Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on Friday declined Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s lunch invite at the latter’s Baramati residence on Saturday.

Battle for Maharashtra 2024: Shivraj Patil's daughter-in-law joins BJP

'Pawar' battle for Baramati in Maharashtra: Sunetra Pawar to contest against her sister-in-law

Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Govinda joins Shiv Sena: Bollywood actor kicks off second innings in politics

The Mahavikas Aghadi's (MVA) seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls is to be finalised amid a possible rift between allies Congress and Shiv Sena (led by Uddhav Thackeray), over four seats, sources said.

India Elections: Will discontent among Maharashtra Congress leaders affect MVA alliance?

Unresolved seat-sharing strategies have left the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) tensed ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Watch in for more details!

India Election 2024: Battle for Maharashtra's 48 seats intensifies

India Election 2024: Maharashtra's opposition alliance is yet to finalise seat sharing agreement

Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners - Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar - have reached an agreement on a seat-sharing deal, according to the reports. Watch in for more details!

Maharashtra's opposition finalise seat sharing deal: Report

India's election season brings with it an unending drama of alliances Partnerships and collaborations and India's state of Maharashtra is no stranger to political mergers. In the latest move made by the BJP in Maharashtra, the party has reportedly proposed a merger with Raj Thackeray. Watch in for more details!

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP seeks long-term partnership with Thackeray's MNS

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: MNS to merge with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in Maharashtra?

Focus on Maharashtra: Party leader Sanjay Raut has said that the Shiva Sena Uddhav Thackeray faction's first list of candidates will be formally declared later today. Watch in for more details!

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Shiv Sena (UBT) to release first list

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Shiv Sena (UBT) to release first list of candidates today

India's election season brings with it an unending drama of alliances Partnerships and collaborations and India's state of Maharashtra is no stranger to political mergers. In the latest move made by the BJP in Maharashtra, the party has reportedly proposed a merger between Raj Thackeray.

A new political merger in Maharashtra?

The Congress party has finalised names of 12 candidates for the state of Maharashtra. The names were finalised in the party central election committee meeting.

India Elections: Congress Party to reveal names in third list, finalises Maharashtra's 12 candidates

The Maharashtra Cabinet has implemented a significant change, requiring the inclusion of the mother's first name in all government documents. This move aims to enhance identity documentation and acknowledges the importance of maternal lineage. Watch in for more details!

India: Maharashtra makes Mother's first name mandatory for all government documents

The tussle between Shinde led Shiv Sena and the BJP over a number of seats in Konkan and Marathwada regions are proving to be of significant importance with both taking claim to those seats. Watch to know more!

BJP-Shiv Sena seat sharing tussle erupts ahead of Lok Sabha Polls in Maharashtra

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah held meetings on Tuesday with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, and other leaders to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

BJP finalises Maharashtra seat-sharing deal with allies

‘Won’t be possible’: Maharashtra CM to skip Sharad Pawar's lunch

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar on Thursday extended an invitation to Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, and the two deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar for lunch at his Baramati residence on Saturday when the state leadership will visit the constituency to inaugurate several developmental projects.

Sharad Pawar invites rivals for lunch at his residence at Baramati

Maharashtra in India is expanding investigation into the use of cheese alternatives in fast food products. This basically comes after McDonald's faced accusations of using vegetable oil substitutes for real cheese in some of its items on the menu. So was there no real cheese in your cheeseburger? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas | Maharashtra to inspect McDonald's as they remove cheese from the menu

The Maharashtra government has now proposed a 10% quarter for the Maratha community, According to the socially and educationally backward classes Bill 2024. The Maharashtra cabinet has approved the draft of the bill for 10% Maratha reservation in education and government jobs. The bill has received cabinet nod and it will be presented to the State Assembly and the council today in a special session. Watch to know more!

Maharashtra cabinet approves 'Maratha Quota Bill' with 10% quota

India: Maharashtra cabinet approves 'Maratha Quota Bill'

<p>Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique on Thursday said he has resigned from the Congress after being a member of the party for nearly five decades.</p>

<p>A prominent minority face of the Mumbai Congress, Siddique also served as a minister when the Congress-NCP coalition was in power.</p>

<p>Siddique in a post on X said, ''I joined the Indian National Congress party as a young teenager and it has been a significant journey lasting 48 years. Today I resign from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress Party @INCIndia with immediate effect.'' ''There's a lot I would have liked to express but as they say some things are better left unsaid. I thank everyone who has been a part of this journey,'' he added. The move comes days after the Election Commission of India recognised the Ajit Pawar faction as the real National Congress Party (NCP).</p>

<p>Siddique's son is currently a Congress MLA from Bandra (East) in Mumbai.</p>


Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique on Thursday said he has resigned from the Congress after being a member of the party for nearly five decades. A prominent minority face of the Mumbai Congress, Siddique also served as a minister when the Congress-NCP coalition was in power.

Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique on Thursday said he has resigned from the Congress after being a member of the party for nearly five decades. A prominent minority face of the Mumbai Congress, Siddique also served as a minister when the Congress-NCP coalition was in power. Siddique in a post on X said, ''I joined the Indian National Congress party as a young teenager and it has been a significant journey lasting 48 years. Today I resign from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress Party @INCIndia with immediate effect.'' ''There's a lot I would have liked to express but as they say some things are better left unsaid. I thank everyone who has been a part of this journey,'' he added. The move comes days after the Election Commission of India recognised the Ajit Pawar faction as the real National Congress Party (NCP). Siddique's son is currently a Congress MLA from Bandra (East) in Mumbai.

India: Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique quits Congress

<p><strong>Lal Krishna Advani Bharat Ratna:</strong> Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani will be conferred Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India. The announcement was made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Advani has been a key leading figure in the BJP for decades and has served as home minister of India. He has also helmed several other ministries and was deputy prime minister under then-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in early 2000s.</p>

<p>Hours after Prime Minister Modi, once a disciple of Advani, made the announcement, the 96-year-old veteran expressed gratitude and said he was humbled by the honour.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Narendra Modi (first from right) with LK Advani (third from right) during Gujarat leg of Ram Rath Yatra | File" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-01-22T222951.231.png" /></p>

<p><em>Narendra Modi (first from right) with LK Advani (third from right) during Gujarat leg of Ram Rath Yatra in September 1990 | File</em></p>

<p>"With utmost humility and gratitude, I accept the 'Bharat Ratna' that has been conferred on me today. It is not only an honour for me as a person, but also for the ideals and principles that I have strobe to serve throughout my life to the best of my ability...," said Advani.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a… <a href="https://t.co/Ya78qjJbPK">pic.twitter.com/Ya78qjJbPK</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1753660421809066495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>While making the announcement PM Modi said, "Advani Ji’s decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me. I will always consider it my privilege that I got countless opportunities to interact with him and learn from him."</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Lal Krishna Advani?</strong></h2>

<p>Lal Krishna Advani was born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi which is now in present-day Pakistan. After partition, his family migrated to India. Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in&nbsp;1941, when he was just 14 years old.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cast-from-the-past-rath-yatra-to-ram-mandir-between-advani-of-1990-and-modi-of-2024-682579">Cast From The Past | Rath Yatra to Ram Mandir: Between Advani of 1990 and Modi of 2024</a></strong></p>

<p>In 1951, just four years after India gained&nbsp;independence, LK Advani joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. The 'Jana Sangh' as it is commonly called, was political precursor of the BJP. Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who later became an iconic BJP leader.</p>

<p>Advani began consolidating his position in India's national-level politics in 1970 when he became a Rajya Sabha - upper house of the Parliament - member for the first time in 1970. He then&nbsp;became the leader of the house in&nbsp;1977.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | India: Vijay announces new party 'Tamilaga Vetri Kazhgam'</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-vijay-announces-new-party-tamilaga-vetri-kazhgam-686464/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Advani was a member of the house&nbsp;till 1989, serving four terms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was one of the founding members of the BJP. Advani&nbsp;won a Lok Sabha - lower house of Parliament - seat for the first time in 1989.</p>

<p>Advani has been honoured with India's top civilian award&nbsp;before as well. In 2015, he was conferred Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour of the country.</p>


Lal Krishna Advani Bharat Ratna: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani will be conferred Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India.

Lal Krishna Advani Bharat Ratna: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani will be conferred Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in India. The announcement was made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Advani has been a key leading figure in the BJP for decades and has served as home minister of India. He has also helmed several other ministries and was deputy prime minister under then-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in early 2000s. Hours after Prime Minister Modi, once a disciple of Advani, made the announcement, the 96-year-old veteran expressed gratitude and said he was humbled by the honour. Narendra Modi (first from right) with LK Advani (third from right) during Gujarat leg of Ram Rath Yatra in September 1990 | File "With utmost humility and gratitude, I accept the 'Bharat Ratna' that has been conferred on me today. It is not only an honour for me as a person, but also for the ideals and principles that I have strobe to serve throughout my life to the best of my ability...," said Advani. I am very happy to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. I also spoke to him and congratulated him on being conferred this honour. One of the most respected statesmen of our times, his contribution to the development of India is monumental. His is a… pic.twitter.com/Ya78qjJbPK — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 3, 2024 × While making the announcement PM Modi said, "Advani Ji’s decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me. I will always consider it my privilege that I got countless opportunities to interact with him and learn from him." Who is Lal Krishna Advani? Lal Krishna Advani was born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi which is now in present-day Pakistan. After partition, his family migrated to India. Advani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1941, when he was just 14 years old. Also Read | Cast From The Past | Rath Yatra to Ram Mandir: Between Advani of 1990 and Modi of 2024 In 1951, just four years after India gained independence, LK Advani joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. The 'Jana Sangh' as it is commonly called, was political precursor of the BJP. Bharatiya Jana Sangh was founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who later became an iconic BJP leader. Advani began consolidating his position in India's national-level politics in 1970 when he became a Rajya Sabha - upper house of the Parliament - member for the first time in 1970. He then became the leader of the house in 1977. Watch | India: Vijay announces new party 'Tamilaga Vetri Kazhgam' × Advani was a member of the house till 1989, serving four terms. He was one of the founding members of the BJP. Advani won a Lok Sabha - lower house of Parliament - seat for the first time in 1989. Advani has been honoured with India's top civilian award before as well. In 2015, he was conferred Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour of the country.

'Honour for my principles': LK Advani reacts as PM Modi announces Bharat Ratna honour

<p>A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from India's western state of Maharashtra has been arrested after he allegedly fired a gun at a member from a different party inside a police station in Ulhasnagar. BJP&nbsp;Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ganpat Gaikwad and his two associates have been arrested by Thane Police. The MLA allegedly opened fire at Mahesh Gaikwad, a city president of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) inside the police station. Ulhasnagar, the city where the police station is located is less than 100 kilometres away from state capital Mumbai.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Thane, Maharashtra: Sudhakar Pathare, DCP says, "Mahesh Gaikwad and Ganpat Gaikwad had differences about something and they came to the Police station to give complaint. At that time, they had a talk and Ganpat Gaikwad fired at Mahesh Gaikwad and his people. 2 people… <a href="https://t.co/Qw2Q9iUHHz">pic.twitter.com/Qw2Q9iUHHz</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1753534904736850206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Mahesh Gaikwad and Rahul Patil, another leader of Shiv Sena(Shinde faction) were critically injured. They were taken to Jupiter Hospital in Thane for medical assistance.</p>

<p>"Going by what has been found here, there was no question of (firing in) self-defence. The injured were sitting and watching the CCTV screen. There was no argument or provocation. But he (Ganpat Gaikwad) aimed and shot them," Thane Additional CP Datta Shinde said.</p>

<p>"A total of ten rounds were fired in the Ulhasnagar incident. Six bullets were taken out of Mahesh Gaikwad's body by the doctors," Shinde added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from India's western state of Maharashtra has been arrested after he allegedly fired a gun at a member from a different party inside a police station in Ulhasnagar.

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from India's western state of Maharashtra has been arrested after he allegedly fired a gun at a member from a different party inside a police station in Ulhasnagar. BJP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ganpat Gaikwad and his two associates have been arrested by Thane Police. The MLA allegedly opened fire at Mahesh Gaikwad, a city president of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) inside the police station. Ulhasnagar, the city where the police station is located is less than 100 kilometres away from state capital Mumbai. #WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra: Sudhakar Pathare, DCP says, "Mahesh Gaikwad and Ganpat Gaikwad had differences about something and they came to the Police station to give complaint. At that time, they had a talk and Ganpat Gaikwad fired at Mahesh Gaikwad and his people. 2 people… pic.twitter.com/Qw2Q9iUHHz — ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2024 × Mahesh Gaikwad and Rahul Patil, another leader of Shiv Sena(Shinde faction) were critically injured. They were taken to Jupiter Hospital in Thane for medical assistance. "Going by what has been found here, there was no question of (firing in) self-defence. The injured were sitting and watching the CCTV screen. There was no argument or provocation. But he (Ganpat Gaikwad) aimed and shot them," Thane Additional CP Datta Shinde said. "A total of ten rounds were fired in the Ulhasnagar incident. Six bullets were taken out of Mahesh Gaikwad's body by the doctors," Shinde added. (With inputs from agencies)

India: State lawmaker arrested for firing inside police station in Maharashtra

maharashtra

Maharashtra, News on Maharashtra, stories on Maharashtra, articles on Maharashtra, Maharashtra stories at Wion, Maharashtra news, Maharashtra latest news