Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election 2024 Live Updates: Sacked IAS officer Khedkar's father enters Maharashtra assembly poll fray

Three senior Congress leaders from Pune, including a former mayor and an ex-corporator, have decided to run as Independent candidates after not being selected on the Maha Vikas Aghadi nominees list for the November 20 assembly elections. The leaders—Ulhas alias Aaba Bagul, ex-mayor Kamal Vyavhare, and Manish Anand—have filed their nominations for various constituencies. Bagul is contesting from the Parvati assembly segment, which has been allocated to NCP (SP), while Vyavhare and Anand are running from Kasba Peth and Shivajinagar, respectively.

The NCP (SP) has chosen Ashwini Jagtap for the Parvati seat, who previously lost to BJP's Madhuri Misal in 2019. Meanwhile, in the Shivajinagar constituency, Congress has nominated Datta Bahirat to challenge sitting BJP MLA Sidharth Shirole, a decision that has caused disappointment among other hopefuls, including Anand.

"We are part of Maha Vikas Aghadi. We will continue with them but a lot of people are indulging in friendly fights, and we too would follow the same...If we have two MLAs from Bhiwandi, it would be a miracle. We want to improve Bhiwandi just like Nashik. We want to develop Bhiwandi. So, we want to win both seats. We urge the public to make us win," he said.

"Today, I filed a nomination from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Vidhan Sabha constituency as an NCP candidate. I had filed the form as an Independent candidate also. But the party has sent the AB form and we submitted it at 2.55 pm and now I am the official candidate of NCP," he said.

CEC Rajiv Kumar expressed concern over politically motivated crimes in Maharashtra and asked DGP Maharashtra to ensure a strict clampdown against such crimes which vitiates the electoral atmosphere and disturbs the level playing field. ECI holds a review meeting with Chief Secretary, DGP and other top officials of Maharashtra, Jharkhand and their border states to assess the law-and-order situation for the ongoing assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, ANI reported quoting sources.

An election official announced on Tuesday that 743 candidates' nominations have been accepted following scrutiny for the first phase of the Jharkhand polls. During this process, 62 nominations were rejected. The first phase will cover 43 assembly constituencies, with voting scheduled for November 13. A total of 805 candidates submitted their nomination papers between October 18 and 25, and the scrutiny took place on Monday.

Congress leader and party candidate for Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election Priyanka Gandhi Vadhra on Tuesday held a roadshow in Wayanad as a part of her election campaigns.

Earlier today, Vadhra intensified her campaign and gave a speech in Kozhikode and said that people of Wayanad had supported her brother at a time when massive campaigns were unleashed to tarnish his reputation.

Addressing the people, Vadra said, "You, the people of Wayanad have shown the country the way. A massive campaign was unleashed against my brother to tarnish his reputation. Lots of money and resources were poured into that campaign. There was a time when everybody was turning their back on him and it was at that time that all of you loved him, voted for him and supported him.

NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar commented on Tuesday regarding Yugendra Pawar's candidacy for the Baramati assembly seat against NCP chief Ajit Pawar. He underlined the democratic right to contest elections and the need for peaceful campaigning.

He said, "Be it Ajit Pawar or Yugendra Pawar, everyone has the right to contest elections in a democracy. It should be contested peacefully and try to put forward your policies before the public." Sharad Pawar highlighted the importance of a peaceful election process and clear communication of policies.

NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule said the fight was not within the family but between the NCP and the BJP's power.

On the candidature of Yugendra Pawar from Baramati assembly seat against NCP chief Ajit Pawar, NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar says, "Be it Ajit Pawar or Yugendra Pawar, everyone has the right to contest elections in a democracy. It should be contested peacefully and try to put forward your policies before the public."

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday accompanied Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule as he filed his nomination for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

Speaking to the media reporters, Maharashtra Deputy CM Fadnavis said that a lot of people have come to witness the nomination filing of BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule from the Kamthi Assembly constituency for the Maharashtra assembly polls.

"Today our state (BJP) president is filing his nomination from the Kamthi Assembly constituency, a large number of people have come here. He will win with a record number of votes and the Mahayuti government will be formed again in the state," he said.

After unsuccessfully contesting the Lok Sabha elections, Dilip Khedkar, father of sacked probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, has now entered the assembly poll fray as he will contest as an independent candidate from Shevgaon seat in Ahilyanagar district.

This time, he has not mentioned any information related to his wife in the election affidavit, contrary to what he had done during the Lok Sabha polls. He filed his assembly poll nomination form on Tuesday, the last day of the process. Khedkar, a former government official, was one of the accused in the case of alleged criminal intimidation along with his wife Manorama Khedkar, who allegedly showed a gun to a farmer in Pune district over a land dispute in June 2023.

As Maharashtra assembly is set to go to polls on October 20, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Tuesday exuded confidence that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), of which Congress is a part, will form government in the state.

"People in huge numbers are coming to file the nomination papers. People celebrate it like a festival. This election will be one-sided and MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) will form government in the state," he said.

Patole who filed his nomination on Tuesday from Sakoli Assembly seat said that there will be a change of government in thst state.

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren accused the BJP of promoting division in society and neglecting marginalized communities in response to Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's remarks suggesting that Jharkhand could become a "mini-Bangladesh".

With Maharashtra assembly polls less than a month away, Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena candidate from Worli Assembly seat Milind Deora on Tuesday asserted that his only aim is to deliver justice to the voters of the constituency, highlighting that his fight is a political one, not personal.

Milind Deora will file his nomination from the Worli Assembly seat today, where he is up against sitting MLA from Shiv Sena (UBT) Aaditya Thackeray.

"This is not a personal fight; it is a political fight. Our aim is only one: we have to deliver justice to the voters of Worli. We have to take Mumbai and Maharashtra forward. Unfortunately, the way a fake narrative has been spread against the government in the last 2-3 years, we have to bust that narrative...Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is very enthusiastic about solving the problems of the people of Worli," Deora told ANI.

Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora to file his nomination from Worli Assembly seat today; Shiv Sena (UBT) has fielded Aaditya Thackeray from this seat

He says, "We are trying our best to ensure that Worli, which is one of the most cosmopolitan constituencies in Mumbai, which has all communities living there, all people living from slums to high rises, to take their issues, concerns, aspirations to the Chief Minister. That is our objective. The Chief Minister has one objective. He wants Worli to move ahead. And therefore, we are fighting this battle to give people justice. I want to serve the people. If I get an opportunity to serve the people through Parliament, if I get an opportunity to serve the people through assembly, to me service is service. The objective is how do you empower people, how do you help them to do better, so that is my objective..."

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren criticised the BJP on Monday for allegedly encouraging and widening division in society and failing to support marginalised groups. In response to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's comments, Soren called on BJP leaders to question their Prime Minister's leadership and accountability regarding border security and alleged infiltration from Bangladesh.

"Keep in mind that these people (BJP) stir up Hindu-Muslim tensions; they incite fights among brothers and create divisions in households. Today, I want to ask these BJP leaders to question their Prime Minister. When he wasn't in power, which book did he refer to in order to govern? He declared that the Constitution must run the country, and after the riots between Hindus and Muslims, who is responsible for infiltrators coming from Bangladesh?" Soren said.

He then underlined that India belongs to its people and questioned the control of the border.

Ajit Pawar's NCP released its fourth list of candidates on Tuesday, containing two names for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election. The list includes the names of Devendra Bhuyar and Shankar Mandekar. The party has fielded Bhuyar from Morshi Constituency in Solapur district while Mandekar fielded from Bhor in Pune.

Meanwhile, the filing of nomination papers for candidates in the election will end Tuesday. Voting for all 288 seats will be held on November 20 in a single phase.

"Today, I have been asked to file my nomination as the BJP-Shiv Sena, Mahayuti candidate. I am going to Kamthi to file the nomination, where many of our leaders will be present. I am confident that the people of Kamthi Assembly constituency will give me a significant number of votes to win. I will work for the people over the next five years. I consider their votes as a debt, and I will repay that debt by working diligently for them," says Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule ahead of filing his nomination from Kamthi Assembly constituency.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam and the Bharatiya Janata Party's co-in-charge for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, strongly criticized the current Jharkhand government regarding the issue of infiltration. Sarma expressed his concern that the state might be transformed into a "mini-Bangladesh" due to the influx of infiltrators.

The chief minister further asserted that the infiltrators are causing disruptions to Jharkhand's cultural fabric and undermining the 'Adivasi asmita' (tribal pride). He cautioned that if this pattern persists, the tribal state could face a significant demographic change in the future.

Sarma also emphasized the BJP's commitment to implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Jharkhand if the party is re-elected to power in the state. The NRC is seen as a measure to identify and address the issue of illegal immigration.

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Mahayuti leadership after being fielded as the alliance candidate for the upcoming Maharashtra polls.

The Shiv Sena leader said that she is committed to the people of Mumbai and will see her candidature as an opportunity to serve Mumbaikars and become their voice.

Speaking to ANI, Shaina NC said, "I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Mahayuti because I believe this is an opportunity to serve my Mumbaikars and to show that we are here as Pradhan Sewaks in every field. I have been living in South Mumbai all my life and I realise the kind of challenges citizens here have to face, whether it is cluster development, local hygiene, or open spaces."

A low-key affair versus a show of strength summed up the filing on Monday of nominations in the Pawars’ bastion,Baramati.
NCP supporters took out a rally before Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar went to the tehsil office to file his papers, showcasing the latter’s “support” in Baramati. Ajit’s two sons, Parth and Jay, and some beneficiaries of Maharashtra govt’s Ladki Bahin scheme accompanied him.
In contrast, Yugendra followed his granduncle Sharad Pawar’s footsteps and visited their ancestral home in Baramati’s Amrai, the same house from where Pawar Sr had gone to the tehsil office in 1967 to file his first-ever nomination to contest assembly polls.

Dilip Khedkar, the father of former probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, Monday filed his nomination from Maharashtra’s Shevgaon as an Independent. Khedkar had fought the 2024 LS polls from Ahmednagar on a VBA ticket, securing 13,749 votes, including 4,021 from Shevgaon.

Congress neta Anees Ahmad joined Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi on Monday. VBA announced Ahmad’s candidature from the Nagpur Central constituency for the upcoming polls. “I have noticed that Congress sold tickets in Vidarbha with no representation to Muslims, Telis and Dalits. I decided to quit the party as it failed to undertake social engineering,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Shaina NC figures in the third list of 15 candidates released by Shiv Sena Monday night. Sena’s list also has the name of Sanjana Jadhav, daughter of former Union minister and BJP neta Raosaheb Danve, who will contest from Kannad. Shaina will contest from Mumbadevi seat in Mumbai, where her main rival will be sitting Congress MLA Amin Patel.

He told TOI he will be going at 10 am to file his nomination.

Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena candidate from Kopri-Pachpakhadi assembly constituency, Eknath Shinde conducted a roadshow in Thane on Monday.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Shinde said that the upcoming Assembly election will be a record-breaking one.

"People have participated in this rally today. It will be a record-breaking election. There is not just an atmosphere of election but of a festival. This is a matter of pride for me," he said.

Sanjay Raut, a prominent leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), cautioned the Congress party on Monday regarding their decision to nominate a candidate for the Solapur South assembly constituency, despite his party having already declared a nominee for the same seat. In his interaction with the media, Raut suggested that such actions could trigger a reciprocal response from their end and lead to "problems" for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.

"The Congress, in its new list, has announced its candidate (Dilip Mane) from the Solapur South constituency. This has happened when we have already fielded our candidate (Amar Patil) from the same seat. I consider it a typing mistake by the Congress. Such a mistake could happen from our side as well," he said.

Raut further mentioned that he had received information about local Congress leaders expressing their eagerness to contest the Miraj assembly seat, which is already included in the seat-sharing arrangement between the alliance partners. He cautioned that if this trend of nominating candidates against allies spreads throughout the state, it could pose challenges for the MVA.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), forms the opposition alliance that is contesting against the ruling Mahayuti in the upcoming elections.

"Amidst the code of conduct implemented in view of the Maharashtra assembly elections, the police have seized Rs 1.32 crore in cash in South Mumbai. This amount was recovered from 5 people. The police have detained all of them. The suspects were interrogated by the FST team at the VP Marg police station. This information has been given to the Income Tax Department and the police are questioning all five persons to find out where this cash came from and what was its purpose," said Mumbai police in a statement.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) unveiled its list of 49 nominees for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls on Sunday. Brijmohan Srivastav, the party's chief national spokesperson, shared the news via a press release, noting that the ultimate selection of candidates was carried out during parliamentary board sessions.

According to the statement, the Ajit Pawar-led party revealed that the verdict on the 49 individuals was reached through a series of parliamentary board gatherings. In the initial stage, 38 candidates were declared, followed by seven more in the second phase, and an additional four in the third phase.

As of now, the NCP has confirmed a total of 49 candidates for the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, as per the official communication from the party.

Sita Soren, a BJP leader, became emotional and shed tears during a press conference on Sunday while discussing the alleged offensive comments made by Irfan Ansari, a Congress minister, about her. Soren is running for the Jharkhand assembly from the Jamtara constituency and was speaking to the media one day prior to submitting her nomination papers.

Allegedly, Ansari, who is the Congress candidate for the same seat, made the disparaging comment about Soren after completing his own nomination on Thursday.

"Ansari has been targeting me since my candidature from the seat was announced. But, the derogatory remarks he made after filing his nomination are not acceptable. It is an insult to women of the tribal community. The tribal community will never forgive him," she said.

Manash Sinha, the former working president of the Jharkhand Congress, switched his allegiance to the BJP on Monday, just before the upcoming assembly elections. The ceremony, held at the BJP headquarters, saw Sinha being welcomed into the party fold by Ravindra Rai, the working president of Jharkhand BJP, and Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam who also serves as the BJP's state election co-incharge.

During his address, Sinha stated, "I have served the Congress party and held different posts for the past 27 years. But, there is no respect left for dedicated workers in the party. So, I decided to join the BJP." He further mentioned that he had tendered his resignation from all positions within the Congress party.

Assam CM and BJP co-in-charge for Jharkhand Assembly elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "...I ignite fire against infiltrators. Lord Hanuman had also set fire in Lanka. We have to set fire against infiltrators and make Jharkhand a golden land. In Santhal Pargana, the tribal population is decreasing and the Muslim population is increasing. Not every Muslim is an infiltrator but how is the population of Muslims increasing every 5 years? Is a family giving birth to 10-12 children? If families are not giving birth to so many children, then definitely people are coming from outside. This is simple mathematics. We will win the elections but that is not the main priority, it is to throw out infiltrators from Santhal Paragana and justice for women..."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released third list of 25 candidates for upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde will file his nomination today from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency, for the Maharashtra assembly election.

Notably, Tuesday is the last date for filing nominations for the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Earlier today, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar filed his nomination papers from the Baramati assembly seat.

Notably, Ajit Pawar's nephew and grandson of Sharad Pawar, Yugendra Pawar, is contesting from the same constituency as the NCP-SP candidate.

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said on Monday that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would form the government in Maharashtra in the interest of the people.

CM Eknath Shinde to file his nomination from Kopri-Pachpakhadi seat today

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief, Ajit Pawar filed his nomination for the Baramati assembly seat today for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024. Baramati, a long-held constituency by the Pawar family, remains a crucial stronghold in Maharashtra’s political landscape.

NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar, party MP Supriya Sule accompany party's candidate from Baramati assembly seat Yugendra Pawar who will file his nomination papers today for the upcoming MaharashtraAssemblyElection

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will campaign for the Wayanad bypoll for two days starting Monday, October 28, 2024, party leaders announced. Gandhi, who is also the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate for the constituency, plans to meet voters and address public gatherings during her visit.

Her campaign will kick off at Nilgiri College of Arts and Science, where she is expected to arrive by helicopter at approximately 11:20 am.

Ajit Pawar to file nomination today for Baramati seat against Sharad Pawar's grandson

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released the second list of candidates for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly Elections.

The party has fielded Gamliyel Hembrom from Barhait and Vikash Mahato from Tundi.

The BJP is contesting on 68 of the 81 assembly seats in the state, leaving the rest for its allies.

Andaleeb Sultanpuri, son of noted poet-lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, is contesting from Bandra West on Rashtriya Ulama Council’s ticket, reports Mohammed Wajihuddin. The council has so far picked two candidates, including Chand Mohammed Sheikh from Colaba.
“I have joined a political party which is committed to empowering Muslims. I know my limitations as I am new to politics, but I am not entirely unknown as I have a legacy from my famous father. I want to do something for the community and the country,” said Andaleeb, a former film director who also dabbled in the garments business.
Asked whether he would be blamed for splitting Muslim votes and indirectly helping Mahayuti candidate Ashish Shelar, Sultanpuri said: “MVA should have thought about it. Are we only to support others? I want Muslim youths to become self-reliant.”

Controversial NCP functionary and former minister Nawab Malik has said he will on Tuesday file his nomination papers for assembly polls. “My daughter, Sana, is filing her nomination papers on Monday. I will accompany her. I will file my nomination papers on Tuesday from MankhurdShivaji Nagar constituency,” he told TOI. He did not disclose if he would fight as an independent or as an NCP nominee.

Actor Swara Bhasker’s husband, Fahad Ahmad, will be Sharad Pawar-led NCP’s nominee from Anushaktinagar for the assembly election. Ajit Pawar’s NCP has fielded former minister Nawab Malik’s daughter Sana Malik from the constituency. Ahmad’s candidature has surprised even NCP (SP) functionaries, who were expecting a local functionary to get the ticket.