh Rane's controversial statement about Gujaratis living in Mumbai and take action if he was found guilty, Nitesh's father, state Industry Minister Narayan Rane, on Monday rushed to his defence.
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday claimed that Uddhav Thackeray planned to make Eknath Shinde the chief minister of Maharashtra after the 2019 polls, but first the Bharatiya Janata Party and later Maha Vikas Aghadi allies including Sharad Pawar played a spoilsport.
Moein Shafaghi and Himanshu dished out superb performances as Tamil Thalaivas thrashed Bengal Warriorz 60-29 in their Pro Kabaddi League match in Pune on Wednesday.
Activist Manoj Jarange's hunger strike demanding Maratha quota continues for the third day in Mumbai, following a meeting with a government delegation. The protest has caused traffic disruptions and highlights the ongoing debate over reservation policies in Maharashtra.
In a fresh statement, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader has raised questions on the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan suspecting if the attack on the actor was real or if Khan was just acting. Rane while addressing a public gathering in Maharashtra's Pune, raised questions on attack on Saif saying -- "I doubted whether he had been stabbed or he was acting."
'We pressurised him (to accept the deputy chief ministership).' 'Being out of power would have made him weaker.'
BJP leaders in Maharashtra criticized Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's joint rally in Mumbai, calling it a desperate attempt to revive their political fortunes ahead of civic polls. They accused the Thackerays of using the Marathi language issue as a guise to regain power and criticized their past actions.
Before the violence and rioting that erupted in Nagpur on Monday, March 17, over Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb came provocative statements from various political leaders.
Bombay Taximen Union Secretary A L Quadros alleged that Tuesday's strike is a "government-sponsored" strike called by a non-government organisation Swabhiman run by state Revenue Minister Narayan Rane's son Nitesh.
"I have no interest left in contesting the elections," said the former Lok Sabha member.
Speculations about a rapprochement between Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray are gathering steam, but leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) acknowledge that personal ties and organisational synergy are significant hurdles that need to be overcome. While both parties have expressed a willingness to put aside "trivial issues" and unite, the prospect of a reunion is complex, involving family dynamics, ideological differences, and the potential for internal conflicts. The reunion buzz has come at a time when both parties are experiencing a political nadir, with the Sena (UBT) winning 20 seats and the MNS drawing a blank in the 2024 assembly polls. The prospect of the two cousins coming together has enthused supporters of both parties, but it might not be the case with a section of cadres and party leaders. Key concerns include seat-sharing agreements, potential conflicts in areas with strong bases for both parties, and ideological differences.
Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse is the new school education minister while Uday Samant continues to be the industries minister.
Amid parties accusing rivals of promoting dynastic politics, the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls will see brothers, cousins and father-children in the fray, with members of the same family taking on each other in some seats.
For the first time, a presiding officer was declaring in public what decision he will be taking, the Rajya Sabha member said.
Pankaja Munde of the BJP -- Dhananjay Munde's cousin -- has been made the guardian minister of Jalna district.
A huge contingent of police personnel, including a Rapid Action Force (RAF) team, was deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.
The Nagpur violence may have been prevented had the police considered the dangerous potential of the VHP/Bajrang Dal's demonstration; had they immediately stopped the burning of the chaddar and arrested the demonstrators; and had they fanned out to counter the rumours that spread among Muslims, observes Jyoti Punwani.
Targeting Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday, Bharatiya Janata Party minister Nitesh Rane said as per the Supreme Court's past decisions, if a person is facing allegations of rape, he must be arrested.
The list also includes the names of Mumbai BJP president Ashish Selar, fielded from the Vandre West seat, and senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP Narayan Rane's son Nitesh Rane, fielded from Kankavli, a seat he currently represents in the assembly.
Many of BJP leaders said that Fadnavis will soon helm the state.
Sudhakar Badgujar, the leader in question, denied the allegations while speaking at a news conference in Nashik.