Politics

Mumbai, Maharashtra: A year after the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is struggling to keep its ranks intact. Following the electoral defeat, 43 runner-up MVA candidates have defected to the ruling Maha-Yuti alliance, with the majority joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Three independent candidates have also aligned with the ruling coalition. Defections BreakdownOut of the 46 total runner-ups who switched sides, 26 joined BJP, 13 joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and 7 joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Additionally, a senior candidate from the ruling NCP also shifted allegiance to BJP. Election Results RecapIn the 2024 state polls, Maha-Yuti secured 235 of 288 seats, with BJP winning 132 seats, Shinde’s Shiv Sena 57, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP 41. The M...

Mumbai: The Pune land deal controversy involving Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has intensified, with an army of 10 lawyers now representing him to mitigate liabilities, including a potential ₹42 crore stamp duty. The case is being examined by a Revenue Department committee headed by Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge. Parth Pawar’s firm, Amadia Enterprises LLP, requested an additional 15 days to respond to the notice issued regarding stamp duty payment for the Mundhwa land parcel. On the final day of the original notice, the firm approached the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) office, which had initially instructed the payment of ₹21 crore as stamp duty. The IGR granted a seven-day extension and senior officials will decide on the additional time req...