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Sun, 24 November 2019
Detained Kashmiri leaders may be released soon

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21:18   Detained Kashmiri leaders may be released soon
Some of the Kashmiri political leaders who have been under detention since August 5 may be released soon, with the Union Territory administration already easing restrictions on their movement, officials said on Sunday.
   
As many as four leaders belonging to various political parties were allowed to visit their houses for few hours on Saturday after they requested for it, they said.
 
Some of the political leaders who are detained in their houses may be allowed to move out of the valley on health grounds, the officials said.
 
There was a possibility of some of the detainees being released from the MLA hostel but a final plan will be worked out by the Union Territory administration with the Centre, they added.
 
The leaders had been under detention since August 5 when the Centre announced abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and splitting the state into two union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. 
The union territories came into existence on October 31.
 
Among those detained are three former chief ministers -- Farooq Abdulalh, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. While senior Abdullah was slapped with the stringent Public Safety Act on September 17, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been detained at different locations in the city.
 
Thirty-four political detainees were shifted to MLA hostel from Centaur hotel on November 18 as Srinagar reeled under harsh winter conditions and the hotel lacked proper heating arrangements, the officials said.
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20:49   Vowing to jail him, Fadnavis now has Ajit as dy
Politics does make for strange bedfellows.
Take the case of Devendra Fadnavis, who in 2014 had vowed to send Ajit Pawar to jail for his alleged corruption in the "irrigation scam".
On Saturday, after Fadnavis was sworn in Maharashtra chief minister for a second term, propped up by the man he had termed corrupt not so long ago, videos of his tirade against the NCP leader went viral on social media.
In the video, Fadnavis can be heard describing what Ajit Pawar would be doing in prison after the election.
He would be, said Fadnavis, Chakki peesing and peesing and peesing", words from the iconic film Sholay, used to describe prisoners doing hard, manual labour.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had described the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party as "Naturally Corrupt Party", was also among those who congratulated Ajit Pawar after he became the deputy CM.
In a stunning turn of events in Maharashtra, BJP's Fadnavis on Saturday returned as chief minister propped up by Ajit Pawar, who was made his deputy, just hours after the new alliance of Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress reached a consensus that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be their chief ministerial candidate. -- PTI
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20:12   Respect Pawar's decision, come back: NCP to Ajit
Even as Ajit Pawar bats for the NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra, senior NCP leader Jayant Patil has appealed Pawar to return to the party fold.

"You are a founding member of the NCP. We all grew under (Sharad) Pawar saheb. But in the interest of the state, Pawar has taken a decision to not to go with the BJP. Respect that and come back," Patil tweeted replying to Ajit Pawar's tweet which claimed that he is still with the NCP after taking oath as deputy CM with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

"I am in the NCP and shall always be in the NCP and @PawarSpeaks Saheb is our leader. Our BJP-NCP alliance shall provide a stable Government in Maharashtra for the next five years which will work sincerely for the welfare of the State and its people," Ajit Pawar tweeted.

However, Sharad Pawar said there was no question of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Paryt in Maharashtra.
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19:22   Our MLAs are being approached by BJP: Cong
With the Supreme Court likely to take a call on crucial floor test in Maharashtra on Monday, which will decide the fate of the nascent Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Sunday alleged that BJP leaders had booked rooms in hotels where his party MLAs are put up and were contacting some of them.
Speculation was rife that the task of getting MLAs into the BJP's fold has been entrusted to senior leader Radhkrishna Vikhe Patil, who had crossed over from the Congress to the BJP ahead of the October assembly polls, Sainik-turned-Congressman-turned BJP Rajya Sabha MP Narayan Rane, NCP-turned-BJP MLA Ganesh Naik and Babanrao Pachpute.
When asked about the speculation, Vikhe Patil gave a cryptic and open-to-interpretation reply, stating "I have good relations with all MLAs".
Chavan told reporters that some Congress MLAs had told him about the move by the BJP.
"Our MLAs are united and will not be poached," Chavan said.
MLAs of the Congress, NCP and Sena are sequestered in different hotels in the metropolis, to stall any attempts by the BJP to poach them ahead of the floor test in the assembly.
Incidentally, BJP leader Ravindra Chavan was seen entering Hotel Renaissance in suburban Powai where NCP MLAs have been staying since Saturday evening.
Sources said these NCP MLAs are now being moved to another location nearby.
The Congress legislators were earlier supposed to leave for Jaipur, but were later put up in Mumbai in view of the fast-paced political developments, according to sources. -- PTI

Image: Security outside J W Marriott in Andheri, Mumbai where Congress MLAs have been shifted. Photograph: PTI Photo
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18:53   Ajit Pawar changes Twitter bio
Ajit Pawar changed his Twitter bio to 'Deputy Chief Minister, Maharashtra' and 'Nationalist Congress Party Leader'.

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18:48   No power can stop Ram temple construction in Ayodhya: Rajnath
Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said no power in the world could get in the way of construction of a "grand" Ram temple in Ayodhya.
 
Addressing a poll meeting in Pandu in Bishrampur assembly constituency for Jharkhad assembly election, the minister also noted that the Rafale fighter jets, acquired by the country from France, were capable of destroying terror camps across the border.
Amid "Jai Shree Ram" chants, he said, "A grand Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya and no power in the world can stop that from happening. The path for construction of the temple has been cleared by the Supreme Court."
Talking about the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, the veteran BJP leader said, "In 1952, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee (founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor to the BJP) had said that there cannot be two Constitutions, two prime ministers and two flags in one country. We have fulfilled his dream and lived up to the promise made in our poll manifesto."
Condemning the Maoist violence over the past two days in the poll-bound state, he said, the BJP governments at the Centre and the state would give a befitting reply to those responsible for the attack.
"I have seen a couple of incidents happening in Jharkhand. You should be rest assured that the BJP governments at the Centre and the state will not allow anybody to use guns. A befitting reply will be given to them," he insisted.
Left-wing extremists killed four state police personnel in Latehar district and gunned down two persons, including a local BJP leader, in Palamu district in separate ambushes on Friday and Saturday.
Slamming the Congress, Singh said that the party's efforts to taint the reputation of the central government with corruption allegations failed to bear any fruit.

"The allegations of corruption in Rafale deal were aimed at maligning the government's image. The Congress tried hard... but its efforts were futile. I visited France to receive the fighter jet and also flew a sortie in one of the aircraft," the defence minister asserted.
He said the country had sent out a clear message that it would not cower in the face of terrorism.
"Rafale fighter jets are coming to India. We do not need to cross the borders now. We can use Rafale from our own territory to target terror camps across the border. That is the power India has achieved under the Narendra Modi government," the veteran BJP leader contended. 
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18:16   Ajit's claim false, no alliance with BJP: Sharad Pawar
Minutes after Ajit Pawar claimed that he is still in Nationalist Congress Party and party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party will provide a stable government in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar hits back at his nephew.

The senior Pawar said that Ajit Pawar is making a false statement in order to create confusion and false perception among the people.

"There is no question of forming an alliance with @BJP4Maharashtra. NCP has unanimously decided to ally with @ShivSena & @INCMaharashtra to form the government. Shri Ajit Pawars statement is false and misleading in order to create confusion and false perception among the people," the former Union minister said on Twitter.
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18:01   BJP running away from proving majority: Cong
Demanding a floor test immediately, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is "running away" from proving a majority in the Maharashtra Assembly as it does not have the required numbers.
Congress leader and former state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in a joint plea by the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena said they have sought the Supreme Court's intervention to order a floor test immediately.
Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the current government in the state is "illegitimate" and a floor test is the only solution.
In a dramatic development on Saturday morning, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the chief minister and Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was sworn-in as the deputy chief minister.
The move jolted the the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena who were giving final touches to government formation in the state but rattled the NCP the most due to Ajit Pawar's rebellion.
NCP president Sharad Pawar had snubbed Ajit Pawar for taking decisions unilaterally.
The BJP and Ajit Pawar are running away from a floor test as the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena combine has the majority, Surjewala claimed.
"Our demand is simple. Let us have a floor test and whoever has the majority will be established. BJP and Ajit Pawar are shying away and running away from proving majority on the floor of the House.
"The moment a floor test is ordered, our majority will be established and it will be proved that BJP in a surreptitious midnight operation using the office of the governor constituted an illegitimate government," he said.

The Supreme Court on Sunday asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to place before it on Monday morning the letters of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari recommending revocation of President's rule in the state and inviting Fadnavis to form government. -- PTI
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17:45   Sharad Pawar, Uddhav meet at resort hosting NCP MLAs
Nationalist Congress chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday met at a suburban resort where the NCP legislators have been been staying. 
The Sena chief was joined by senior party leaders and son Aaditya Thackeray, who won the last month's Maharashtra assembly polls from Worli seat in Mumbai, during his discussion with Pawar, sources said.
The Sena was helping the NCP and Congress to keep their flock together, they said.
The Shiv Sena's trade unions have a robust presence in several of the city's top hotels.
The NCP legislators moved to the Renaissance hotel in Powai area late Saturday night after they attended a party meeting at the Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai.
The three parties were in the last stages of talks to form government when, in a dramatic turn of events in the early hours of Saturday, NCP leader Ajit Pawar broke away from his party and joined hands with the BJP.
BJP's Devendra Fadnavis was then sworn is as the chief minister and Ajit Pawar as his deputy by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, NCP's MLA Manikrao Kokate (from Sinnar), who was present when Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were sworn in at the Raj Bhavan, returned to the suburban hotel around the same time when Sharad Pawar arrived there on Sunday. -- PTI
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17:44   Govt extends ban on Bodo insurgent group NDFB
The Centre has extended the ban on Assam-based Bodo insurgent group National Democratic Front of Bodoland for five more years for its involvement in a series of violent activities, including killings, extortion and for joining hands with anti-India forces.
   
In a notification, the home ministry said the NDFB has been indulging in illegal and violent activities intending to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India in furtherance of its objective of achieving a separate Bodoland.
"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the central government hereby declares the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, along with all 

its groups, factions and front organisations, as an "unlawful association", the notification said. 
 
A home ministry official said the ban comes into effect immediately and it will continue for five years. -- PTI  
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17:27   I am in NCP. Sharad Pawar is our leader: Ajit
More twist in Maharashtra politics.

In latest tweets, Ajit Pawar says Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar is his leader and he's still in the party. 

"I am in the NCP and shall always be in the NCP and @PawarSpeaks Saheb is our leader. Our BJP-NCP alliance shall provide a stable Government in Maharashtra for the next five years which will work sincerely for the welfare of the State and its people," Pawar said in a series of tweets.

"There is absolutely no need to worry, all is well. However a little patience is required. Thank you very much for all your support," he said in another tweet. 
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16:47   Will ensure a stable govt: Ajit Pawar thanks PM
Nationalist Congress Party's Ajit Pawar, who was sworn in as deputy chief minister in Maharashtra in a surprise ceremony on Saturday, thanked Prime Minister Modi late on Sunday afternoon and assured him of a "stable government" in the state.

Replying to PM Modi's tweet, Pawar said," Thank you Hon. Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. We will ensure a stable Government that will work hard for the welfare of the people of Maharashtra."

Ajit Pawar also thanked home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and several other BJP leaders on Twitter.
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15:46   Thackerays at Renaissance to meet NCP MLAs
Shiv Sena chief Udhdav Thackeray and his MLA son Aaditya arrive at the Renaissance Hotel to meet NCP MLAs.
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15:43   RCom lenders reject resignation of Anil Ambani, 4 other directors
Reliance Communications on Sunday said its lenders have rejected the resignation of Chairman Anil Ambani and four other directors, and asked them to cooperate in the ongoing corporate insolvency resolution process.
   
Ambani along with four directors -- Ryna Karani, Chhaya Virani, Manjari Kacker and Suresh Rangachar -- had resigned from the company earlier this month.
 
In a BSE filing, RCom said its Committee of Creditors (CoC) had met on November 20.
 
"...(the committee had) expressed a unanimous view that the resignations cannot be accepted," it noted.
 
The filing further said: "...it is being duly communicated to the aforesaid directors of RCom that their resignations have not been accepted and they are advised to continue to perform their duties and responsibilities as the directors of RCOM and provide all cooperation to Resolution Professional in the corporate insolvency resolution process".
 
RCom had posted a consolidated loss of Rs 30,142 crore for September 2019 quarter due to provisioning for liabilities after the Supreme Court ruling on statutory dues. -- PTI
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15:37   NDA govt muffling voice of Opposition leaders: Pondy CM
Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy has charged the Centre with booking cases against leaders of opposition parties, jailing them and threatening them through the income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate to gag their voice of protest.
        
Addressing participants in the ruling Congress demonstration in Puducherry on Saturday to protest against what the party called injurious economic policies of the NDA, the chief minister said, "The Congress and the Shiv Sena were raising their voice against the Centre while other parties were virtually tight-lipped following the threat issued by the Centre by booking cases."
      
He said the Congress would continue its protest against the 'anti-people, unproductive economic and fiscal policies of the Centre.'
     
He said the leaders and workers of the ruling Congress here had responsibility to expose the alleged poor functioning of the Narendra Modi-headed central government.     

"We have already romped home in Puducherry with massive support of the people in the Lok Sabha polls held in April this year and also in the recent two byelections to the territorial assembly," he said.
      
Referring to the developments in Maharashtra, Narayanasamy accused the BJP of forming a government there by adopting 'unconstitutional and unjustified' means which is a great slur on democracy.
      
He said the agitation by the Congress was targeting both the Centralgovernment and against the Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi who had allegedly been going against the decisions of the territorial cabinet.
     
"For instance, the free rice scheme evolved with an outlay of Rs 194 crore to help the farmers was opposed by Bedi, so were several other important decisions of the cabinet," he said.
     
The chief minister further said the Congress volunteers should inform the people particularly in rural areas of the 'style and functioning of the Lieutenant Governor." -- PTI
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15:02   3 out of 5 'missing' MLAs are with party: NCP
The Nationalist Congress Party has claimed that three of its five MLAs, who went 'missing' on Saturday after attending the swearing in of Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra's chief minister along with NCP's Ajit Pawar as his deputy, have been contacted and they are with the party.
Till Sunday morning, five NCP MLAs -- Daulat Daroda (Shahapur), Nitin Pawar (Kalwan), Narhari Zhirwal (Dindori), Babasaheb Patil (Ahmedpur), Anil Patil (Amalner) -- were reported 'missing', party spokesperson Nawab Malik said.
The party has been able to contact Anil Patil, Babasaheb Patil and Daroda, he said.
Malik took to Twitter and tagged Anil Patil's tweet in which the latter said he continues to be part of the NCP and expressed faith in the leadership of Sharad Pawar.
In the tweet, Patil said he went to the Raj Bhawan since Ajit Pawar was the legislature party leader.
"I wasn't aware about what was going to happen at the Raj Bhawan. I am with Sharad Pawar," Patil said in the tweet. 
Malik said this was an indication of Patil's return to the party fold.
Earlier on Saturday, Daroda's family filed a missing person complaint with police.
Malik said on Sunday that the party has released two separate videos of Daroda and Babasheb Patil in which they are seen stating that they are with the NCP.
"Efforts are also on to reach out to Zhirwal and Nitin Pawar. All of them will be back with the party by this evening," the NCP spokesperson said.
He said efforts were also on to convince Ajit Pawar to return to the party fold.
"It would be better for him if he accepts his mistake. We don't want him to stay out alone," Malik said. -- PTI

Image: NCP MLAs leave in a bus after a meeting with party MLA's in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo
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14:41   'Illegitimate' govt formed in Maha: Chavan
Amid the political tussle in Maharashtra, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday termed the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state as 'illegitimate' and said that it does not deserve to stay in power for one more day.

"It is an illegitimate government and it does not deserve to be in position for one more day," Chavan said while speaking to media persons in New Delhi after the Supreme Court's verdict on the petition filed by the Nationalist Congress Party-Shiv Sena-Congress combine against government formation in Maharashtra.

Earlier today, the top court has issued notices to the Maharashtra government, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, his deputy Ajit Pawar and the Centre, and asked for relevant documents and letters of support from MLAs on Monday.

The Congress leader said that he is grateful to the apex court that it heard the petition, despite being a holiday on Sunday.

Emphasising on demands mentioned in the plea, he said: "Without horse-trading market, we want directions to conduct a floor test tomorrow. We have full faith that decision will come in our favor. People of Maharashtra will win."

Being asked if the tri-party alliance has the required MLAs to stake claim to form government in Maharashtra, Chavan said: "If we were not sure we wouldn't have asked for a floor test. If BJP has a majority then why they are escaping floor tests. We have more than the required MLAs."

Image: Senior Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Prithviraj Chavan and Abhishek Manu Singhvi at Supreme Court, in New Delhi. Photograph:  Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo
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14:36   NCP informs guv of Ajit's replacement as legislature party leader
Nationalist Congress Party leader Jayant Patil went to the Raj Bhavan on Sunday with a letter to governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to inform him about replacement of Ajit Pawar as the legislature party leader, and later claimed all NCP MLAs were with the party.
The governor is not in Mumbai, a Raj Bhavan official said.
Patil said attempts were being made to convince Ajit Pawar to reconsider his decision of rebelling against the NCP.
Pawar was removed as the NCP's legislature unit leader on Saturday, hours after he joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party in a coup and took oath as the deputy of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
After his visit to the Raj Bhavan, Patil told reporters that he submitted a letter informing the governor about the NCP's meeting held on Saturday evening where Ajit Pawar was replaced as leader of the party's legislature wing.
Patil later drove to Ajit Pawar's residence at Churchgate to meet him.
"We have a meeting of MLAs in the afternoon. All the MLAs who were not present yesterday will attend the meeting today afternoon. We wish Ajit Pawar should not remain out so we are trying to convince him," he said.
Asked if Ajit Pawar would respond positivelyto his efforts, Patil said, "Koshish karne walon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti" (those who dare do not lose).
Fadnavis on Saturday returned as chief minister propped up by Ajit Pawar, who was made his deputy, just hours after the new alliance of Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress reached a consensus that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be their chief ministerial candidate.
Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were sworn in by Koshyari at a hush hush ceremony here, leading to lifting of the President's rule in the state.
On Saturday evening, the NCP removed Ajit Pawar as the party's legislature unit head, saying his move was not in line with the party's policies.
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14:23   Never had desire to enter politics: PM Modi

"I never had the desire to enter politics, but since I am part of it now I give my best on how to work for the people," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday.
 
Interacting with a group of National Cadet Corps cadets in his "Mann ki Baat" radio programme, Modi also said that as an NCC cadet in his school days, he never got punished. 
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14:22   Former MP chief minister Kailash Joshi dies
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Joshi died at a private hospital in Bhopal on Sunday after prolonged illness, a family member said.
He was 90.
"He breathed his last at the Bansal Hospital here," his son and former state minister Deepak Joshi told PTI.
The former CM is survived by three sons and three daughters. His wife died a few months back, a source said.
The last rites will be performed on Monday at his ancestral town Hatpipalya in Dewas district, former BJP MP Alok Sanjar said.
Senior BJP leader and former state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached the hospital soon after getting information about Joshi's death.
Born on July 14, 1929, Joshi, who was called as the 'saint of politics', served as the state's chief minister from 1977 to 1978.
He was MLA for eight terms and also served as member of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. -- PTI  

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13:39   Sharad Pawar meets NCP MLAs at Mumbai hotel
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar arrives at The Renaissance hotel in Mumbai's Powai where all NCP MLAs are staying.

Amid the high political drama in Maharashtra and threat of 'poaching' of MLAs, the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena have shifted their legislators to different luxury hotels in Mumbai.

While the Congress moved its MLAs to the J W Marriott hotel in Juhu area, the Shiv Sena MLAs were staying at The Lalit hotel located near the international airport.

The Congress legislators were earlier supposed to leave for Jaipur, but later decided to stay in Mumbai in view of the fast-paced political developments in Mumbai, sources said. 
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13:12   Sena supporter attempts suicide amid Maha political drama
A Shiv Sena supporter allegedly tried to commit suicide in Maharashtra's Washim district apparently after being upset over party chief Uddhav Thackeray not becoming the chief minister, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place at Manora Chowk on Saturday evening when Ramesh Balu Jadhav, a resident of Umari village in Washim, located around 580 km from Mumbai, came there for some work.
When he got the news that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister, Jadhav, who was inebriated, inflicted several cuts on his hands with a blade, an official at Digras police station said.
When a traffic policeman saw Jadhav slashing his hands with the blade, he ran towards him and thwarted his suicide bid, the official said.
Jadhav was then rushed to a state-run hospital where he was undergoing treatment, he said.
"He was drunk and may have taken the step under the influence of alcohol," the official said, adding that a probe was underway into the incident. -- PTI  
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12:44   SC to pass order on Sena-Cong's plea tomorrow
The Supreme Court on Sunday issued notices to the Centre and Maharashtra government on a petition filed by the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress combine against the Maharashtra governor's decision to swear in Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister. 
 
A bench of Justices N V Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna also issued notices to Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
The bench also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to produce letters of the Governor tomorrow at 10.30 am for passing orders.  
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12:25   Sena-NCP-Cong plea should have been filed in HC: BJP in SC
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who is appearing in the SC for some BJP and independent MLAs, said this plea should have been filed in Bombay HC. 

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appears for Centre, says combine does not have fundamental right to form govt, their plea can't be allowed.  
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12:02   Guv recommending revocation of Prez's rule 'smacks' of bias: Sibal in SC
Continuing his argument, Sibal siad that the act of governor recommending revocation of President's rule 'smacks' of bias.

He termed the revocation of President's rule in Maharashtra without cabinet meeting as bizarre.
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11:57   Tell Guv to conduct floor test today: Sena in SC
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress started submission in the Supreme Court with an apology to judges for troubling them on Sunday. 

Sibal argued that Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar were sworn in bizarre manner and the Maharashtra governor was acting under direct instructions of Delhi.

Sibal also demanded that the court to direct the governor to conduct a floor test in the Maharashtra assembly today itself.
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11:42   Thank people for maturity displayed after Ayodhya verdict: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appreciated the maturity and patience displayed by the people after the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case.
   
In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme, Modi said 130-crore Indians have once again proved that for them, there is nothing bigger than national interest.  
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11:39   SC begins hearing Shiv Sena-NCP-Cong case
The Supreme Court has commenced its hearing into the urgent petition filed by the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party and Congress against the formation of the Devendra Fadnavis government in Mahrashtra on Saturday.


Among those present in the court-room were Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and ASG KM Nataraj, senior counsel Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and Devadatt Kamat. 

Also present were Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and NCP leader Majeed Memon, himself a lawyer.
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10:57   Maharashtra drama keeps unfolding
Amid all the Maharashtra drama, there's a new twist. NCP leader Jitendra Awhad claims that a BJP leader is switching over to his party. 

Talking on the same, Awhad said, "BJP's Sanjay Kakade is joining our party."
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10:39   165 MLAs with Sena-Congress-NCP: Sanjay Raut
The Maharashtra drama continues for a second consecutive day. 

After slamming Ajit Pawar and accusing him of stabbing the Sena in the back by joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party to form the government in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that  Ajit Pawar took false documents to Raj Bhawan yesterday & governor accepted those documents. 

The Sena leader also said that 165 MLAs are with Shiv Sena, Congress & NCP. 

He added, "Sharad Pawar is a national leader. If BJP is trying to form govt, it will not happen. It is a wrong step taken by BJP & Ajit Pawar."
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10:15   Resort politics takes centrestage in Maharashtra
Resort politics has taken center stage as Congress shifted its MLAs to the JW Marriott Hotel in Andheri, Mumbai to prevent possibilities of poaching by the BJP or Ajit Pawar's faction of the NCP.

Meanwhile, the NCP MLAs are all being kept at the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai's Powai area. The Sena MLAs are holed up at the Lalit Hotel near the airport. 

MLAs of the ally Congress are likely to fly to Jaipur on Sunday to ward off any poaching bid. "We may go to Jaipur tomorrow. We will be there until the special session of the state Legislative Assembly is convened for newly-elected MLAs to take oath, election of Speaker and trust vote," Congress MLA Nana Patole said. 

In the 288-member Assembly, the BJP has 105 MLAs, the Sena 56 and the Congress 44.

Patole said all the MLAs of the Congress are together and won't split.
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09:38   Maha govt will not represent itself in SC today
Maharashtra government will not be represented by anyone in the Supreme Court today when the apex court will hear a joint plea of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress against the decision of Maharashtra Governor inviting BJP's Devendra Fadnavis to form the government in the state, said sources.

Sources informed that since Maharashtra government has not been given any notice by the Supreme Court it has decided not to have its representation in the court. 

However, the Standing Counsel of the Maharashtra government has been asked to remain on 'standby' and adequately represent the government in case the court asks for or if needed. 

Attorney General of India, KK Venugopal is likely to appear for the Raj Bhavan while senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi is likely to represent BJP in the Supreme Court.

The petitioners - Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress - have requested the Supreme Court to order a floor test to be held on Sunday itself. Senior Congress leader and advocate Kapil Sibal will appear in the court on behalf of the petitioners. The matter will be heard at 11:30 am.

After a prolonged uncertainty over the government formation that lasted for nearly a month, Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday early morning took oath for the second consecutive term as the state chief minister, while Ajit Pawar as his deputy chief minister. 

-- ANI
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09:11   NCP MLA goes 'missing', police complaint filed
The political events of Saturday that led to the BJP making a comeback to power in Maharashtra with the help of Ajit Pawar, and his as-yet unspecified number of MLAs, also led to a missing person complaint being filed for an MLA from the Sharad Pawar-led party.

Shahapur NCP MLA Daulat Daroda went 'missing' after reaching Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai on Saturday morning where Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar took oath as chief minister and deputy CM, respectively.

Daroda had left his constituency, in neighbouring Thane, along with his son Karan on Friday night and has since been unreachable after reaching Mumbai, said an official.

Former MLA Pandurang Barora approached Shahapur police station and filed a missing complaint about Daroda, he added.

Meanwhile, Daroda's son Karan told reporters in Mumbai later that his father was not in touch even with him since the Saturday morning.

Karan also asked his father to stand by the side of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. 

-- PTI
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09:02   Kapil Sibal likely to appear for SC hearing
Sources privy to the developments say that Congress veteran and senior advocate Kapil Sibal is also expected to appear for the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress trio in the Supreme Court for the hearing, which is scheduled to begin at 11:30 am.

The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine on Saturday night filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the Maharashtra governor's decision to swear-in BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister and demanded an immediate floor test to avoid "further horse trading".

A bench of justices N V Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna will hear the plea on Sunday at 11:30 am.

The three parties also sought a direction to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to invite them to form government under the leadership of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, saying they have the support of more than 144 MLAs.

The petitioners alleged that the governor has acted in a "partisan manner" and allowed himself to be a "pawn in the BJP's illegal usurpation of power".

The parties further prayed for an "immediate floor test within 24 hours so as to avoid further horse trading and illegal maneuvers to somehow cobble up a majority from the Maha Vikas Aghadi". 
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08:39   Newly formed Maharashtra govt fake, illegal; will fall in 7 days: NCP's Majeed Memon
NCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Majeed Memon has slammed the newly formed BJP-led government in Maharashtra terming it as "fake and illegal". He added that it will fall within seven days.

"The Governor has given Devendra Fadnavis time till November 30 to prove majority in the assembly. We will end Fadnavis' 'khushfehmi' (misconception) in the floor test. We have the majority. Their government will fall within seven days. This is a fake and illegal government," Memon said on Saturday. The NCP leader said that the recent developments in Maharashtra have shocked everyone.

"This is a government of darkness. Everyone is asking what was the emergency for the Governor that he had to withdraw President's Rule at 5:47 am?" he said.

Memon said that Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were invited and sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister as if it were an occasion for mourning.

At a time when deliberations among Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena on the formation of a non-BJP government in the state had seemingly reached the final stage, the BJP formed the government in a surprise development on Saturday morning.

-- ANI
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08:08   'Accidental swearing-in': Raut on Maha drama
On Sunday morning, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut put up a tweet to comment on the potboiler that is Maharashtra politics. 

On a single tweet, the Sena leader wrote, "Accidental Shapath grahan (swearing-in)."

For those who don't remember, Saturday was a day of shocks and surprises in Maharashtra. 

Early on Saturday morning, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the chief minister with NCP's Ajit Pawar. 

This set the ball rolling with NCP chief Sharad Pawar stating that the decision to side with the BJP was his nephew's alone and not his. 

The Pawar-led party also had a meet in the evening in which they decided to remove Ajit Pawar as the legislature party leader and also moved all their MLAs to a hotel in Mumbai's Powai area. 

Additionally, the Sena, NCP and Congress also moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the Maharashtra governor's decision to swear-in BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister and demanded an immediate floor test to avoid "further horse trading".

A bench of justices N V Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna will hear the plea on Sunday at 11:30 am.

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