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Thu, 28 November 2019
Non-disclosure of cases: Summons to Fadnavis

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23:44   Non-disclosure of cases: Summons to Fadnavis
Nagpur Police on Thursday delivered a summons, issued by a local court to former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, in connection with a case where he is accused of concealing information about two criminal matters against him in election affidavit.

The summons was delivered at Fadnavis's house in Nagpur, said an official of Sadar Police Station.

The development came on the day a new Shiv Sena-led government was sworn in in Maharashtra.

Fadnavis is MLA from Nagpur.

A magistrate's court, on November 1, had restored an application seeking criminal proceedings against the BJP leader for alleged non-disclosure.

Nagpur-based lawyer Satish Uke had filed an application in the court seeking that criminal proceedings be initiated against Fadnavis.

The Bombay high court had upheld the lower court's earlier order dismissing Uke's plea.

But the Supreme Court, on October 1, directed the magistrate's court to go ahead with the application filed by Uke.

The magistrate's court on November 4 said the case would be held as a summary criminal case, and issued notice.

"Process (notice) is issued against accused (Fadnavis) for offence punishable under section 125A of Representation of People Act, 1951," magistrate S D Mehta said.

Cases of cheating and forgery were filed against Fadnavis in 1996 and 1998, but charges were not framed in both the matters.

Uke alleged that Fadnavis did not disclose this information in his election affidavits.  -- PTI
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22:54   Will give concrete aid to farmers: Uddhav
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said his government will ensure concrete assistance to the state's farmers and will work towards creating an atmosphere in which none feels terrorised.

Thackeray, who was sworn in the CM in Mumbai hours earlier, chaired the first meeting of his cabinet at Sahyadri Guest House in south Mumbai.

He said the first decision of the cabinet was to approve Rs 20 crore fund for conserving Raigad Fort, which was the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

"We can paint a better picture if we know the reality. We have sought inputs. Farmers have not got anything, but only assurances. We want to provide concrete help to farmers," he told reporters after the meeting.

"We want to ensure an atmosphere in the state wherein nobody will feel terrorised," he said.

At the media briefing, Thackeray was accompanied by his cabinet colleagues Chhagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil, Balasaheb Thorat and Nitin Raut.  -- PTI
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22:34   Additional Rs 20 cr for Shivaji capital: Uddhav
The newly elected Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray addressed the media for the first time after holding his first cabinet meet. 

I want to greet people of Maharashtra and want to tell that this government will be of the common citizen's. There won't be a climate of fear. The first Cabinet meeting happened. I was happy that the first proposal came to me was impressive. This cabinet has approved an additional Rs 20 crore for Shivaji capital," Uddhav Thackeray said after holding his first cabinet meeting after taking oath as Maharashtra CM.

He also said that he wants to help the farmers in a manner which will make them happy.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray says his govt will announce big decision to give relief to Maharashtra farmers in two days.

Reacting to Devendra Fadnavis's remark that the CMP of the alliance government does not mention Marathwada or North Maharashtra, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said: "Do not single out particular regions. We want to help the whole of Maharashtra."
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22:04   Fadnavis starts vacating CM residence, hunts for new home
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday started vacating the official CM residence in South Mumbai.

A vehicle of a professional packers and movers company arrived at 'Varsha', the official CM bungalow in the upscale Malabar Hill area, in the afternoon to shift his belongings, a police official posted there said.

Fadnavis had resigned from the CM's post on Tuesday afternoon.

According to sources, Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, has started hunting for a new house in Mumbai as he and his family members will continue to reside in the metropolis.

Fadnavis's wife Amrita works at a senior position in Axis Bank and their daughter also studies here. They had shifted to Mumbai after Fadnavis became chief minister in October 2014.

As the leader of the BJP's legislature party, Fadnavis, elected from the Nagpur South West seat, is likely to become the Leader of Opposition in the new assembly.

-- PTI
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22:01   Congrats to Godse Bhakt Uddhav: BJP's Rao's jibe
Talk about sour grapes!

BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao 'congratulates' Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray after he was sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra. 

In his jibe, Rao writes, "Congratulations to "Godse Bhakt" Uddhav Thackeray on taking over as CM of Maharashtra. You & your MLAs have pledged loyalty to Sultanete. Complete this surrender by renaming Saamna "Sonia Nama". They won't tolerate your nonsensical editorials dished out in your third rate paper."

Today, a huge row broke out over BJP MP Pragya Thakur for her remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse. 

The Congress and other constituents of the United Progressive Alliance moved a censure motion in the Lok Sabha against her, according to sources. 

According to sources, the Congress is also upset over Thakur calling it a "terrorist party", and has demanded an apology for the "unwarranted remarks", which, they allege, have lowered the dignity of the House.
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21:43   Ex-CM Fadnavis slams Maha govt over CMP
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has slammed the newly-formed government in the state over its common minimum programme. 

Taking to Twitter, Devendra Fadnavis said that the CMP of the alliance government does not mention Marathwada or North Maharashtra. "Hope the government will consider these regions," he said.

Earlier in the day, the three parties released their Common Minimum Programme in which they said they would waive farmers' loans and ensure 80 per cent quota in jobs to the local youth.

The CMP promises complete loan waiver to farmers as well as setting up of 'one rupee clinics' across the state which will provide basic health screening to people.

Sena's most discussed promise during the assembly poll campaign -- a full meal at Rs 10 -- also figures in the CMP.
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21:26   Ambanis take centrestage at Uddhav swearing-in
BJP state president Chandrakant Patil listens-in as former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and RIL boss and Rahul Gandhi's favourite whipping boy (remember his suit-boot sarkar taunt in 2015) Mukesh Ambani. Nita Ambani seems lost in thought. Their younger son, Anant, was also at event. To the right of the picture are the new ministers -- Congress party's Nitin Raut and Balasaheb Thorat. 

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray was on Thursday sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at a grand ceremony held at the Shivaji Park.

Uddhav is the first member of the Thackeray family to become the Chief Minister and the third Shiv Sena leader to hold the top post after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane.

He is leading a government of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, an alliance of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Congress.

Ajit had resigned as the deputy chief minister in the Devendra Fadnavis government on Monday, three days after he took the oath of the office as Deputy Chief Minister of the state.

Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
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21:15   What you couldn't watch on TV
So, how did you do it, Saheb, Shiv Sena senior leader and former Maharashtra CM Manohar Joshi seems to be asking NCP chief Sharad Pawar as MP CM Kamal Nath looks on at the swearing-in ceremony at Shivaji Park this evening. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
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21:06   No Sonia or Rahul at swearing-in ceremony
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi marks her absence at the swearing-in ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray and six ministers. Pic: Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com

Sonia, Rahul, Dr Manmohan Singh gave the oath-taking ceremony a miss. However, the Gandhis sent a congratulatory letter to Uddhav Thackeray and urged him on the path to progress for the state.  
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20:43   CM Uddhav holds 1st Cabinet meeting
The Maha Vikas Aghadi's Cabinet meeting has just begun at the state guest house Sahyadri. MLA Aaditya Thackeray, his son, is accompanying him. 

The MVA government has said it would  waive farmers' loans and ensure 80 per cent quota in jobs to the local youth.


The CMP was announced by NCP leaders Jayant Patil and Nawab Malik and Sena leader Eknath Shinde, ahead of the swearing in of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government. 


The CMP promises complete loan waiver to farmers as well as setting up of 'one rupee clinics' across the state which will provide basic health screening to people. 


Sena's most discussed promise during the Assembly poll campaign -- a full meal at Rs 10 -- also figures in the CMP.


A law will be enacted to ensure 80 per cent job quota for youths domiciled in Maharashtra, it said. The program also talks about the filling of all vacant posts in the state government's various department immediately


It also promises to offer tenements measuring 500 sqft carpet area free of cost to eligible slum dwellers under the slum rehabilitation program instead of current 300 sqft tenements.


The Shiv Sena may have shared power with ideologically-opposite Congress for the first time, but the saffron party is known to have cosied up with it before and posters with old pictures of bonhomie between their leaders Bal Thackeray and Indira Gandhi taken in the seventies were put up in different parts of the city. 


Image: Uddhav Thackeray's tweet, short and sweet, after the swearing-in ceremony. It says in Marathi, 'Mee Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray...'
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20:19   Ajit Pawar congratulates Uddhav
NCP leader Ajit Pawar tweets, "Congratulations and best wishes to the Shiv Sena Party Chief Hon Uddhav Thackerayji on becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Under his leadership, the state will develop as a whole."


Image: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray (will take a while getting used to writing this) acknowledges the applause of the 80,000-strong, primarily Shiv Sena supporters, at Shivaji Park. Apart from cheers, the popular Jai Jai Maharashtra Mazha song and the sounds of the tutari, the quintessential Maharashtrian trumpet-like musical instrument added colour and festivity to the occasion. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
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20:09   CM Thackeray at Siddhivinayak, Cabinet meet soon
Congratulations pour in for UddhavThackeray, 59, the 18th chief minister of Maharashtra. He is the 3rd CM from Shiv Sena, after Narayan Rane and Manohar Joshi. The state now has a chief minister from the party after 20 years.


Jyotiraditya Scindia, MP Dy CM: Congratulations Shri @uddhavthackeray  ji on taking oath as CM of Maharashtra. Best wishes to you and the #MahaVikasAghadi for building a stronger #Maharashtra. Jai Maharashtra!!


Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM: Bengal is the cultural capital and Maharashtra is the financial capital of India. In both these states, people have voted against BJP. The fact is that within 5-6 months, after massive Lok Sabha victory, they have been rejected states after states.


Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister: Congratulations to Shri Uddhav Thackeray on taking oath as Maharashtras Chief Minister. I hope he will work towards fulfilling the people's aspirations and take Maharashtra forward on the road to development.


Milind Deora, Best wishes to  @OfficeofUTji for being sworn in as Maharashtras 18th Chief Minister. Congratulations to MLAs from 
@ShivSena,  @NCPspeaks  &  @INCIndia  who were also sworn in as ministers today. 


Sachin Pilot: Congratulations to Shri Uddhav Thackeray ji on taking oath as Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena coalition & governments Common Minimum Program will prove to be instrumental for the growth of the state. My best wishes! 


Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav congratulates "Maha Vikas Aghadi" govt in Maharashtra; says BJP's 'achhe din' over.


Image: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, along with his wife Rashmi and son Aaditya Thackeray offer prayers at Siddhivinayak Temple. 
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19:52   In Jammu, Sena works celebrate historic day
Shiv Sena workers celebrate in Jammu, after Uddhav Thackeray takes oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister in Mumbai.
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19:42   Confident Uddhav will work diligently: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets his congratulations. "Congratulations to Uddhav Thackeray-ji on taking oath as the CM of Maharashtra. I am confident he will work diligently for the bright future of Maharashtra."


The PM and HM Amit Shah tried their best to cobble together numbers for a BJP-ruled government in the second term, and it would have been possible, except for Sharad Pawar. And so it is that Maharashtra gets a Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress government, hopefully for a full 5-year term. 


Image: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray owns the stage after he is sworn-in on the grounds that saw the birth of the Shiv Sena. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
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19:35   Aghadi gets its 1st six ministers after CM Uddhav
That done, Uddhav Thackeray walks to the centre of the state and bows before the people. 

The national anthem plays and the much-awaited swearing-in ceremony ends. 
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19:29   'Bal Thackeray' drops in
And here's 'Bal Thackeray' at Shivaji Park. Kantilal Mishra came all the way from Mira Road and says he feels proud when people stop and take selfies with him and remembers the 'Hindu Hridaysamrat'. Pic: Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com 
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19:26   Sainiks cheer Sena CM
A Shiv Sena supporter displays his bow and arrow, the Shiv Sena party symbol, in Shivaji Park during the swearing-in ceremony. Pic: Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com
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19:06   MLAs sworn-in
Swearing-in of all six MLAs done. That's Chhagan Bhujbal being sworn-in earlier. 
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19:05   Congress MLAs sworn in
Congress MLA Balasaheb Thorat being sworn in. He is an 8-time MLA from Sangamner. He ended his oath with Jay Shivray. 

Dalit face of the Cabinet, Nitin Raut takes oath. 
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18:59   Chhagan Bhujbal takes oath
Chhagan Bhujbal, an accused in the Telgi paper scam takes oath. He is a prominent OBC leader and began taking oath invoking the names of educationist and freedom fighter Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai. 


Image: Shivaji Park lit up for this historic occasion. 
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18:57   Jayant Patil
The NCP's turn now. Jayant Patil, who took over as the NCP's legislative party leader for Maharashtra, after the Ajit Pawar debacle, takes oath. His oath taking began with an allegiance to Sharad Pawar. 

Shehnai and the Maharashtrian tutari playing in the background. 
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18:54   Subhash Desai takes oath
Subhash Desai from the Shiv Sena sworn-in. A close confidante of Uddhav Thackeray. So, two Sena MLAs sworn in. 
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18:48   Eknath Shinde sworn in
Shiv Sena's legislative party chief Eknath Shinde being sworn in now. Remember a total of six MLAs -- two from each party -- is being sworn in. He takes oath paying tribute to the late Shiv Sainik Anand Dighe from Thane who died in a car accident. 
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18:45   Uddhav Thackeray sworn-in as Maharashtra CM
Mee Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray... takes oath as the 24th CM of Maharashtra to rapturousc cheers and firecrackers. He had made a promise to his father that he would be sworn-in as CM at Shivaji Park.  
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18:43   Uddhav Thackeray arrives on stage
Uddhav Thackeray in a saffron kurta and chudidar on stage now. And now, the biggest cheers for the man who engineered the win for the Aghadi, Sharad Pawar. Rashmi in Paithani wears a big smile. 


Image: An earlier image of Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel, and Ajit Pawar. 
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18:39   Uddhav Thackeray arrives
Maharashtra CM designate Uddhav Thackeray arrives. Themed on Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, the stage at is all set for Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in. Mukesh Ambani, Nita, Anant Ambani on stage. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari arrives and the national anthem plays. Thousands of farmers are also invited to the swearing-in. 
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18:34   DMK's Stalin at Shivaji Park
So that's DMK Chief MK Stalin, DMK leader TR Baalu with Congress leader Ahmed Patel and NCP leader Praful Patel at oath ceremony. 
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18:33   Devendra Fadnavis arrives
Devendra Fadnavis reaches Shivaji Park and with him is BJP state president Chandrakant Patil. 


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18:31   Raj takes centrestage
That's Shiv Sena's Gajanan Kirtikar, MNS boss Raj Thackeray and Amit Deshmukh on the way to the stage. Supriya Sule greets Raj warmly and as he stands up, the 80,000-strong crowd cheers. Will Raj merge his party with the Sena? Time will tell. 

NCP leader Majid Memon, Republican Party of India Ramdas Athavale
Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam also on stage. 
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18:25   Uddhav Thackeray en route to Shivaji Park
CM designate Uddhav Thackeray has left for Shivaji Park. 

At Shivaji Park, estranged cousin Raj Thackeray has arrived accompanied by his mother and son. 

Ajit Pawar has arrived as well. So rumours that he would ditch the swearing-in since he's miffed at being denied being sworn in today, is not true. 

MP CM Kamal Nath is there and from the Congress, there is Ahmed Patel, (sitting next to DMK's MK Stalin in his trademark white shirt and veshti) Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Manohar Joshi, former Maharashtra CM seated next to Kamal Nath. TR Balu also from the DMK also there. 
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18:15   Chhatrapati everwhere
A temporary installation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on a throne at Shivaji Park. However, the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial will form the backdrop to the massive stage where the historic swearing-in will take place. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com. 


To think, that till Monday, it would have been Uddhav Thackeray watching former ally Devendra  Fadnavis being sworn in. No permanence in politics. 
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18:05   What's ahead today at the swearing-in?
Six MLAs, two each from the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, will take oath as ministers on Thursday evening along with Uddhav Thackeray, who will be sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said. 


NCP state unit chief Jayant Patil and senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal will be sworn in at the ceremony to be held at the Shivaji Park.  Ajit Pawar, said he himself will not be taking oath on Thursday. 


According to sources in the Congress, its Maharashtra unit president Balasaheb Thorat and former state minister Nitin Raut will take oath later in the evening. 

Image: A Shiv Sainik at Shivaji Park makes his feelings known. Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
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17:54   Sonia writes to Uddhav just ahead of swearing-in
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister designate Uddhav Thackeray, interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi writes that she will not be attending the swearing in ceremony at Shivaji Park today. She said that the Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress have come together "under extraordinary circumstances, when country faces unprecedented threats from BJP".

She added that the "political atmosphere is poisonous and the economy has collapsed" and she had confidence that the alliance will implement the CMP in letter and spirit. Please scroll down for what the CMP says. 
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17:25   Cabinet meeting at 8 pm
The first Cabinet meeting of the Uddhav Thackeray government is expected at 8 pm at the Sahyadri guest house. The Maharashtra CM's official residence is Varsha at Malabar Hill, but Devendra Fadnavis is yet to vacate it, considering it's just been two days since the bombshell of Ajit Pawar hotfooting it back to his party broke. 
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17:16   Sonia sends 'good wishes' ahead of swearing-in
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi sends her good wishes to party colleague Balasaheb Thorat, who will be one of the six MLAs who will be sworn in. Sonia is not going to be attending the swearing-in ceremony. She said she sends her good wishes to party colleagues and workers. She writes that she has every confidence that the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP will work together to give the people a stable government. 

Uddhav Thackeray and 2 MLAS each from the three allies of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi will take oath today. 
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16:47   Rs 10 meals in CMP
CMP also covers: 

Tourism Arts and Culture

1) In view of the social importance of traditional tourist destinations in the State, special facilities will be developed for the growth of tourism.

Other important provisions
1) Increase the facilities extended to senior citizens.
2) Violators of the Food and Drug regulations shall be dealt with severe punishment.
3) Provide cheap and efficient food for the common people in the state for Rs 10 only.

Coordination Committee

There will be two coordination committees, one for coordination within the State Cabinet and the other for coordination among the alliance partners.


Image: Inexpensive meals for the common man were first introduced in the Tamil Nadu govt by then CM J Jayalalithaa. 
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16:31   Farmers, unemployment, health, women top CMP focus
The CMP is broadly divided into 10 topics, which include: 

Farmers

1) Provide immediate assistance to the farmers who are suffering due to premature rains and floods

2) Immediate loan waiver will be granted to farmers.

3) Crop Insurance scheme shall be revised to ensure immediate compensation to the farmers who have lost their crops

4) We shall undertake appropriate measures to ensure remunerative prices for farm produce.

5) Adequate steps shall be initiated for the construction of sustainable water supply system for the drought affected areas.


Unemployment

1) The process of filling all the vacant posts in the State Government shall be initiated immediately

2) A fellowship shall be provided for educated unemployed youth.

3) A law shall be enacted to ensure 80 percent reservation in jobs for local/domicile youth.

Women

1] Women's safety shall be the highest priority for this Government.

2) Girls from economically weaker section shall be given free education.

3) Working women hostels shall be constructed at the cities and district headquarters.

4) Honorarium shall be increased and service facilities shall be augmented for Anganwadi Sevikas / Asha workers.

5) Women's Savings (Self Help Groups) Group shall be strengthened with a focus on women's empowerment.

Education

1) All the measures shall be undertaken to increase the standard of the education in the State.

2] Children of farm laborers and students belonging to economically weaker section shall receive education loan at zero percent interest rate.

Urban development

1) To improve roads in the urban areas a scheme on the pattern of the Chief Minister Gram SadakVojana, shall be implemented. Separate financial provision shall be made to improve the road quality in Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils and Municipal Corporations.


2) The Coalitions Government shall provide, Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra, tenements of 500 sq feet carpet area free of cost to the eligible slum dwellers under the slum Rehabilitation Programme instead of the 300 sq. feet tenements presently being provided and best infrastructure and basic amenities will also be provided. 

Health

1) To ensure good and affordable healthcare for all citizens One Rupee clinic will be launched at the taluka level facilitating all pathological tests.

2) Superspecialty hospitals and medical colleges shall be established in phased manner in all the districts.

3) We shall provide health insurance cover to every citizen of the state.

Industry

1) To attract new industries and investors in the state all possible concessions shall be extended and permission process shall be simplified.

2) To attract new investment in Information Technology sector necessary policy reforms shall be unveiled.

Social justice

1) To solve the pending questions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Dhangar. Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Balutadars, etc. so as not to deprive the common people of basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter. education, health and employment as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

2) The Government shall adopt various schemes to eliminate the social, educational and economic backwardness of the minority community and implement Constitutional safeguards for its security welfare in letter and spirit.


Image: Farmers' distress is one of the key issues that both the Centre and the states have to address. 
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16:21   Aghadi CMP promises to uphold 'secular values'
The Common Minimum Program of the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' (NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance) has just been released. In the preamble, the CMP says, "The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On the contentious issue of national importance as well as of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus."

The CMP promises immediate loan waiver for farmers and jobs top agenda. Details in a bit. 
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16:21   Aghadi CMP promises to uphold 'secular values'
The Common Minimum Program of the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' (NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena alliance) has just been released. In the preamble, the CMP says, "The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On the contentious issue of national importance as well as of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus."

The CMP promises immediate loan waiver for farmers and jobs top agenda. Details in a bit. 
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16:02  
RIL becomes first Indian firm to breach Rs 10 lakh cr market valuation mark at close of trade.
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15:42   All should witness historic day: Eknath Shinde
Ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony as Maharashtra Chief Minister later in the day, Senior Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Thursday said that everyone should witness the historic day in the state. 


Speaking to ANI, Shinde said: "We have invited all the big leaders from the Centre and State governments, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi."


He further stated that Shiv Sena MLA Aditya Thackeray personally went to invite the Congress President Sonia Gandhi.


"We have also invited former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. Everyone should witness the historic day," he said.


Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress' 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', will take oath as the Chief Minister on Thursday at Shivaji Park at 6.40 pm.  -- PTI
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15:06   HC refuses urgent hearing on plea against Uddhav's swearing-in
The Bombay High Court has refused to take up urgent hearing on a petition filed by a group of lawyers seeking a stay on the swearing-in of Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of Maharashtra on Thursday evening. 


The petitioners sought an urgent hearing of their plea, saying the Shiv Sena and BJP should have stood by their pre-poll alliance and formed government. However, two different benches of the high court refused to take up the petition for hearing. 


A division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre asked what was "unconstitutional and void" about the swearing-in ceremony of Thackeray.


The petitioner's lawyer, Mathew Nedumpara, said there has been a breach of trust of the voters, who wanted the Sena and BJP to form government. To this, Chief Justice Nandrajog said, "Is the concept of divorce not new to the law of marriages."


Earlier, another division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and R I Chagla also refused to take up the petition for urgent hearing, saying the bench does not have the time. -- PTI
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14:48   Won't take oath today, no decision on Dy CM: Ajit
Ajit Pawar's meeting with his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar ends. Speaking to reporters outside Silver Oaks in Napean Sea Road, Ajit Pawar confirms he will not take oath today. He also said two leaders each from the three parties in the alliance will take oath. 

From the NCP, it will be Jayant Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal, from the Shiv Sena it will be Eknath Shinde and Subhash Desai. The Congress hasn't released its names but Prithviraj Chavan is likely to take oath today. Ashok Chavan was on the list as well, but since he is scam tainted (Adarsh Housing scam),  he was dropped. 
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14:33   Queue up!
The queue for the press pass at Mantralaya to attend the Mahavikas Aghadi's swearing-in ceremony this evening. The press enclosure allows you a clear view of the stage.  Pic: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com
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14:13   Hours ahead of oath Ajit visits Sharad Pawar
What's brewing? Ajit Pawar arrives at Silver Oak, residence of Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar. Party leaders Jayant Patil and Praful Patel are already present at the residence. 


Ajit Pawar, who is likely to be made deputy CM in the Mahavikas Aghadi government, will not be sworn in today. Reports say Ajit Pawar is upset he will not take oath today. 


An NCP spokesperson said that Ajit Pawar had switched off his mobile phone this morning because he wants to avoid taking phone calls. The spokesperson belied rumours that Pawar had gone incommunicado.

Meanwhile, estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray has confirmed that he will attend Uddhav Thackeray's swearing-in ceremony. 


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13:32   Missing you, Ma Saheb, Bala Saheb: Supriya Sule
Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule-Pawar on Thursday said she was "missing so much" the Shiv Sena founder the late Bal Thackeray and Meenatai Thackeray.


Supriya Sule tweets: "Maa Saheb and Bala Saheb - missing you so much today. Both of you should have been here today. They treated me with so much love and affection more than a daughter! Their role in my life will always be special and memorable!"


The daughter of NCP President Sharad Pawar, Sule was in the limelight yesterday when she welcomed all the newly-elected legislators across the three Aghadi parties, as they arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan for their swearing-in ceremony.

Her image with Aditya Thackeray and her cousin Ajit Pawar went viral as she greeted them both with warm hugs. 

Even though Sharad Pawar and Bal Thackeray were political adversaries, they shared a warm personal relationship and when Supriya Sule was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, Thackeray had sent his blessings. 
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13:18   Aghadi to release CMP just ahead of swearing-in
Congress legislative party leader in Maharashtra Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde and NCP's LP Jayant Patil will address a joint press conference, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena chief and 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' leader Uddhav Thackeray, today.  The Common Minimum programme will be released then. 


Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress' 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', will take oath as the Chief Minister on Thursday at Shivaji Park at 6.40 pm.


Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Kamal Nath will also attend the swearing-in ceremony. Uddhav has also extended invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ceremony.


Around 400 farmers from various districts of Maharashtra have been invited for the event.


Uddhav will be the first member from the Thackeray family to become the chief minister and the third Shiv Sena leader to hold the top post after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane.


On Tuesday, Thackeray was unanimously elected as the leader of the tri-party alliance.


Devendra Fadnavis had submitted his resignation as Chief Minister to the Governor on Tuesday as "the BJP fell short of the required number of MLAs to win the scheduled floor test".


Image: Aaditya Thackeray and Uddhav's secretary Milind Narvekar met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi yesterday to invite her for the swearing-in ceremony this evening. 
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13:03   Called Udham Singh deshbhakt, not Godse: Pragya
BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur tweets over her reported remark in Parliament yesterday, referring to Nathuram Godse as a 'deshbhakt'.  She says that she was misquoted and that she was referring to freedom fighter Udham Singh.


Singh was a revolutionary and is known for assassinating Michael O' Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of the Punjab in March 1940, in revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919.


The BJP got into damage control with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying there was no question of the party calling Godse "deshbhakt" (patriot) and added that they totally condemn such thinking. 


Rajnath made the remarks in Lok Sabha after opposition members protested over Thakur's remarks. The issue was raised by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury soon after the House met for the day. He said that the assassin had been referred to as a patriot in the House.

Chowdhury was joined by other opposition members including AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi. The Speaker said that Thakur's remarks had been expunged from the records and there cannot be a debate on an issue that is not on record.

As the opposition members continued to raise the issue, Rajnath Singh said Mahatma Gandhi was a guiding light for the party. "If someone considers Nathuram Godse as a 'deshbhakt', then our party condemns it. As for Mahatama Gandhi, he is our idol. He is our guiding light and will remain so. His thinking is relevant today and will continue to be so in the future," he said. 


Pragya Thakur has been axed from the Consultative Committee on Defence and she can't attend BJP parliamentary party meetings as well. 
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12:53   Bypoll sweep for TMC: Voters angry about NRC, says Mamata
Dedicating the party's victory in the Kaliaganj assembly seat by-poll to the people of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the BJP is getting paid back for its "arrogance" and for "insulting" the people of the state. She also said voters were angry about the impending imposition of NRC, as announced by Home Minister Amit Shah. 


Tapan Deb Sinha of the TMC won the Kaliaganj seat by defeating his nearest rival Kamal Chandra Sarkar of the BJP by 2,304 votes, EC officials said. 


The TMC is also leading in two other assembly segements, Kharagpur Sadar and Karimpur, by 15,000 and 28,000 votes respectively. "We dedicate this victory to the people of Bengal. The BJP is getting paid back for its arrogance of power and for insulting the people of Bengal," she told a TV channel. The CPI(M) and the Congress, instead of trying to strenghten themselves, are helping the BJP in West Bengal, Banerjee said. PTI 
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12:49   Stalin arrives in Mumbai ahead of swearing-in
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Thursday arrived here to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Maharashtra, led by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister.


Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress' 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', will take oath as the Chief Minister on Thursday at Shivaji Park at 6.40 pm.


Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Kamal Nath will also attend the swearing-in ceremony. 


Uddhav has also extended invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ceremony.


Around 400 farmers from various districts of Maharashtra have been invited for the event.


Uddhav will be the first member from the Thackeray family to become the chief minister and the third Shiv Sena leader to hold the top post after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane.


On Tuesday, Thackeray was unanimously elected as the leader of the tri-party alliance. 
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12:42   Bengal by-polls: BJP leads in two seats, TMC in one
The BJP gained leads over its rivals in Kharagpur Sadar and Kaliaganj Assembly seats while the ruling TMC was ahead in the Karimpur Assembly segment after the third round of counting of votes for the by-polls in West Bengal, EC officials said on Thursday.


BJP's Prem Chandra Jha was leading over his nearest rival Chittaranjan Mandal of the Congress-CPI(M) alliance by 915 votes in Kharagpur Sadar seat. 


In the Kaliaganj Assembly segment, the saffron party's Kamal Chandra Sarkar was ahead of his nearest rival Tapan Deb Sinha of the TMC by 1,800 votes. 


TMC's Bimalendu Singha Roy was leading over his nearest rival Jay Prakash Majumdar of the BJP by 14,000 votes in Karimpur Assembly seat. Counting of votes began at 8 am on Thursday amid tight security in three Assembly seats of West Bengal where by-polls were held on November 25. -- PTI
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12:35   Ajit Pawar's mobile switched off, rumours swell
NCP spokesperson, on reports that Ajit Pawar has switched off his mobile phone, says the Pawar has not gone incommunicado, but has intentionally switched off his mobile phone to avoid frequent calls. "He will attend the swearing-in ceremony," the spokesperson said. The deputy chief minister's post may go to Ajit Pawar, they said. 

NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Jayant Patil and Maharashtra Congress unit chief Balasaheb Thorat are likely to take oath as state ministers today. 


Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra this evening at a ceremony to be held at the Shivaji Park in Dadar.


NCP leader Praful Patel on Wednesday said one or two MLAs each from his party, the Shiv Sena and the Congress will be sworn in as ministers at the ceremony.


"Bhujbal and Patil are expected to be sworn in as ministers from the NCP. Ajit Dada is likely to be the deputy CM. But, he is unlikely to take oath today," a source in the NCP said. 
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12:25   Koshyari acted under instructions of PM: Sonia
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday hit out at the BJP accusing it of making shameless attempts to "subvert democracy" in Maharashtra and to blatantly sabotage the three-party alliance from coming to power in the state. 


Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting in Parliament House, she also attacked the governor of the state, Bhagat Singh Koshyari, saying he had acted in an "unprecedented and reprehensible manner". 


"There is no doubt that he (Koshyari) acted under the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. The BJP's pre-poll alliance did not hold because of its own arrogance and over-confidence. 


"Every effort was made to blatantly sabotage the three-party alliance government formation, but we appealed to the Supreme Court and the Modi-Shah government was totally exposed. Let me assure you, we three parties are united in our resolve to defeat the BJP's sordid manipulations," she said at the meeting attended by all Congress MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Gandhi said it was clear that the Modi-Shah government is "bankrupt" of decency and clueless on how to manage the grave problems facing the country. 


The Congress president added that the economic crisis in the country was deepening and growth was declining, unemployment growing and investment not happening.  -- PTI
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12:13   'Margdarshak' Pawar will lead the way: Saamna
With Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray set to take oath as Maharashtra's chief minister, the party on Thursday heaped praises on NCP chief Sharad Pawar and termed him 'margdarshak' (guide) of the new government in the state. 


Though the Shiv Sena espouses the Hindutva ideology, it formed the 'Maha Vikas Aghadi' alliance with the NCP and Congress when the Uddhav Thackeray-led party fell out with the BJP over the issue of sharing the chief minister's post after the last month's Assembly elections.


An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' acknowledged Sharad Pawar's efforts in taking the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance forward. The NCP chief, who spoke to Ajit Pawar on Tuesday and asked him to revisit his decision of supporting the BJP, has been credited for the u-turn by his nephew and is being described as the state political drama's 'man of the match'. 


"A strong and experienced 'margdarshak' like Sharad Pawar is with us. This government will not function with any deceitful intention against anyone," the Sena said.


With the single largest party BJP being unable to form government, the Sena described the change in political dynamics as the "rise of a new sun" in Maharashtra.


"The current mood of happiness in the state can be equated with the one the entire country had at the time of Independence on August 15, 1947," the Marathi daily said. The Sena asserted that the state machinery will not be used for conspiring against anyone. Without naming the BJP, it said the Sena leader did not bow down to any pressure from the Centre. 


"At a time when prominent leaders from across the country are kneeling before rulers in Delhi, Uddhav Thackeray did not bow down to such pressure tactics. He did not compromise with his pride and refused to join hands with people who 'lied' to him," the Marathi publication said. It said that former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has cursed the Sena-NCP-Congress government, saying the dispensation standing on three legs will not survive, but this is his "delusion". "There is no confusion among the three parties about development of the state," it added. - PTI


Image: The 340-feet-long and 8-feet-high stage is designed by Nitin Desai, a Sena leader and a renowned art director. Pic: Rajesh Karkera.
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11:50   2k cops, dog squads to guard Shivaji Park
At least 2,000 police personnel will guard the Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Thursday evening as part of the elaborate security arrangements being made for the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of Maharashtra, a police official said.
The iconic venue will turn into a virtual fortress as personnel drawn from various security forces, including Quick Response Teams, Riot Control Police, State Reserve Police Force, Local Armed Police and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad will be deployed to prevent any untoward incident.
Dog squads will also be on duty to maintain a vigil at the sprawling ground, located in Dadar area, he said.
Police personnel in civil clothes will also be deployed, the official said, adding that drones and CCTV cameras will be used to monitor the crowd.
"People will not be allowed to carry any bags, including those meant to keep laptops, and water bottles inside the park," he said.
Frisking of every individual will be done before being allowed to enter the venue, he added.

Image: Preparations are in full swing for the swearing-in ceremony of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister of Maharashtra. Photograph: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com
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11:35   Congress stages walkout in LS over Pragya's Godse remark
Congress MPs stage walkout from Lok Sabha amid uproar over BJP MP Pragya Thakur's comments in parliament yesterday, referring to Nathuram Godse as a deshbbhakt.
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11:33   Terrorist Pragya calls Godse a patriot: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday condemned Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pragya Thakur's remark in Parliament on Wednesday referring to Nathuram Godse.

"Terrorist Pragya calls terrorist Godse, a patriot. A sad day, in the history of Indias Parliament," Rahul  tweeted. 

The BJP also condemned Thakur's remark and recommended her removal from the consultative committee on defence, to which she was recently appointed.
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11:06   Godse remark: Thakur dropped from defence panel
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday condemned the remarks made by its Lok Sabha MP Pragya Thakur in Parliament on Wednesday referring to Nathuram Godse and said it does not support such statements.
 
BJP working president JP Nadda also recommended Thakur's removal from the consultative committee on defence, to which she was recently appointed.
"We have decided that Thakur will not attend meetings of BJP parliamentary party during the session," he said.
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11:01   Sensex, Nifty open at record peaks ahead of F&O expiry
Domestic equities opened at their record peaks as BSE Sensex jumped over 143 points to 41,164 in early trade on Thursday tracking gains in index-heavyweights TCS, ICICI Bank and L&T ahead of November derivatives expiry. 

After hitting its life-time high, the 30-share index pared some gains to trade 52.93 points, or 0.13 per cent, higher at 41,073.54 in morning session. 

Similarly, the broader Nifty touched an all-time high of 12,138.30 before slipping slightly to quote 11.30 points, or 0.09 per cent, up at 12,112. TCS was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising up to 1 per cent, followed by Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, L&T and SBI. On the other hand, Tata Motors, HUL, ONGC, Vedanta and Hero MotoCorp were trading in the red. 

On Wednesday, the Sensex rose 199.31 points or 0.49 per cent to end at 41,020.61. 

The Nifty too gained 63 points or 0.52 per cent to settle 12,100.70. 

Foreign institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 42.93 crore in the capital market in the previous session, while domestic institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 439.51 crore, data available with stock exchange showed. -- PTI
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10:37   Tight security for Uddhav''s swearing in as CM
Elaborate security arrangements are being made at and around Shivaji Park in Dadar in central Mumbai where Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi nominee Uddhav Thackeray will take oath as chief minister on Thursday evening, a police official said on Wednesday.
Thackeray, who heads Shiv Sena, will be sworn in as the 17th chief minister of the state in a grand ceremony at the venue which hosts annual Dussehra rallies of his party.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve reviewed the security preparations at the venue on Thursday morning. 

Senior police officers, including joint commissioner of police (law and order) Vinoy Choube, reviewed the security preparations at the venue on Wednesday, the official said.

"Adequate number of police personnel will be deployed at the venue as thousands of people are expected to attend the event," a senior Shivaji Park police station officer said.
Police personnel in civil clothes will be deployed, he said, adding that drones and CCTV cameras will be used to monitor crowd.
Officials also discussed issues such as vehicular parking for invitees and VIPs along with traffic management, he added.
In a related development, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday raised security concerns over the swearing-in ceremony at Shivaji Park, and said holding such functions at a public ground should not become a regular feature.
The high court had in 2010 declared the area as a 'silence zone' after the PIL was filed by the NGO. 

Image: Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve reviews the security arrangements at Shivaji Park. Photograph: ANI
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10:15  
Bust of Meena Thackeray, mother of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, outside Shivaji Park decorated with flowers ahead his swearing-in ceremony. Photograph: ANI
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10:09   Bal Thackeray, Indira seen together on poster
As the stage is set for the newly formed alliance of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress, led by Uddhav Thackeray to form the government in Maharashtra, a poster was seen near Shiv Sena Bhavan in Mumbai  featuring a picture of Bal Thackeray and Indira Gandhi.

"Balasaheb Thackeray's dream fulfilled, chief minister from the Shiv Sena," reads the poster. 

The Sena patriarch is seen greeting Indira in a throwback picture on the poster which also features Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray.

Contrary to popular belief, Bal Thackeray was a supporter of several of Indira Gandhi's policies. 

In fact, the Shiv Sena has, on more than one occasion, lent support to the Congress. 

Thackeray had also supported the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975 when most of the other parties were vehemently protesting against it.

On Wednesday, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had accused the BJP of using Bal Thackeray's image to win elections.

"For 25 years they used the posters of Balasaheb Thackeray to win elections in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh," Raut had said.

Uddhav Thackeray is set to take oath as the chief minister of the state on Thursday at Shivaji Park at 6:40 pm.

Top Shiv Sena leaders have said that they are fulfilling the promise made to their party's founder Bal Thackeray of having a chief minister from the party.

Photograph: ANI
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09:34   90 more students, mostly from India, held from fake US university
Federal law enforcement agencies have arrested 90 foreign students, mostly from India, enrolled in a fake university established by the United States government to check immigration fraud, a media report has said.
 
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has so far arrested more than 250 students, who were lured to enroll in the now-closed University of Farmington in the Detroit metropolitan area by the Department of Homeland Security.
The ICE had in March arrested 161 students from the fake university established by it. When it was closed in March, there were 600 students, mostly Indians, enrolled in it.
 
The latest news of arrest of additional 90 students in recent months, first reported on Tuesday by the 'Detroit Free Press', has resulted in outrage with #AbolishICE hashtag gaining ground on Twitter and other social media platforms on Wednesday.
  
According to an ICE spokesperson of the 250 students arrested so far, "nearly 80 percent were granted voluntary departure and departed the United States."
 
Of the remaining 20 percent, about half of them have received a final order of removal, the official was quoted as saying.
 
Federal prosecutors claim that the students knew that this was a fake university as there were no classes.
 
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, described the move as "cruel".
 
"This is cruel and appalling," she said in a tweet. "These students simply dreamed of getting the high-quality higher education America can offer. ICE deceived and entrapped them, just to deport them," Warren said. -- PTI
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09:04   Bengal by-poll: Counting begins in three constituencies
Counting of votes began at 8 am on Thursday amid tight security in polling centres in three assembly seats of West Bengal where by-polls were held on November 25, Election Commission officials said.
Around 78 per cent of over seven lakh electorate had cast their votes in the by-polls to Kaliaganj, Karimpur and Kharagpur Sadar Assembly seats where 18 candidates were in the fray.
BJP state vice-president and the party's candidate in Karimpur, Jay Prakash Majumdar, was assaulted during polling in the constituency.
The Kharagpur Sadar and Karimpur seats fell vacant after the general elections as the sitting MLAs of the two seats Dilip Ghosh (BJP) and Mahua Moitra (TMC) had contested and won Lok Sabha seats.
The by-poll at Kaliaganj was necessitated following the death of Congress MLA Parmathanath Roy.
Congress nominee Dhitashree Roy, supported by the CPI(M), is pitted against TMC's Tapan Deb Sinha and BJP's Kamal Chandra Sarkar at Kaliaganj.
In Karimpur the CPI(M)-Congress candidate Gholam Rabbi is in the reckoning against Majumdar and the ruling TMC's Bimalendu Singha Roy.
In Kharagpur Sadar the contestants are Prem Chandra Jha of BJP, Chittaranjan Mandal of the Congress-CPI(M) alliance and Pradip Sarkar of the TMC. -- PTI 
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08:54   Uddhav Thackeray to take oath as 18th Maha CM
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be sworn-in as the 18th chief minister of Maharashtra at a grand ceremony at Shivaji Park in Mumbai today at 6.40 pm.

Uddhav will be the first member from the Thackeray family to become the chief minister and the third Shiv Sena leader to hold the top post after Manohar Joshi and Narayan Rane.

He will be leading a government of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, an alliance of the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.

His oath-taking follows weeks of political uncertainty and changing political equations with NCP chief Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party and being sworn-in as the deputy chief minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and about 400 farmers from various districts are among the people who have been invited for the oath-taking ceremony.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Kamal Nath will also attend the swearing-in ceremony.

In a shocking development, BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit were sworn-in as chief minister and deputy chief minister on Saturday morning. 

The duo stepped down from their posts on Monday evening after the Supreme Court ordered a floor test in the 288-member assembly the next day.
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08:35   Maha govt won't misuse state machinery: Sena
In a veiled dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Thursday said that the government to be formed in Maharashtra will not misuse the state machinery for "deceit and conspiracies".

"The important thing is that the government will not use official bungalows, its offices and investigative agencies to carry out deceit and conspiracies, this much is certain. The government will function in a clean manner," Saamana said in its editorial.

It said that Uddhav Thackeray taking oath as the chief minister of Maharashtra is a new sunrise in the state adding that there is a lot of enthusiasm among people, much like there was at the time of Independence.

"A chief minister from the Shiv Sena, and Uddhav Thackeray at that post, such is the fortune of Maharashtra," it said.

The mouthpiece said that at a time when the tallest leaders in the country were kneeling to 'Delhieshwar' (the lords in Delhi), Uddhav Thackeray did not bow down to any pressure.

"We have experienced leaders like Sharad Pawar and the three parties have an army of people with administrative knowledge. More importantly, there is no resentment in our minds for each other," the editorial read.

"Forming governments with terror and toppling went on for the past five years in the country. Maharashtra overshadowed it all. It is time to come together for what Maharashtra wants," it added.
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01:12   Gotabaya to arrive in India today
Newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit during which he will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deepen strategic bilateral ties.

Rajapaksa will arrive in India on Thursday evening and a ceremonial reception will be held in Rashtrapati Bhawan in his honour on Friday.

The same day he will hold talks with Modi and also call on President Ram Nath Kovind, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Rajapaksa stormed to victory in Sri Lanka's presidential elections, the results of which came on Sunday.

Modi had telephoned Rajapaksa to congratulate him on his electoral win and invited him to visit India as his first official foreign tour.  -- PTI

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