Maharashtra News highlights: Mahayuti wins 207 Of 288 bodies, BJP emerges largest party

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on Sunday that the Mahayuti’s victory in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections was the result of a collective effort between the BJP organisation and the government.

“It is a team effort- both the organisation and the government. We campaigned on a development-focused platform. I led the campaign with a positive development agenda and did not once criticise any political leader or party,” he said, as reported by PTI.

The Maharashtra local body poll results offer a preview of the upcoming municipal corporation elections on January 15, according to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who made this statement while votes were being counted on Sunday.

Shinde also praised the Shiv Sena’s “strike rate,” asserting that the results validated the good work the party had accomplished.

Vote counting for the elections to the posts of president and members in 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats across Maharashtra commenced at 10 am. Early trends indicated a comfortable lead for the Mahayuti coalition, which includes the BJP, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena’s Tukaram Mhatre won Dalapur Ward No. 1, securing a clear victory and sparking great enthusiasm among party workers following the announcement.

A 90-year-old man, Girraj Sharma, was killed in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior after a dump truck carrying gravel overturned and fell on him while he was sitting outside his house on Friday. Police said the truck lost balance after a tyre got stuck in wet soil caused by recent pipeline work, crushing the elderly man to death as the driver fled the spot.

Indian Railways will revise passenger fares from December 26, introducing marginal increases for longer-distance and select train categories while keeping suburban and short-distance fares unchanged. Officials said the move aims to offset rising operational costs without burdening daily commuters, with a 500 km Non-AC journey becoming costlier by about Rs 10.

Bengali singer Lagnajita Chakraborty alleged that Mehboob Mallik, a school governing body member, abused and attempted to assault her during a live performance for not singing a 'secular' song. Mallik was later arrested, and police confirmed action against officers who initially refused to file the complaint.

A wanted criminal carrying a ₹50,000 reward, Zubair alias Azad alias Peter, was killed in a police encounter in Bulandshahr on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. Police said he opened fire while trying to escape during a vehicle check, prompting retaliatory action in self-defence. Zubair, who had over 40 criminal cases against him, was taken to hospital where he was declared dead, while his accomplice managed to flee.

A ward boy at Meerut’s LLRM Medical College was dismissed after allegedly attempting to refill a four-year-old child’s nebuliser with spirit while in an intoxicated state, before staff intervened.

Delhi continues to reel under a severe pollution spell, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 438 in areas like Anand Vihar and 405 at ITO, categorised as ‘severe’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Pedestrians were seen wearing masks as toxic smog engulfed the city.

Despite the hazardous conditions, flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport are running smoothly, with no major disruptions reported. Passengers have been advised to stay updated with airlines for the latest schedules. Dense fog has also shrouded nearby cities, including Agra, where the Taj Mahal disappeared from view.

At least 129 flights, including 66 arrivals and 63 departures, were cancelled at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday due to dense fog and low visibility. Delhi airport operator DIAL said low visibility procedures are in place, and flight operations are now functioning normally.

Actress Nora Fatehi was involved in a minor car accident in Mumbai on Saturday when a drunk driver hit her vehicle. She sustained no injuries and was given first aid at a nearby hospital. Despite the incident, she went on to perform at the Sunburn Festival, where a case has been registered against the intoxicated driver.