The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Mumbai unit on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s directive to the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) to conduct Maharashtra local body elections within four months, calling it a much-needed restoration of constitutional democracy in the state. In a statement, AAP lashed out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of presiding over what it called an “organised loot” in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and 27 other civic bodies across Maharashtra. The party alleged that the state’s largest municipal body, the BMC, has seen a substantial depletion of its fixed deposits due to unchecked administrative spending. “For over three years in the case of BMC and between three to eight years in 27 other corporations, citizens have been denied their right to elect representatives. This is a blatant subversion of democracy,” said Preeti Sharma Menon, AAP’s Mumbai President. “It is a crying shame that local urban bodies have been reduced to bureaucratic fiefdoms, with administrators acting as proxies for the Chief Minister.” Menon claimed that the absence of elected representatives has allowed lower-level bureaucracy to operate without accountability. “There is rampant rent-seeking, civic grievances are being ignored, and citizens have nowhere to turn,” she said. Welcoming the Supreme Court order as a “step towards restoring public representation at the grassroots level,” AAP asserted that it is ready to contest the upcoming elections. “The people of Maharashtra deserve better. AAP is not just an alternative but the solution to the mess that governance in this state has become,” the statement said. Menon emphasised AAP’s commitment to clean politics and a new political culture. “We are fully prepared to go to the people of Maharashtra and seek their mandate in favour of transparency, accountability, and service-driven governance.” The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra state election commission to notify Maharashtra local body elections in the state within four weeks. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said the contentious issue of OBC reservation in local body polls of Maharashtra will be as it existed prior to the 2022 Banthia Commission report. The top court accepted the commission report which recommended census to fix exact data on OBCs and reserve 27 per cent of seats for the category in local body polls in Maharashtra. The bench on Tuesday fixed a timeline for concluding the local body polls and asked the state panel to conclude it in four months and granted liberty to the state election commission (SEC) to seek more time in appropriate cases. The bench said the outcome of Maharashtra local body elections would be subject to decisions in pending petitions before the apex court. (With inputs from Agencies)
06 May,2025 05:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Jayant Patil has expressed deep gratitude to the Supreme Court of India for intervening in the long-delayed Maharashtra local body elections. In a post on social media platform X, Patil said the apex court's directive marks a significant step in upholding democratic principles in the state. लोकशाही वाचवण्यासाठी सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाचे मनापासून आभार...गेली ३ वर्षे महाराष्ट्रात स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थांच्या कोणत्याही निवडणुका संपन्न झाल्या नव्हत्या. राज्यातील स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्था गेली ३ वर्षे प्रशासकीय अधिकारी चालवत आहेत, ही बाब लक्षात आल्यानंतर सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने… — Jayant Patil- जयंत पाटील (@Jayant_R_Patil) May 6, 2025 “For the past 3 years, no elections for local self-governance institutions have been held in Maharashtra,” Patil wrote. “These bodies have been run by administrative officers, denying the people their democratic rights.” On Monday, the Supreme Court issued an interim order mandating the state government and State Election Commission to announce elections within one month and complete the process within four months. The court’s direction comes in response to repeated delays and legal complexities surrounding Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations in local bodies. The apex court clarified that the elections will be subject to its final judgment on the OBC quota issue. “These elections are essential for workers of all political parties in the state,” Patil added. “Even though delayed by 3 years, I, on behalf of our party, express gratitude to the Supreme Court of the country for ordering these elections, which are crucial for nurturing new leadership and keeping democracy alive.” The Supreme Court has also allowed the Election Commission to seek an extension if conducting the elections within the stipulated timeframe proves challenging. However, Patil warned the state government against using this provision to postpone the polls any further. “We sincerely hope that the state government does not delay the elections by using the Election Commission as an excuse,” he said. The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra state election commission to notify local body elections in the state within four weeks. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said the contentious issue of OBC reservation in local body polls of Maharashtra will be as it existed prior to the 2022 Banthia Commission report. The top court accepted the commission report which recommended census to fix exact data on OBCs and reserve 27 per cent of seats for the category in local body polls in Maharashtra. The bench on Tuesday fixed a timeline for concluding the local body polls and asked the state panel to conclude it in four months and granted liberty to the state election commission (SEC) to seek more time in appropriate cases. The bench said the outcome of Maharashtra local body elections would be subject to decisions in pending petitions before the apex court. On August 22, 2022, the top court directed the SEC and the Maharashtra government to maintain the status quo with regard to the poll process for the local bodies in the state. The top court passed the order on a plea of the Maharashtra government seeking a recall of the apex court order by which it directed the SEC not to re-notify the poll process to 367 local bodies, where it has already begun, in order to provide reservation to OBCs. The state government came out with an ordinance providing 27 per cent reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in local body polls. The government then moved the top court seeking a recall or modification of its order. The top court on July 28, 2022, warned the state poll panel of contempt action if it re-notified the election process to such local bodies. The apex court quashed the SEC notification to provide 27 per cent quotas for OBCs in local bodies in 2021 and in December of the same year, it ruled reservation for OBCs in local bodies would not be allowed unless the government fulfilled the triple test laid down in the top court's 2010 order. The top court ruled the OBC seats would be re-notified as general category seats until then. (With inputs from Agencies)
06 May,2025 05:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter the Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra Election Commission to notify Maharashtra local body elections within four weeks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that the party is prepared to face all types of situations, reported news agency ANI. "Supreme Court order has come that within 4 months, local body elections need to be conducted (in Maharashtra). We have been demanding this again and again...it will be rainy season and also festive season...we are prepared to face all types of situations," Sanjay Raut told reporters. Earlier today, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also directed that an endeavour shall be made by the state election commission to conclude the elections within four months. "In our concerned opinion, the constitutional mandate of grassroots democracy through periodical elections of the local bodies ought to be respected and ensured", the bench stated in the order, reported ANI. However, the Court also granted liberty to the state election commission to seek its permission for an extension, in case they are not able to conclude the elections within the prescribed time. The top court also noted that the Maharashtra local body elections had not been held for several years due to the pendency of several issues that arose with regard to OBC reservations. The Court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking directions to conduct Maharashtra local body elections. It noted that a six-member expert committee led by JK Banthia had submitted its report on the issue of OBC reservations in the state. Subsequently, various disputes had arisen with respect to the inclusion and exclusion of OBCs over the nature and implications of backwardness, reported ANI. The Court was informed by Senior Counsel Indira Jaising who appeared for the petitioners, that the Banthia-panel report had led to the de-reservation of 34,000 people in the state who had earlier been awarded the reservation. The Court also noted that prior to the Banthia-panel report, reservation had been provided to different categories of persons of the OBC communities based on which elections used to take place. "The core issue in this revolves around reservation for the OBC community in the State of Maharashtra for elections to all local bodies. There has been a reservation provided to the different categories of OBC communities based on which earlier the elections were held from time to time", the Court noted, in its order, reported ANI. Accordingly, it directed that local body elections in the State be conducted based on the reservation laws that were in effect before the submission of the Banthia Commission report in July 2022. (With inputs from ANI)
06 May,2025 04:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhile Mumbai’s streets might be the most conspicuous subject for those who love capturing its infectious spirit, it takes someone with a keen eye to watch over its ever-evolving skylines and document its myriad changes. With a similar thought in mind, mid-day photo editor Rane Ashish’s exhibition, ‘Mumbai From Above’, opened on Friday at the Mumbai Press Club. Mid-Day Photo Editor Rane Ashish, Editor-in-Chief Sachin Kalbag, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani & President Samar Khadas at the opening of Ashish’s photo exhibition ‘MUMBAI FROM ABOVE’ at Mumbai Press Club, Fort PC: @satejss #midday #photoexhibition #BMC pic.twitter.com/DhPHhXb47R — Mid Day (@mid_day) May 2, 2025 The exhibition was attended by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Bhushan Gagrani and Mumbai Press Club President Samar Khadas. Visitors will be able to view 30 carefully curated aerial photographs, shot over a period of more than 10 years in 80 different locations, including Saat Rasta and Haji Ali. From the sea link to the coastal road, the exhibition reflects the vast shifts that have shaped the city’s infrastructure. Speaking about the exhibition, Rane said, “This project began in 2014, when I started capturing aerial photographs of the city. Over time, I could see how landscapes transformed and localities changed. I have tried to stitch it all together in this exhibition, which is my tribute to Mumbai.
06 May,2025 04:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a 'yellow alert' for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and some other parts of Maharashtra, predicting thunderstorm and light rains. In its latest Mumbai weather updates bulletin, the IMD stated that thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) at isolated places were very likely. A similar weather alert was issued for adjoining Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra. The IMD also predicted thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds at isolated places in Raigad, Pune, Jalgaon, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur Beed, Jalna, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Amravti, etc. The weather department also an 'orange alert' for Nashik, predicting thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, gusty winds (50-60 kmph) and hail at isolated places. A similar alert was issued for Parbhani, Hingoli and Nanded districts in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, in a nowcast warning issued by the IMD Mumbai t 3:15 pm on May 6, the weather department said, "Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and moderate spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon, Nandurbar during next 3-4 hours. Possibility of hail at isolated places." In an another nowcast warning issued by the IMD Mumbai t 3:15 pm on Tuesday, the IMD Mumbai said, "Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and light to moderate spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Pune, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Sangli, Thane, Satara, Beed during next 3-4 hours." It has advised citizens to take precautions while moving out. Mumbai is bracing for a light wet spell this week after the IMD issued a rain and thunderstorm alert for Tuesday, May 6. Cloudy skies and light to moderate showers are expected to continue throughout the week, giving some relief from the harsh summer sun, though humidity levels are likely to stay high on Tuesday. Mumbai has been witnessing hot weather for past several weeks. On Tuesday, minimum and maximum temperatures were likely to hover around 28 and 32 degrees Celsius respectively, the weather department predicted.
06 May,2025 03:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTaking notice of the "dangerous culture" of investigating officers copy-pasting witness statements even while filing charge sheets in serious offences, the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to issue necessary guidelines. Hearing a petition in a criminal matter, the bench noted that the statements of witnesses reproduced in the charge sheet were so similar that even "the paragraphs start with the same words and end with the same words". If the police were cutting corners in this way even in serious cases, it was not a good sign for the criminal justice system, said Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Sanjay Deshmukh of the Aurangabad bench in a recent order. "It is high time to take cognizance of the issue suo motu (on its own) and to consider, as to what are those shortcomings or difficulties for the investigating officer/ officers when they record such copy-paste statements," the Bombay High Court said. The bench asked the state government to come out with specific guidelines for police officials as to how a statement should be recorded. The court was hearing a petition filed by some persons seeking to quash an FIR registered against them for alleged abetment to the suicide of a 17-year-old youth. After going through the charge sheet, the court noticed that even in a serious offence, the investigating officer had "literally copy-pasted" the witnesses' statements. "Even the paragraphs start with the same words and end with the same words," the Bombay High Court remarked. "The culture of copy-paste statements is dangerous and may, in certain cases unnecessarily, give advantage to the accused. In such circumstances, the seriousness of a genuine case may vanish," the bench said. It wondered if the witnesses were even called by the police for recording a statement.In the case before it, the high court refused to grant any relief to the accused, noting that it was a serious offence. The Bombay High Court appointed advocate Mukul Kulkarni to assist it, asking him to collect data and suggest measures which the government may take to prevent such practices and improve the quality of investigation overall. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on June 27. (With inputs from PTI)
06 May,2025 02:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA bike theft case in Vikhroli was solved thanks to an unexpected source—a BMC e-street sweeping vehicle equipped with a CCTV camera. The camera captured the pillion rider as the stolen two-wheeler sped past. Using the footage, police identified the registration number of the scooter the accused had used to arrive at the crime scene. This crucial lead led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the stolen vehicle. The incident took place on April 4, when the complainant, Swapnil Bhabude, 40, a resident of Gawanpada in Mulund, was travelling on his motorcycle. After dropping his mother at their old house in Dadar, he was on his way back home to Mulund via the Eastern Express Highway. As he neared Bhandup, he received a phone call. The civic body’s cleaning van. File Pic/Nimesh Dave “The complainant wanted to avoid taking the call while riding, so he pulled over to the side of the road. At that moment, two individuals on an Activa scooter approached and picked a fight over allegedly being overtaken, which soon escalated into a physical altercation,” said a police officer involved in the investigation. The duo then demanded Bhabude’s phone under the pretext of making a call, but refused to return it. They continued to pressure him for monetary compensation. When Bhabude refused to meet their demands, the duo damaged his bike’s number plate and physically assaulted him, pushing him to the ground. They then fled with his mobile phone and motorcycle. Despite the attack, Bhabude managed to reach Vikhroli police station and report the incident. An FIR was registered against two unidentified individuals. During the investigation, police initially struggled to identify the accused, as none of the CCTV cameras in or around the crime scene had captured useful footage. However, while recounting the incident in detail, the victim vividly recalled seeing BMC e-street sweeping vehicles operating on both sides of the Eastern Express Highway at the time of the crime. Police promptly contacted the relevant authorities and the drivers who were on duty at the time. To their surprise, one of the e-street sweeping vehicles was equipped with a built-in CCTV camera that had captured the entire sequence of events, along with clear images of the accused. Using the CCTV footage, police circulated the images of the suspects through their network of informants and also traced the Activa scooter seen in the video. The investigation led them to the Panchpakhadi area in Thane, where the two suspects were located. Both were arrested at their residences, and the stolen mobile phone and motorcycle were recovered. According to API Girish Gaikwad, the investigating officer, the accused have been identified as Vedant Yeram, 23, and Kunal Sonar, 23, who are close friends. Preliminary inquiries revealed that financial distress was the motive behind the crime.
06 May,2025 02:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer | Rajesh GuptaDr Shravan Shingane, the Palghar-based doctor, who was robbed by a gang of four unknown men while returning home with his family from Buldhana on the Samruddhi Mahamarg on May 2, told mid-day that his family and he are finding it hard to recover from the traumatic encounter. The partially open 701-kilometre Samruddhi Mahamarg, which connects Mumbai and Nagpur, has been welcomed by motorists for drastically cutting short the travel time between the two cities. However, incomplete construction work and an alleged lack of patrolling have turned the expressway into a hotspot for robberies. An injured Dr Shravan Shingane (left) the Shinganes’ car, which was damaged in pursuit of the robbers. Pics/By special arrangement Recounting his harrowing experience, Dr Shingane, who runs the Sai Clinic in Boisar, told mid-day, “I save lives and treat the injured for a living. When these robbers attacked my family and me, I felt completely helpless.” The incident occurred near Karmad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. According to Dr Shingane, a white car without a number plate overtook them and abruptly stopped in front of their vehicle near the Nathnagar bridge. “Four men stepped out. Claiming to be insurance agents, they forcibly took my car keys and began assaulting me,” he said. Dr Shravan Shingane; his wife, Chaitali; their two-year-old son, Shriraj; and the doctor’s mother-in-law, Meena Nibhore, were travelling from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Palghar via the Samruddhi Mahamarg on the night of May 2. The family was in high spirits, enjoying the drive. Illustration/Uday Mohite “My wife then pleaded with them to stop and assured them we would hand over our valuables. They snatched gold jewellery from the women. When my wife tried to take their photo, they grabbed her phone too.” Dr Shingane said he was unable to resist due to the presence of his son and elderly mother-in-law. “They took everything away from us in front of my eyes, and I couldn’t lay a finger on them,” he said. Later, after the men got into their car, in a desperate attempt to stop the robbers, Dr Shingane rammed his vehicle into theirs from behind. The assailants, however, emerged and threatened to kill the family if they dared to follow them. The Shinganes eventually reached a toll plaza and informed the Chikalthana police, who registered an FIR. Around 10 pm, a white car without a number plate overtook the Shinganes’ vehicle and abruptly stopped in front of them at a dark spot. The family could see that there were four individuals inside “This highway is becoming increasingly dangerous,” Dr Shingane alleged. “Multiple gangs are active here. There are many unauthorised entry and exit points due to ongoing construction work. Vehicles without number plates ply freely. Several stretches are poorly lit, creating dark spots. Security agencies and local police must intensify patrolling, especially in vulnerable areas. Even food plazas are not fully operational. I hope the police trace and arrest the culprits soon. We were returning home with a smile on our lips while returning from the wedding reception, but after this encounter, my family is deeply traumatised,” he added. Inspector Ravikiran Darwade of the Chikalthana police station said, “We have registered an FIR against four unidentified persons and are working to trace the accused. The Samruddhi Mahamarg is not fully operational, and the patrolling by the Special Security Group is inadequate. Several unauthorised entry and exit points remain open, and the toll plaza is still under construction. We are actively pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the suspects.” The accused snatched jewellery and cash worth R11 lakh and fled, using an unauthorised exit that is unmonitored and incomplete SP Rupali Darekar of the Sambhajinagar Highway Police said, “We patrol the highway 24x7. Emergency contact boards are installed every 200 to 500 metres along the highway for the safety of commuters. If we receive a call, our team reaches the spot within 10 minutes to assist. However, in this case, we did not receive any call from the victim, Dr Shingane, after the incident. He contacted the 112 police helpline, which connected him to the city police.” She added, “We suspect two or three entry and exit points are still under construction, known only to locals, which the suspects might have used to escape. CCTV cameras are installed across the highway. We believe the accused removed their vehicle’s number plate after entering the highway and reattached it after the incident, enabling them to exit undetected. The city police are facing challenges in identifying the vehicle, and we are also working to trace the car. Our team patrols the expressway regularly.” What MSRDC has to say An official from MSRDC said, “The Maharashtra State Highway police is in charge of security on the Nagpur-Igatpuri stretch of the expressway. A total of 192 Maharashtra Security Force guards and 16 patrolling vehicles have been given to the Maharashtra State Highway police by the MSRDC for the operational stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg.”
06 May,2025 02:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaAfter the Home Ministry gave instruction to conduct nationwide mock drills on May 7, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that the Centre should take the opposition into confidence and be prepared to face the situation after the war, reported news agency ANI. He hit out at Home Minister Amit Shah and said that he was not efficient enough to handle war war-like situation in the country. Sanjay Raut said, "Mock drills keep happening in the country where a war-like situation arises...We have the experience of 1971 and the Kargil war, if the government wants to conduct a mock drill, then fine. In 1971, there was no means of communication, but today you can tell people what to do and what not to like it was done during Covid. Now it is a real war. The situation in the country after the war becomes very serious. For that, there should be discussions with the opposition. PM Modi should take everyone into confidence. Rahul Gandhi had called for a special session of Parliament," reported ANI. He further said that the country is facing war war-like situation and the opposition won't do politics during this moment. "The situation which will arise in the country, is the Home Minister efficient in handling it? The Home Ministry is responsible for the anarchy in the country over the last 10 years. The way in which Pakistan is threatening and China is standing behind it, the PM will have to make changes in the government, weak people like the Home Minister will have to be removed, and a National government will have to be formed. The PM's agenda is only to fight the war and win the election," he added, reported ANI. In a boost to civil defence preparations amid tensions with Pakistan, the Union Home Ministry has decided to organise a Civil Defence Exercise and Rehearsal across 244 categorised districts on May 7. According to a letter written to Chief Secretaries, the Union Home Ministry said the exercise aims to assess and enhance the readiness of Civil Defence mechanisms across states and Union Territories. The exercise is planned up to the village level, reported ANI. "Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to organise Civil Defence Exercise and Rehearsal across 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts of the country on May 7, 2025," the letter said, reported ANI. The primary objectives of the mock drill include assessing the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, operationalisation of hotline, radio communication links with IAF, testing functionality of control rooms and shadow rooms, training of civilians including students on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of hostile attack and provision of crash blackout measures. The objectives also include the provision of early camouflaging of vital installations, to verify the activation and response of Civil Defence Services, including warden services, firefighting, rescue operations and depot management, assessing the implementation of crash blackout measures and evaluating the preparedness of evacuation plans and their execution. (With inputs from ANI)
06 May,2025 02:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe officials on Tuesday said that the civic authorities in Thane and Navi Mumbai have issued directives for monsoon preparedness and set deadlines for completing infrastructure works, reported news agency PTI. Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao has ordered the completion of all ongoing development projects by May 20, with specific attention to Ghodbunder Road. He has asked officials to focus on 24x7 operational control rooms, expedite road and pothole repairs by the MMRDA and MSRDC (with deadlines for key roads), remove metro barricades, take joint efforts with railways for drain cleaning, come up with detailed traffic management plan, among other measures by May 30, reported PTI. According to officials, Navi Mumbai municipal commissioner Dr Kailash Shinde has ordered the completion of pre-monsoon tasks like drain cleaning and tree pruning, alongside continuous operation of control rooms and regular field inspections, reported PTI. His directives include swift maintenance of essential services (roads, water, sewage, parks) and action on dangerous buildings, they said. Meanwhile, Kalyan-Dombivli municipal commissioner Abhinav Goyal convened a meeting to discuss the readiness of all departments (especially fire), setting up emergency medical facilities in hospitals, and collaboration with police for the evacuation of residents from high-risk buildings, with schools designated as temporary shelters, reported PTI. BMC steps up monsoon preparedness to prevent flooding in Mumbai Ahead of Mumbai rains, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking major steps to prevent waterlogging in flood-prone areas of the city before the arrival of monsoon season. Several low-lying areas in Mumbai witness waterlogging during heavy rains. He directed the BMC officials to work in coordination with the railway officials. Bangar suggested conducting a hydraulic survey and implementing appropriate measures to improve water discharge. He conducted a field inspection of several waterlogging-prone locations in the city and eastern suburbs, including the Mankhurd underpass, Chembur's Shell Colony underpass, Tembhi Bridge, S.G. Barve Road near Chandrodya Society at Kurla Junction, Chunabhatti railway station, and the Hindmata rainwater holding pond. Bangar was accompanied by Chief Engineer (Stormwater Drains) Shridhar Chaudhary and other senior officials. The statement said that specific measures are to be taken at the Mankhurd Maharashtra Nagar underpass to prevent flooding, while systematic drainage planning is to be carried out in the Tembhi Bridge area. At Hindmata pumping station, the operation must be made more efficient with the installation of flow meters and standardisation of pump capacity across all seven pumps, the official statement said. To ensure faster rainwater drainage during monsoon, additional pumping facilities are to be installed where necessary. Internet of Things (IoT) based technology will be integrated with existing pumps to enable real-time monitoring through disaster management systems. These sensors will help immediately detect whether pumps are operational or not, the BMC said. It said that as part of pre-monsoon preparations, BMC’s Stormwater Drainage Department is actively carrying out various works, the officials said. (With inputs from PTI)
06 May,2025 02:04 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentThe Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) to notify the long-pending local body elections in the state within a span of four weeks. The apex court also clarified that the provision for reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in these polls must reflect the status as it stood prior to the submission of the Banthia Commission report in 2022. According to PTI, a Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh made it clear that grassroots democracy could no longer be stalled under the pretext of unresolved issues around reservation. The court strongly noted that local body elections had not been held for an unreasonably long time in Maharashtra, in some instances, extending up to five years, which it viewed as a serious lapse in upholding democratic governance at the local level. The Bench has also set a firm timeline, directing that the entire election process should ideally be concluded within four months. However, the court has granted the SEC the liberty to approach it for an extension of time in appropriate circumstances, should unavoidable delays arise. Furthermore, the Supreme Court ruled that the results of these local body elections will be subject to its final judgment in the batch of petitions currently pending before it, which challenge the validity of the Banthia Commission's findings and recommendations. The apex court had earlier, on 22 August 2022, directed both the SEC and the Maharashtra government to maintain status quo regarding the poll process for local bodies, due to the legal tussle over the OBC reservation issue. Mumbai: Civic poll spotlight on youth as parties court new voters Meanwhile, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections in sight, political parties are revamping their strategies to attract the next generation of voters. Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Opposition Shiv Sena UBT are planning to give youth leaders a platform to make a significant impact in the upcoming civic polls, according to political pundits. The Shiv Sena, which ruled the BMC for over two decades, has decided to introduce new faces in its shakhas (local branches). Party insiders said new appointments of office-bearers at the ward level will start soon, providing opportunities for young leaders to connect with new voters. Former mayor and Shiv Sena UBT spokesperson Kishori Pednekar said, “Shiv Sena is a youth party. We have a youth network, and the party always gives responsibility to the youth.” She added that changing office bearers is a routine process, not just for elections, and that both youth and experienced individuals will get opportunities. The BJP, a strong contender in the upcoming civic poll, has also decided to give opportunities to young leaders in its parent organisation. The party has set an age limit of 35-45 for Mandal Adhikari (ward-level leaders), which is considered the “youth face” in politics. Bhalchandra Shirsat, BJP spokesperson, said the appointment of office bearers is an ongoing process, and this time the party has decided to appoint Mandal Adhikari, responsible for two electoral wards, from the 35-45 age group. Other parties, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Congress, are also giving opportunities to young leaders. Sandeep Deshpande, former corporator and city head of MNS, said most office bearers in the party are young, and new appointments will provide further opportunities for youth. Nizamuddin Rayeen, spokesperson for the Mumbai Congress, said the party always gives opportunities to youth, with 33 per cent of party faces being youth. The party has also launched a program to give ground-level office bearers a chance to create leadership. With around 10.65 lakh new voters registered in Mumbai in the last seven years, political parties are focusing on attracting young voters. Each electoral ward has seen a rise of around 4000-5000 voters, and parties believe these are mainly youth voters between 18-30 years. Observers say these are uncertain voters who can be swayed by parties that connect with them early. Political analysts Abhay Deshpande and Hemant Desai said the upcoming civic poll will be a significant contest between Shiv Sena UBT and BJP, with both parties trying to attract young voters. Deshpande added that old and traditional leaders may have limitations in fighting the ruling party, while new faces have no vested interests and can fight harder. The civic election, delayed due to pending cases in the Supreme Court, is expected to take place in October or November this year. The term of the civic body ended in 2022, but the cases related to OBC and ward delimitation are pending in the Supreme Court. In 2017, there were 217 wards, and after delimitation, the number of wards increased by nine, becoming 236 wards during the Maha Vikas Aghadi rule in the state. These two cases are still pending in the Supreme Court. Political parties are hoping the election will be conducted in October or November this year. (With inputs from PTI)
06 May,2025 01:57 PM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
