Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar come together for family function in Mumbai
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar attended the traditional ceremony held in Mumbai on Sunday.
The private ceremony, conducted at the Mumbai home of Yugendra Pawar's bride-to-be, Tanishka Kulkarni, turned into a setting of family warmth and festivities, and united members of the formerly split Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under one roof.
Images and videos from the event show smiles, blessings, and familial bonds.
Yugendra is the son of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's younger brother Shrinivas Pawar. In spite of having a tough electoral background, Yugendra lost from his own uncle Ajit Pawar in the 2024 Assembly polls from Baramati.
Present there too were Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, and her relatives.
This comes just a few months after the Pawars attended the engagement ceremony of Ajit Pawar's younger son, Jay Pawar, in Pune.
NCP 2023 split
In 2023, Ajit Pawar's breakaway from the NCP and joining the BJP-controlled Maharashtra government caused waves in the state's political scene.
The move led to a formal party split and saw family members contesting elections against each other. Supriya Sule, who contested against her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar in the Lok Sabha polls, added fuel to the narrative of a divided family.
Political attacks continue
Meanwhile, on the political front, Supriya Sule slammed the BJP-led Mahayuti government, which her cousin is also a part of, for failing to address the rising crime rate in Maharashtra. She accused it of being a mute spectator as miscreants had no fear of the law.
Addressing media persons, the MP from Baramati alleged that a ₹4,900 crore scam was executed in the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yogana, the Centre's pet scheme, where women receive monthly support of ₹1,500.
She also raised a red flag on irregularities in the Election Commission's management of voter lists in Bihar, calling for a detailed debate in the Parliament on electoral accountability and transparency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Congress leaders speak in different voices on Trump's tariff threat
Congress leaders on Monday spoke in different voices on the issue of U.S. President Donald Trump's latest comment on imposing higher tariffs for buying Russian oil. 'So much for Howdy Modi. So much for Namaste Trump. So much for Ab ki Baar Trump Sarkar. So much for BJP MPs hailing Narendra Modi as India's trump card,' party's communications chief Jairam Ramesh posted on X. 'This is what happens when foreign policy becomes about image building, not national interest,' Mr. Ramesh added. His party colleague, Manish Tewari, tagging President Trump on X, asked the American President not to lose his sleep over it. 'We have enough resilience as a nation to withstand your Tariff threat,' he added. Former Union Minister Anand Sharma noted that the U.S. President's comments on 'India and its economy was belittling and unacceptable'. 'As the fourth largest economy, India has resilience & inherent strength to engage with the world on principles of equality & mutual respect,' Mr. Sharma posted on X.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Resort politics in municipal polls too as MCM councillors flown to Nepal
Gurgaon: Showing how stakes have risen even in elections at the municipal level, a dozen BJP-backed councillors were taken to Nepal ahead of the poll to elect two deputies for the mayor of Manesar, which is scheduled for Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Incidentally, Manesar was the only corporation where BJP didn't win the mayoral seat in the civic elections that were held earlier this year. An Independent, Inderjit Kaur Yadav, was elected mayor. So, there is intense jockeying for influence over the deputies. The two positions for which polls will be held are those of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor. Sources said the 12 councillors were flown off over the weekend to Pokhara and were accompanied by a senior BJP functionary, a loyalist of minister and Badshapur MLA Rao Narbir Singh. An unspecified number was sequestered in other cities within India, the sources added. According to party insiders, the councillors' group in Nepal was on its way back to the city on Monday and would reach either late night or early Tuesday morning. In case of the latter, they will directly go to the Manesar conference hall where voting is scheduled between 10.30am and 1.45pm. Sources in BJP said the strategy was a preventive measure against any last-minute poaching or crossvoting. "The risk of defections or councillors shifting loyalties under pressure is real. After the mayoral loss to an Independent candidate backed by Rao Inderjit Singh, we couldn't afford another setback," said a senior BJP functionary, referring to the tussle for influence between the Union minister and Gurgaon MP and Narbir. Election for the senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor holds both symbolic and strategic importance because the mayor is a Rao Inderjit loyalist who prevailed despite intense campaigning for the BJP candidate by Narbir. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Eventually, seven BJP candidates were elected in the 20-member civic body. After the polls, seven Independent councillors joined BJP, taking the party's tally to 14 and putting it in a good position to call the shots in Tuesday's elections. However, such numerical reassurances can prove ephemeral before crunch votes, so moving the flock to Nepal was thought to be the right move by Narbir's camp to ensure unity and minimise last-minute shifts, especially amid attempts by the rival faction to re-establish contact with some of the turncoats, sources said. Photos of some of the councillors dining at a restaurant in Kathmandu and sightseeing in Pokhara have surfaced on social media, drawing comments about the need for such "extreme measures" in a municipality level election. Narbir has, however, denied his role in Nepal trip for the councillors. "I'm not aware of any trip. There is election on Tuesday and all councillors will be there. I am sure BJP candidates will get the seats". On rivalry with Rao Inderjit, Narbir said he is a senior BJP functionary and Union minister, and there are no such differences. Parties or netas protecting their flock against horse-trading by herding them into hotels and resorts at faraway places ahead of crucial events like a confidence motion or a trust vote, or breaking away to form a new party or joining another, is not uncommon. But that happens at the state or national levels. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have seen episodes of MLAs being flown to luxury resorts in Goa, Rajasthan, and even hotels in Gurgaon. During his power struggle with Ashok Gehlot, Congress's Sachin Pilot had led a group of MLAs to a hotel in Manesar. For Tuesday's poll in Manesar, during which councillors will vote to elect the two deputies to the mayor, both sides exuded confidence on their numbers. According to BJP sources, consensus has been reached on fielding Praveen Yadav, councillor from Ward 12, and Reema Deepak Chauhan, councillor from Ward 2, for the posts. The rival bloc has not publicly disclosed its candidates.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Is J&K Getting Statehood Back? Flurry Of Secret Meetings Spark Speculations Ahead Of Article 370 Abrogation Anniversary
New Delhi/Srinagar: Six years after the abrogation of Article 370, a flurry of closed-door meetings between India's top leadership and the President of India has triggered speculation about the possible restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. The timing of the meetings, ahead of August 5 (the Article 370 abrogation anniversary), has fuelled further speculation across political circles and online platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 3, but no official statement was released following the meeting. That same evening, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also visited the President for a one-on-one discussion. The back-to-back nature of these visits, both unaccompanied by formal press releases, caught the attention of observers. The buzz intensified as Shah separately held a series of other meetings. Among those he met were Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Sat Sharma, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta and All J&K Shia Association President Imran Raza Ansari. These interactions came as the Centre reportedly firmed up plans for a key National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs' meeting scheduled for today (August 5). While no official agenda has been made public, the sequence of developments has set off widespread speculation that a major policy announcement regarding Jammu and Kashmir could be on the horizon, possibly including a legislative step towards restoring statehood. Social Media and Analysts React Social media users and political commentators have been quick to pick up the signals. Retired Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, widely followed by key defence leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cautioned against haste. 'There is a lot of speculation about what may be announced on August 5. The peace in Kashmir has come at a great cost. We should not rush into any hasty decision. The consolidation phase is still going on,' Dhillon wrote on X (formerly Twitter). There is a lot of speculation about what may be announced tomorrow (5th Aug). The peace in Kashmir has come about at a great cost of human lives of security forces personnel and innocent civilians. It's fragile still as was evident from the Pahalgam terror attack. For the sake… — KJS DHILLON (@TinyDhillon) August 4, 2025 Six years after abrogation of #Article370, #Kashmir is undergoing a historic transformation. From record tourism to world-class infrastructure, J&K is no longer trapped in inertia. The Chenab Rail Bridge, AIIMS, Vande Bharat, & Smart Cities— KASHMIR BADAL RAHA HAI!@TinyDhillon — Sehrish Bashir (@SehrishB_) August 4, 2025 Geopolitical analyst Arti Tikoo Singh echoed similar concerns. She said there was widespread chatter about the potential division of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate states. 'Strong rumours are circulating that the Centre might grant statehood. What is even more bizarre is that rumour mills are suggesting that Kashmir and Jammu will be separated and reorganised. If either is true, nothing could be more disastrous,' she said. Strong rumours are circulating in Jammu & Kashmir that the Centre may grant statehood to the Union Territory on the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. That is, tomorrow. What's even more bizarre is that rumour mills are suggesting that Kashmir and Jammu will be… — Aarti Tikoo Singh (@AartiTikoo) August 4, 2025 Another user wrote, 'Is GOI going to give J&K complete statehood? It would be surprising and ill-timed.' Is GOI going to give J&K complete statehood? It would be surprising, and ill timed. 5th August is already historic enough. The government has no need to be compulsive about doing something historic every 5th of August. Give 5 more years at least to settle down things in J&K. — MIMAMSA (@MimamsaSutras) August 4, 2025 Govt. may avoid needless rush in decision that may undo whatever gain has been made. @TinyDhillon knows abt J&K much more than many politicians. — Chandrahas Shetty. (@chan_sim) August 4, 2025 Absolutely bang on target EVER IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS PLEASE READ THIS TWEET... IT'S FEELING OF WHOLE NATION... — Aditya Sharma (@adisonu31may) August 4, 2025 The Long Road Since August 5, 2019 On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The region's special constitutional status was scrapped and its legislative powers were transferred to the Centre under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. Since then, both Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah have repeatedly spoken about restoring statehood, but no formal timeline has been offered. In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the abrogation of Article 370 and asked the Centre to restore statehood 'at the earliest'. The government, in response, assured the court that it would do so. But no concrete move has followed. The demand for statehood regained momentum in 2024 after Assembly elections were held for the first time in over 10 years. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, in alliance with the Congress, pressed for full restoration of statehood. The April 22 Pahalgam attack momentarily dampened the campaign, but the Congress resumed its demand during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, including a protest at Jantar Mantar. Will Fresh Elections Be Part of the Deal? Reports also suggest that the Centre might tie the restoration of statehood to the holding of fresh Assembly elections, replacing the current UT-based legislative structure. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah commented on this possibility in June. 'I have read that statehood will be restored, but Assembly elections would have to be held afresh. Let them do it, who has stopped them?' he told reporters. For now, the series of meetings and rising political chatter signal that a major announcement regarding Jammu and Kashmir may not be far off. But until an official word comes, statehood remains an open question and one that continues to stir political and public debate.
