Latest news with #VidhanParishad
New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Maha buzz as Uddhav meets Fadnavis for 3rd time in 2 days
MUMBAI: A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena-UBT to 'join us' in a lighter moment in the Legislative Council, both had a closed-door meeting for over 20 minutes on Thursday. This is the third meeting between them in the last two days. The meeting was held in the antechamber of Vidhan Parishad Chairman Ram Shinde at Vidhan Bhavan. It was organised to hand over a Marathi book to the chief minister and ask him not to impose Hindi as a third language from primary school in Maharashtra. The title of the book is 'Why Hindi should not be imposed'. It is a compilation of articles written by several editors in Maharashtra. Aaditya Thackeray was also present at the meeting, which also discussed the three-language policy, sources said. Fadnavis accepted the book, but suggested that Thackeray submit a copy to Narendra Jadhav, the head of the committee formed to review the decisions on the three-language policy. Sources said that Uddhav Thackeray has demanded that the Speaker allow the post of Leader of the Opposition to his party. He had recommended the name of Bhaskar Jadhav at the last state assembly session. Thackeray has been pressing for this demand and pursuing Fadnavis, contending that with 20 MLAs, his party was the largest opposition party.
NDTV
17-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
From Jest To Jolt: What Fadnavis' 'Offer' To Uddhav Really Means
In politics, if something is said, even in a lighter vein, it is said with a purpose. That's why when Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered Uddhav Thackeray a chance to join the government during a speech in the Vidhan Parishad, it created a stir in the state's political circles. While Fadnavis may have spoken in jest, the remark has been interpreted differently in Maharashtra's political landscape. Political analysts are primarily asking two questions: first, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a comfortable majority in the state assembly, so why does it need to bring Uddhav Thackeray on board? Second, if such a thing actually happens, what will be Eknath Shinde's position? Land Of The Absurd Events following the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections show us that anything is possible in this state's politics. Enemies can become friends, and parties can split overnight. A Chief Minister's swearing-in ceremony can take place before sunrise. The Mahayuti government, spearheaded by the BJP, enjoys an overwhelming majority in the 288-seat Legislative Assembly. The BJP (132), along with the Shiv Sena (57) and the Nationalist Congress Party, or NCP (41), has 230 seats, far above the majority mark of 145. Despite this consolidated position, if the BJP is extending an invitation to an opposition party to join the government, it likely has two plausible motives: one, it intends to further weaken the opposition MVA alliance by poaching its biggest constituent. Two, it wants to replace one of its current alliance partners in the Mahayuti. If it's the second case, the obvious question is, whom does the BJP want to replace? Fadnavis shares a cordial relationship with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and both leaders are aligned on most issues. However, the same cannot be said about his equation with the other Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde. Shinde And His Discontent Since the last Vidhan Sabha results, Shinde has reportedly been upset for various reasons. His first disappointment came when the BJP chose to make Fadnavis the Chief Minister instead of him. After assuming charge, Fadnavis overturned certain decisions taken by Shinde during his tenure as Chief Minister. Enquiries were also ordered into some contracts awarded under Shinde's leadership. Moreover, decisions such as the mandatory clearance of names by the Chief Minister's Office for the appointment of private secretaries by ministers have not gone down well with the Shinde Sena. Shinde's party is already in hot water due to a series of controversies involving its leaders. MLA Sanjay Gaikwad attracted bad press after punishing a canteen worker over stale food. A video showing Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) minister Sanjay Shirsat with a bag full of currency notes also caused embarrassment for Shinde. Such controversies are denting Fadnavis's efforts to deliver clean governance. Unease Grows Shinde is also in a difficult spot over the Hindi versus Marathi issue. While the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the MNS aggressively protested against a government circular mandating Hindi as the third language in primary schools, the Shinde Sena, being a part of the Mahayuti alliance, could not join the protest. Moreover, the education portfolio is held by a BJP minister. There is a growing feeling within Shinde's camp that not taking an anti-Hindi stand could cost them in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. So far, Uddhav Thackeray's party has not taken Fadnavis's offer seriously. But if recent political history in Maharashtra is any indication, what is speculation today could very well become reality tomorrow.
NDTV
17-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Uddhav Thackeray Meets Devendra Fadnavis Day After "Crossing Over" Joke
Mumbai: Allies-turned-adversaries Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met today at the Maharashtra assembly - the facetime between the two coming after months. While the ostensible reason was a discussion about the post of the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, the meeting assumed raised eyebrows in view of Mr Fadnavis's "join us" comment yesterday which Mr Thackeray was quick to write off as a "joke". The 20-minute meeting was held in the ante-chamber of Vidhan Parishad Chairman Ram Shinde at Vidhan Bhavan. Sources said Mr Thackeray had demanded that the Speaker allow the post of the Leader of Opposition, for which the name of Bhaskar Jadhav was recommended in the last session. This is the second session of the assembly since the formation of Mahayuti government. Mr Jadhav has the consensus of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi but the Speaker, Rahul Narvekar, has not taken any decision in this regard. The Chief Minister, sources said, had responded that allowing a Leader of the Opposition is the sole prerogative of the Speaker Aaditya Thackeray was also present for the meeting during which the three language policy was also discussed, sources said. Mr Thackeray also presented a book titled "Why Hindi should not be imposed" to the Chief Minister, which is a compilation of articles written by several editors in Maharashtra. Mr Fadnavis accepted the book, but suggested that Mr Thackeray submit a copy to Narendra Jadhav, the head of the committee formed to review three language policy decision. The meeting comes a day after the Chief Minister sparked much merriment in the state assembly with his public invitation to Uddhav Thackeray to cross over to the ruling alliance, sparking massive speculation. Speaking during the during the farewell ceremony of Ambadas Danve, Leader of Opposition and a member of Mr Thackeray's faction of the Shiv Sena, Mr Fadnavis - addressing Mr Thackeray who was also in the House - said: "Look Uddhav-ji, there is no scope of (our) going there (in the opposition) till 2029... But if you want to come over here, then consider it... it depends on you... it can be considered". The Thackeray faction has always treated any talk to getting back with the BJP with disdain. Mr Thackeray later said these things are said as a joke and should be taken as such.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘No scope to sit in Opposition till 2029': Devendra Fadnavis jabs Uddhav, invites him to join ruling side
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a veiled dig at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray , inviting him to join the treasury benches (ruling side) in Vidhan Parishad, stating that his government doesnt have any "scope" to come into Opposition until 2029. Fadnavis was speaking on the occasion of Uddhav Thackeray's farewell from the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad . Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category MBA Management PGDM Healthcare Technology Data Science MCA Operations Management Public Policy Data Analytics others Digital Marketing Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Finance Project Management Product Management CXO Data Science healthcare Leadership Cybersecurity Degree Others Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details "At least till 2029, there is no scope for us to come there (Opposition). Uddhav Ji can think about the scope of coming to this side (ruling party) and that can be thought about in a different way, but there is absolutely no scope left for us to come there (Opposition)," Fadnavis said. Meanwhile, while addressing the Question Hour session in the Maharashtra Legislative Council , Devendra Fadnavis informed that 41,193 missing children have been traced so far through ' Operation Muskaan ', while 4,960 women and 1,364 children have been traced under 'Operation Khoj' this year alone. The Chief Minister said that taking the missing cases seriously, ' Missing Cell ' has been established in all police stations and its responsibility has been handed over to senior women officers. Live Events He also clarified that data is being shared between the state and the Centre through the Missing Portal so that the record of every missing person is uploaded and updated on time. However, Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve , while appreciating these efforts, raised the point that only finding people is not enough but concrete policies should also be made on social aspects like child marriage, human trafficking. The Chief Minister assured that the government will analyse these cases from a sociological perspective and take effective steps in the future. On July 11, Uddhav Thackeray took a swipe against the ruling Mahayuti government, saying that the bill should be renamed as " BJP security bill ". He further accused the ruling Mahayuti government of "misusing majority" while alerting that the government could "pick up" commoners and imprison them. "They can pick up anyone, including ordinary people, and imprison them. This bill is similar to previous acts like MESA and TADA. This bill should be called the 'BJP security bill' instead of the public security bill, as they believe speaking out against the BJP is tantamount to criticising the country. Currently, we don't support this bill," Thackeray, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, told reporters here.
