Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 Highlights: Maharashtra elections a battle of ideologies, says Rahul Gandhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly giving control of the party to the Congress, as he campaigned in Mumbai just days before Maharashtra’s elections. During three rallies supporting Mahayuti candidates, Modi once again challenged the Congress to recognize the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, who strongly advocated for Hindutva and the saffron alliance in the state. He also pointed out that Mumbai, the birthplace of the Shiv Sena in 1966, is a city that holds its self-respect in high regard.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, upon arriving in Nagpur, Maharashtra, stated that the BJP-led NDA is set to win around two-thirds of the seats in the first phase of elections in Jharkhand. He added that a wave of change is sweeping the region, and the NDA will form the government. Regarding Maharashtra, Chouhan claimed that the Mahayuti government has transformed the lives of the people and that it will return to power with a decisive majority.

Addressing a rally in Pune, Kharge responded to Amit Shah's accusations, asking, "Shah claims that Congress is spreading lies, yet now he says we want to reinstate Article 370. Who made this claim and when?" He reminded that Parliament had already passed the resolution to revoke Article 370, questioning why the issue was being raised again. "This is just an attempt by the BJP to keep the issue alive and divide the people. If they truly believe in it, they should go to Kashmir and make this statement, but the elections there are already over," he said.

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday dismissed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that Congress plans to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, stressing that the provision had already been repealed by Parliament. Kharge accused the BJP of keeping the Article 370 issue alive to sow division in society. Addressing a press conference in Pune, he also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attacking Congress and its senior leaders, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

During a public meeting at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, "A party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi has given control to Congress, the same party that insulted Balasaheb Thackeray. I challenged them to get Congress to praise Balasaheb, but so far, they haven’t succeeded in getting either the Congress or its 'shehzada' to acknowledge his contribution."

Prime Minister Modi said that a party within the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance has given control of its "remote" to those who have disrespected Balasaheb Thackeray, referring to Shiv Sena (UBT).

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 Live: PM Modi felicitated by CM Shinde, Dy CM Fadnavis ahead of rally

At a press conference in Pune, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the government's claims, saying, "You promised that demonetisation would end corruption, terrorism, and naxalism. Why then were so many lies told?" He also criticized the construction of the new Parliament building, asking, "You built a new Parliament, but now it's already leaking. Why is that?"

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking at an election rally in Pune, highlighted that the reservation for Dalits was a result of the Poona Pact signed between BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. He emphasized that the Poona Pact played a key role in the framing of India's Constitution. Kharge further stated that any rights granted to Dalits, backward classes, women, or others were owed to the efforts of BR Ambedkar and former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis defended the Mahayuti government's Ladki Bahin Yojana on Thursday, responding to opposition claims that the scheme was financially burdening the state. In reply to a question about the Centre's assertion that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty, Fadnavis explained that while these individuals had moved into the lower middle class, they still faced basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, and aspirations for their children, despite their improved economic condition.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for waving a red-covered copy of the Constitution, calling it a concept borrowed from a Latin American country where elections were contested with the support of "anarchist forces" and copies of the Constitution were waved. Speaking to the press, Fadnavis added that the idea backfired on the opposition, especially after it was revealed at a Congress rally in Nagpur that the pages inside the Constitution Gandhi holds are blank. He emphasized that this was not an original idea of the Congress.

BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde hosted foreign delegates in Mumbai and invited them to attend Prime Minister Modi's grand public rally at Shivaji Park.

In his rally in Panvel, Maharashtra, Prime Minister Modi urged the public to say "Ek hai toh safe hai" to ensure that those trying to divide society lose their peace of mind.

Speaking at a public gathering in Panvel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of prioritizing votes over the nation's future, saying, "One of their leaders is openly stating that they will provide cheap gas cylinders to infiltrators, Rohingyas, and Bangladeshis. This is an example of how they are jeopardizing the future of your children for political gain."

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 Live: Uddhav Thackeray's bags inspected by poll officials upon arrival in Shirdi

Rahul Gandhi, speaking at a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra, framed the upcoming elections as a battle between two competing ideologies. He contrasted Congress and the INDIA alliance on one side with the BJP and RSS on the other. Addressing a recent remark by Prime Minister Modi, who claimed that the copy of the Constitution Gandhi carries has "nothing written on it," Rahul hit back, saying, "You don’t understand the Constitution. It embodies the voices of leaders like BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Phule, Birsa Munda, and others. You call it empty because you’ve never truly read it."

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP and RSS of secretly working to dismantle India's Constitution. Speaking in Nanded, he stated, "The history and soul of India are embedded in this Constitution, and the Congress is committed to protecting it. Meanwhile, the BJP and RSS are plotting behind closed doors to abolish the Constitution drafted by Dr. BR Ambedkar."

Sharad Pawar criticized the current leadership in Maharashtra for the state's decline, claiming it has fallen into the "wrong hands." Campaigning for NCP (SP) candidate Rahul Kalate in Chinchwad, Pawar highlighted the lack of infrastructure and unfinished development projects in the area. He urged voters to support Kalate, citing his experience as a former corporator and expressing confidence that better days were ahead for Chinchwad.

Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed concerns over the challenges faced by farmers in Maharashtra and criticized the BJP's governance. He accused the party of exploiting the public for the past decade, with the Mahayuti alliance continuing this trend in Maharashtra over the last 2.5 years. Khera pointed out the stark difference in onion prices, stating that while farmers sell onions at ₹25 per kilogram at wholesale rates, consumers are paying as much as ₹100 per kilogram in retail.

At a public rally in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "When Devendra Fadnavis was Chief Minister, he launched the Jalyukt Shivar scheme, which helped address the water crisis in Marathwada. However, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government came to power for 2.5 years, they halted this important initiative. Once the Mahayuti government took over, the scheme was revived. Additionally, the Mahayuti government allocated over Rs 1,600 crore for power supply in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, but the Aghadi government put a stop to that as well."

Addressing a public gathering at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, "Maharashtra is witnessing the development of modern infrastructure... The entire region is undergoing railway modernization. Since the formation of the Mahayuti government, Maharashtra has received the highest amount of FDI. This investment has brought significant benefits to the people. In this region alone, contracts worth over Rs 70,000 crore have been signed."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, "Maharashtra is witnessing the development of modern infrastructure... The entire region is undergoing railway modernization. Since the formation of the Mahayuti government, Maharashtra has received the highest amount of FDI. This investment has brought significant benefits to the people. In this region alone, contracts worth over Rs 70,000 crore have been signed."

Speaking at a rally in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Congress party believes in division and not development.

Here's what he said at the rally --

-From the beginning, Congress has been against reservation

-Congress used to call reservation against the country and merit. Congress' mentality and agenda remains the same, even today

-Congress and allies want restoration of Article 370 and are planning separate Constitution for Kashmir

-Maharashtra saw highest foreign direct investment after formation of BJP-led Mahayuti govt

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said the Maharashtra assembly polls is a war between the incumbent Mahayuti government's agenda of development and good governance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's policy of destruction and corruption.

In an interaction with PTI, Scindia expressed confidence that the people of Maharashtra would take a positive decision and bring the current Mahayuti government back to power.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a public gathering in Maharashtra' s Nandurbar, said that elections are being held but there is contest between two ideologies.

Here's what Gandhi said --

-The Congress Party, INDIA alliance say that the country must be run by Constitution. The prime minister says that I show (a copy of) Constitution in public meetings, but it is blank inside. The Constitution may be blank for him because he has never read it in his life.

-We will conduct caste census in Maharashtra.

-I have said in Lok Sabha infront of Narendra Modi that Congress party government will conduct caste census and break this wall of 50 per cent reservation. We will take reservation beyond 50 per cent.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed confidence today that the Mahayuti alliance - comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) - will secure sweeping victories in the Mumbai and Konkan regions in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

Speaking at the CNBC-TV18 Global Leadership Summit, Goyal stated that PM Modi would be "leading from the front" in the campaign. Reflecting on his recent visit to the Congress stronghold of Marathwada, Goyal noted signs of a "wave of change" favoring the Mahayuti alliance.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore, this morning, lashed out at Amit Shah for his 'even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won’t be restored' remark.

"This shows that Amit Shah is increasingly frustrated, and it's clear that they are headed for defeat. He refuses to address Maharashtra's issues or talk about the Rs one lakh crore given to Adani in Maharashtra. Amit Shah is on shaky ground, and his frustration is evident in these remarks," he noted.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting raids at several locations in connection with an alleged cash-for-votes case. The searches are being carried out at 13 locations in Ahmedabad, three in Surat, two in Malegaon and Nashik, and five in Mumbai.

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, interacting with the press this morning, stated, "According to our strategy, we are contesting 16 seats. During elections, everyone presents their views, but after the elections, everyone gets back to their work. Our focus remains on fulfilling our responsibilities. I am confident that AIMIM candidates will win both seats in Aurangabad."

Addressing the multiple FIRs against him, including one related to a viral video in which he threatened violence against those criticizing religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj, Rane defended his statements. The controversial remarks led to accusations of provoking religious hatred. He contended that he was simply standing up for his community in a Hindu-majority nation and welcomed any legal action.

Rane also slammed certain members of the Muslim community, particularly Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, for purportedly following Sharia law while claiming to adhere to the Constitution. He questioned why they promote communal divides through "love jihad," "land jihad," and "vote jihad."

In an interview with PTI, Rane explained that he would be recognised as a Hindu on his birth and death certificates and dismissed any accusations of hate crimes as unjust. "If I am being blamed for supporting my religion, there is nothing wrong with that," he said.

Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has vowed to prevent "vote jihad" during the upcoming state assembly elections, asserting that he is not concerned by the multiple FIRs registered against him for hate speech. Rane, the BJP nominee from the Kankavli seat in Sindhudurg district, insisted he had not done anything wrong by supporting his "dharma" or community.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Wednesday evening, slammed the BJP and its leadership, particularly Home Minister Amit Shah, during a campaign rally in Kankavli ahead of the assembly elections. Thackeray accused the BJP of corruption, specifically in relation to the collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue, and called for the Mahayuti (BJP-led alliance) to be removed from power. He framed the upcoming elections as a battle between those who love Maharashtra and those he labeled as "traitors" to the state.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, at a campaign rally in Bhosari on Wednesday, accused PM Modi of aiming for 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the BJP's goal was tied to altering the Constitution of India.

Pawar stated, "During the Lok Sabha polls, prime minister Narendra Modi was seeking 400 seats for the BJP. We were surprised because 300 to 350 seats for a party is considered a good majority. We went a little deeper and realised that he wanted 400 MPs because his eyes were on the Constitution of India written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar".

>> Vehicles from the western and northern suburbs should drop off passengers on Senapati Bapat Road and park at designated lots, including Mahim Reti Bander and India Bulls Finance Center.

>> Eastern suburbs’ vehicles will drop off at Dadar TT Circle and park near Five Gardens, Matunga.

>> For South Mumbai, drop-off points include Ravindranath Natya Mandir, with parking available at India Bulls Finance Center and nearby facilities.

>> For northbound traffic from Siddhivinayak Junction to Yes Bank Junction, alternate routes via S.K. Bole Road are advised.

>> Southbound vehicles can use Pandurang Naik Marg or N.C. Kelkar Road.

Ahead of PM Modi's rally at Shivaji Park, the Mumbai police have issued a traffic advisory to manage road congestion. Traffic restrictions will be in effect from 10 am to 11 pm today. Several key roads, including Dr. Annie Besant Road and Keluskar Road, have been designated as 'No Parking' zones for the day.