CM meets BJP MP Bapat; says Pune bypoll in the bag

Neither Hon’ble Supreme Court nor Election Commission pay heed to what NONENTITIES say. Truth shall prevail…. Who is Devendra Fadnavis to claim that Hon’ble SC will pronounce in their favour? & Narayan Rane announces that EC will give the Shiv Sena Symbol to Shinde?

“This message is being spread so that the remaining 10-15 MLAs (in the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena camp) don’t defect. Whatever we have done is as per the rules and adhering to the Constitution,” he added.

The Supreme Court last month said that it will commence hearing on February 14 on pleas related to the Maharashtra political crisis triggered by the Shiv Sena’s division.

Should be named Vande Mataram bullet train: Kelkar

First India Bureau Pune: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who met ailing Bharatiya Janata Party MP Girish Bapat recently in Pune has said that the parliamentarian assured him that the ruling alliance in the state will win the upcoming bypolls to two Assembly seats in Pune. Shinde, who was in Pimpri-Chinchwad town here on Saturday, went to meet Bapat, the Lok Sabha member from Pune, and enquired about his health. After the meeting, the CM said, “Girish Bapat is an old friend. I went to his place just to enquire about his health. I am sure he will be back in the next few days. He also assured me that we will win the bypolls in both the constituencies.”

The by-elections to Pune’s Chinchwad and Kasba Peth constituencies, scheduled for February 26, have been ne-

For the love of millets: Team makes 4K kg ‘bhagar’

cessitated due to the death of sitting BJP MLAs Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak.

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the BJP came to power in the state in June last year after the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (comprising the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) government.

The BJP has fielded its candidates in both the Assembly seats in Pune where the by-

The bypolls to Chinchwad and Kasba Peth constituencies, scheduled for February 26, have been necessitated due to the death of sitting BJP MLAs Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak polls are to be held later this month. The opposition Congress has fielded its candidate from Kasba Peth and the NCP from Chinchwad, despite CM Shinde’s appeal for an unopposed contest to honour the political tradition in the state to ensure unopposed bypolls to seats falling vacant due to the death of sitting lawmakers.

Chalisa’ protest outside Dy CM’s office today

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Three IPS officers of the 1998 and 1999 batches of the Maharashtra cadre--Rashmi Shukla, Atulchandra Kulkarni and Sadanand Date--have been promoted to the post of Director-General of Police (DGP).

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) announced the new appointments after it approved the empanelling of 20 IPS officers from across the country on Friday.

Date, who now takes charge as Joint CP Law and Order and Joint CP Crime, has served on deputation as Additional director general of police (ADG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), for three years. Most recently, he was the Maharashtra ATS Chief, prior to which he was the Police Commissioner of Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar.

Kulkarni, who is currently posted in the National Investigation Agency, has served in the Intelligence Bureau.

Uddhav Thackeray attempts to reach key vote bank in poll-bound Mumbai

Mumbai (PTI): Shiv

Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said his party doesn’t discriminate between Marathi-speaking people and north Indians settled in Mumbai, remarks viewed as an outreach to the key vote bank ahead of the crucial city civic polls.

Addressing a gather- ing of north Indians, the former chief minister called for unity and said Hindutva doesn’t mean spreading hate and dividing people.

“I fell out with BJP but I never abandoned Hindutva. The BJP is not Hindutva. Uttar Bharatiyas want answers on what Hindutva is. Hating each other is not Hindutva. We don’t discriminate between Marathispeaking and north Indian people residing in Mumbai,” Thackeray said, appealing to people to bury old hatchets.

Significantly, the Shiv Sena has always projected itself as the

He has also held the command of Joint CP in the Crime Branch of Mumbai Police and later served as the chief of the Maharashtra AntiTerrorist Squad. He has also previously served as the chief of Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department.

Shukla was the Police Commissioner of Pune from March 2016 to July 2018 and is currently posted in Hyderabad as ADG - CRPF, on deputation. She has been accused of tapping the phones of politicians.

Appeal For Unity

Thane (PTI): Sanjay Kelkar, MLA from Maharashtra BJP said that the Mumbai Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, popularly known as the bullet train project, must be given the name ‘Vande Mataram’. It should be called the ‘Vande Mataram’ bullet train, Kelkar, the Thane MLA told reporters. He said he would discuss this request with the central government shortly as it would foster “patriotism and fondness for the nation among citizens”. On February 14, Union Minister Anurag

Thakur visited Thane district as part of the BJP’s campaign for 2024 LS polls. Kelkar, who is the Kalyan LS seat, mentioned that several meetings will be conducted. Thakur will meet party cadre and several segments of society during his one-day visit to boost the BJP’s chances. Kalyan LS seat is represented by Shrikant Shinde, who is the son of Maharashtra CM Shinde. Shinde’s Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena and the BJP have been part of state’s ruling alliance since June last year.