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<ul><li>Aaditya Thackeray's early counting showed a comfortable lead with over 75% vote share at 10 am.</li><li>This is the first election that Bal Thackeray's grandson is contesting in. </li><li>His father Uddhav Thackeray is the head of the Shiv Sena party. </li></ul> Sena candidate Aaditya Thackeray made a stellar debut in politics. He won the Worli seat with a 26,000 vote margin over his nearest competitor NCP's Suresh Mane. He has secured 87, 453 votes, as per election commission website while his closest competitor Suresh Mane got 21,393 votes. So much so, his party members have already started suggesting his name for the post of deputy CM as Sena and BJP have already started a war of words over portfolios. One of Maharashtra’s youngest candidates, the 29-year-old <keyword id="6380894" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="aditya-thackeray">Aditya Thackeray</keyword> is likely to win his first election, says an exit poll by Times Now. As per the poll, he will conveniently win from the Worli seat that he is contesting. A total of 13 candidates are contesting from the seat across various parties like NCP, BSP along with seven independents. Aditya has been playing an active role before and after campaigning as well. After he cast his vote today, he kept hopping from booth to booth across the city, meeting voters and party workers. He also urged the public to come out and vote in the several interviews he gave today. The son of Uddhav Thackeray and grandson of deceased Sena supremo Bal Thackeray started his career in politics nine years back as the Youth wing leader of the party. He soon rose to become a leader and has contested his first-ever election this time around, fighting from the Worli constituency. The party has strong roots in the Maharashtrian community which lives around Dadar and Worli areas. In fact, the headquarters of the party is located in the same area. His father Uddhav Thackeray who heads the Sena party, recently said that he sees a Sena member becoming the chief minister of the state, one day. Currently, Sena is in alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party which fields the chief ministerial position. Many political pundits and public alike believed that the statement was made to coincide with Aditya’s political debut. But Aditya did not have a smooth ride. He was ridiculed for sporting a lungi, a South Indian attire, as his detractors cited his grandfather’s attacks on South Indian migrants a few decades back. He was also caught on the wrong foot endorsing the BEST bus service, and his refusal to address issues like a toddler slipping down the drain--did not go down well with the social media.

Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray makes a stellar debut with a 26,000-vote margin

Mumbai, Jan 21 () Amid the ongoing controversy over the metro car shed here for line-3 trains, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday stripped Ashwini Bhide from the post of Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), which is implementing the project. 
Bhide will be replaced by Ranjit Singh Deol who is currently serving as the vice chairman and MD of Maharashtra state road transport corporation.
The reshuffle comes just a week after the Maharashtra government transferred 22 IAS officers.
Last week, Bhide was elevated to the post of principal secretary. 
However, during the reshuffle, she has not been given any other charge.
Aditya Thackeray, who is also the Maharashtra tourism and environment minister, had last year sought Bhide's transfer for ordering felling of trees at the Aarey colony, famous as the 'lungs of the city'.
The corporation is executing the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 corridor. 
Bhide's defence of the metro shed had drawn flak from activists as well as political parties. 
An IAS officer of 1988 batch, Bhide was very active on social media and used to post progress of the 33 km metro corridor.
A release from MMRC recently mentioned that 100 per cent tunneling work of the project will be completed by September this year.
Apart from this, the Corporation hopes to complete 70 per cent of civil work and get the first rolling stock by December 2020, MMRC said in a statement.
Currently, more than 70 per cent of the tunnelling work across the 33 km corridor has been completed. PSK RDM
RDM

Maha govt removes MMRC managing director amid Aarey tree felling controversy

<ul><li>Chief Minister <keyword id="53973" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uddhav-Thackeray">Uddhav Thackeray</keyword>, at a meeting of non-Bharatiya Janata Party CMs with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi voiced a similar stance along with his counterparts from seven states</li><li>Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took the line that students are worried about transportation and accommodation facilities in view of the pandemic, besides, there are floods in Bihar and Assam.</li><li>State Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that while exams are very important, the health and safety of the students is equally important.</li></ul>In the ongoing nationwide tug-of-war over the crucial <keyword id="9811655" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="JEE-NEET">JEE-NEET</keyword> examinations scheduled for next month, Maharashtra, along with several other states, is firm on postponing it to avoid Covid-19 risks to the students. Earlier this week, Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his personal intervention to defer the exams in view of the health risks both for students and their families. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, at a meeting of non-Bharatiya Janata Party CMs with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi voiced a similar stance along with his counterparts from seven states Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took the line that students are worried about transportation and accommodation facilities in view of the pandemic, besides, there are floods in Bihar and Assam. State Minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan said that while exams are very important, the health and safety of the students is equally important. "Since coronavirus has not yet come under control, the demand to postpone the JEE-NEET exams is definitely justified. The Central government and Supreme Court Court must rethink on the issue," said Chavan. Aditya Thackeray, who heads the youth wing Yuva Sena, along with ruling Nationalist Congress Party leaders, have gone a step ahead and demanded that the entire academic year be postponed this year. They also rooted for starting the next academic session from January 2021, instead of the regular June/July 2020 as an added precaution during the pandemic. For non-professional courses, most academic assessment has been carried out and the final exams would not amount to more than 10 per cent of the assessment and hence Aditya Thackeray urged passing students based on a marking system devised by the universities. The Congress has planned nationwide protests in support of its demands, while several student organisations from the state have also sought postponement of the JEE-NEET exams, to be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). Preparing in full swing, the NTA has already asked states to provide facilities to students to enable them reach exam centres in time, besides other requirements for the smooth conduct of the examinations. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-fires-two-missiles-into-the-south-china-sea-and-asian-markets-feel-the-blow/articleshow/77777358.cms">China fires two missiles into the South China Sea and Asian markets feel the blow</a>

JEE-NEET 2020: Maharashtra government wants Centre to defer the exams

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. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took oath Thursday evening at the historic Shivaji Park supported by the Congress and the NCP. Besides late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and former prime minister Indira Gandhi, NCP President Sharad Pawar also figured in the posters. Those aware of its past, the Shiv Sena, known for its firebrand Hindutva politics, seeking support of the Congress and the NCP does not come as a surprise. From backing Congress candidates in presidential polls to not fielding any contender against Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule to even tying up with ideologically opposite Muslim League, the Shiv Sena has had a history of flirting with 'frenemies'. In the assembly polls held last month, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena bagged 56, followed by the NCP (54) and the Congress (48) in the 288-member House. The Shiv Sena, founded by Bal Thackeray in 1966, in its more than five decades long journey has allied with the Congress, formally and informally. In its initial days, it was often supported directly or indirectly by many Congress leaders and its different factions. Noted political analyst Suhas Palshikar in an article in the Economic and Political Weekly writes that senior state Congress leader Ramrao Adik was present at the first ever Shiv Sena rally. Dhaval Kulkarni, the author of "The Cousins Thackeray-Uddhav and Raj and in the shadow of their Sena", said that in the 1960s and 70s, the party was mostly used by the Congress to counter influence of the Left on the labour unions in the city. The party in 1971 allied with Congress (O) and unsuccessfully fielded three candidates for Lok Sabha in Mumbai and the Konkan region. Thackeray backed the Emergency in 1977 and did not field any candidate for the Lok Sabha polls held in that year. "In 1977, it also backed Congress' Murli Deora in the mayoral polls," said Kulkarni. So much so that the party was also mocked as 'Vasantsena', the army of the then Vasantrao Naik who was the state chief minister from 1963 to 1974. Palshikar writes that in 1978, when attempts to ally with the Janata Party failed, the Shiv Sena allied with the Congress (I), the faction led by Indira Gandhi. It fielded 33 candidates for the assembly polls. All 33 lost in the anti-Indira wave. In one of the most unlikely alliances, the Sena also allied with the Muslim League. Veteran journalist Prakash Akolkar, in his book on Shiv Sena titled 'Jai Maharashtra', writes that for winning the Mumbai mayoral polls in the 1970s, Shiv Sena also allied with the Muslim League. For this, the Sena supremo also shared stage with Muslim League leader G M Banatwala at Mastan Talao in Nagpada in South Mumbai, Sena's first chief minister Manohar Joshi writes in his book 'Shiv Sena-Kal-Aaj-Udya' (Shiv Sena-Past-Present and Future). If it was used by the Congress to end the Left dominance on trade unions in Mumbai, the Sena allied with Madhu Dandavate's Praja Socialist Party in 1968. The bonhomie between the Congress and the Sena ended in the 80s after the death of Indira Gandhi and the ties between the two were not the same. The relations only deteriorated during the terms of Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and later Rahul Gandhi. Incidentally, Uddhav's son and Sena's Youth Wing chief Aditya Thackeray met Sonia on Wednesday to extend invitation to oath-taking ceremony. The mid-80's was also the time when the Sena tilted towards Hindutva and gravitated towards the BJP. The late 80s and 90s changed the character of the party which moved towards hardline Hindutuva. In the later years, the Shiv Sena, however, broke ranks from the BJP-led NDA and voted for Congress backed Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee in presidential polls. The equation between the Thackerays and the Pawars goes back to more than five decades both were fierce rivals separated by conflicting ideologies but thick friends in private life. Pawar often termed Thackeray as a large-hearted opponent. In his attacks, he would often call him 'maidyaacha pota' (sack of flour). Sharad Pawar in his autobiography 'On My Terms' writes that despite being fierce rivals, how he and his wife Pratibha would visit Matoshree for "gupshup" and dinner. He also recalls that when he was suffering from cancer in 2004, Bal Thackeray gave him a list of "several commandments" related to diet. In private, Pawar says, Thackeray addressed him as 'Sharadbabu'. In 2006, when Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule contested the Rajya Sabha polls, Thackeray did not field any candidate. "Sharadbabu, I have seen her (Sule) since she was a knee-high girl. This is a big step in her career. My party will make sure that she goes to Rajya Sabha unopposed," Pawar said quoting Thackeray's telephonic conversation with him. When Pawar asked about the BJP's opposition, the NCP President says the senior Thackeray told him, "Oh, you don't worry about Kamlabai (the BJP)". Incidentally, the NCP fielded a lightweight against Thackeray's grandson Aditya, who was the first in his family to enter electoral politics. He won by a margin of over 67,000 votes in the recent Assembly election.

Shiv Sena and Congress share power for the first time -- but they have a history of being allies despite ideological differences

From political rallies to television debates to drawing room conversations, the Maharashtra state Assembly elections seems to be dead rubber. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who died in 1966, an election issue in 2019 and a lot of the media as well as the opposition seem to have fallen for the trap. However, there are enough issues which the opposition could have capitalised on the voter dissatisfaction. But as the campaign comes to a close, the dispirited opposition failed to offer even an alternate narrative, and has showed much less gusto in providing leadership against the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in the state. As the leaders dwell on the glories of the past, the state’s population, which is reeling between drought and deluge, is worried about their future. These are some of the issues in which the people of Maharashtra have suffered under the current establishment. Auto sector slowdown hits Chakan in Pune Maharashtra has been one of the worst victims of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/slowdown-plunges-august-auto-sales-to-lowest-since-1997-98/articleshow/71055961.cms">economic slowdown</a>. In Pune, hundreds of thousands have lost jobs in the auto sales drop resulted in slashing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-auto-manufacturers-have-laid-off-350000-jobs-in-four-months/articleshow/70563890.cms">millions of jobs </a>of both temporary and permanent workers. Auto sector employees who are amongst the most well compensated of blue collar workers, are now roaming around in the auto hub of Chakan in Pune—doing<a href="https://theprint.in/economy/in-pune-auto-hub-an-engineer-is-selling-paan-another-is-roaming-around-with-his-cv/290816/"> menial jobs</a>. Former Congress party president Rahul Gandhi was one of the few to point out to the issue. He commented that Modi is showing youth the moon taking a dig at Chandrayaan 2 mission, even as the auto sector “remained shattered”. BJP, in its manifesto, however promised one crore jobs to people, but lacks details on how they plan to reverse the situation, which only seems to be worsening. Burdened with loans and low support prices-farmers resort to suicides Farmers are in no better position either. In the last five years, around 16,000 farmers have committed suicides said <a href="https://www.timesnownews.com/india/maharashtra-news/elections/article/people-suffered-worst-16000-farmers-committed-suicide-over-the-past-five-years-under-sena-bjp-sharad-pawar/504721">Sharad Pawar</a>, the leader Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at his election rally in Anushakti Nagar. The septuagenarian criticized the government for not waiving loans of farmers who are hit by drought, even as thousands of crores to corporates are being written off as non-performing assets. The state government did waive off loans but it covered only 30% of the affected. These last five years have been tough for farmers in the state as they claim to be hurt by its policies which did not increase the minimum support prices. Around 15,000 farmers marched from Nasik to Mumbai not once but twice in the last five years—asking the government for aid. In fact, in a shocking protest in 2017, the state’s farmers emptied milk onto the streets leaving the government red faced. The state has a new crime capital in Nagpur The state also has another problem that is ballooning—increasing crime in Nagpur. The constituency of the ruling chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has turned notorious for organized and unorganized crime. On an average, over 700 cases are registered in the city which shares a border with Madhya Pradesh. Apart from increased organized crime and racketeering, the city has also<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/cops-got-cracking-to-remove-nagpurs-crime-capital-tag/articleshow/71283462.cms"> turned infamous</a> for prostitution, murder and attempted murder cases, amongst others. Fadnavis has been trying to turn around the extensive crime using stringent laws against anti-social elements. This started in 2015, but there has only been a slight change in the number of crimes. Mumbai’s creaky infrastructure Mumbai and its suburbs too have been many burning problems for which India the opposition provided only lip service to. The repeated lack of preparation leading to loss of lives during flood, which is a predictable annual occurrence in the city, has been a major source of discontent. The city’s commute has worsened in the last few years as metro and other construction have weighed only the already-snaking traffic. Even if one were to look at it as a temporary pain towards a better, it does not help that even the roads are filled with potholes. The Aarey Colony mess As the state approved the chopping of over 2,000 trees for the construction of a metro car shed at Aarey colony, a large citizen protest ensued but never turned into the poll issue it could have been. The protesting citizens were defeated in a court case and it sure left a bad aftertaste for those who detested the chopping of trees amidst a rising awareness around the terrible impact on the environment it would have. The protests were also diluted by a large number of people who came in support of the metro car shed as it would make commuting easier for millions of Mumbaikars. The opposition parties were conspicuous in their absence on ground over the issue and thus, it never took a political dimension. The dynasty debut The issues which find a pulse with young voters could have been handled by a young politician <a href="https://scroll.in/article/940621/behind-the-aditya-thackeray-campaign-in-mumbai-is-the-quiet-work-done-by-another-shiv-sainik">like Aditya Thackeray </a>from the state’s most-popular political family. But, seven years after the demise of the charismatic Bala Saheb Thackeray, his successors, including Aditya’s father Uddhav, have lacked Bala Saheb’s gravitas. Instead, Aditya got ridiculed for sporting a lungi, a South Indian attire, as his detractors cited his grandfather’s attacks on South Indian migrants a few decades. He was also caught on the wrong foot endorsing the <a href="https://rajkaran.com/aadtiya-thackeray-gets-trolled-for-his-mumbai-best-aahe-tweet/">BEST bus service</a>, and his refusal to address issues like a toddler <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/video-shows-rescue-operation-of-mumbai-boy-who-fell-in-drain-2-days-ago-2068380">slipping down the </a>drain--did not go down well with the electorate. An acid test for the BJP government The politicians of the ruling party which is the BJP and Shiv Sena combine, seem to be taking it slow on campaigning this year. In fact, the CM Fadnavis also said that there is no<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/pehelwans-panzies-and-nikammas-maharashtra-elections-rallies-keep-the-drama-high/articleshow/71610174.cms"> pehelwan or a great opponent</a> this time. A lot more believe that this state election is a foregone conclusion mostly because the Parliamentary elections in April and May this year have shown that there is a strong BJP wave. Yet, a lot has changed since Modi came to power the second time. For one, the economic slowdown has become a grim reality and painful reality—which the central government has been slow to react to. Maharashtra’s election outcomes often mirror the general elections that have preceded them in recent years but surprises are born out of complacency. But for that, there has to be a credible intent, palpable energy, and effective communication from the opposition.

Maharashtra state elections 2019: These are the issues the opposition could have capitalised on but didn’t

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: With <keyword id="6374198" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP-President">BJP president</keyword> <keyword id="6355521" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amit-Shah">Amit Shah</keyword> issuing categorical instructions to the party’s Maharashtra leaders not to accept anything less than 130 assembly seats from <keyword id="6358821" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shiv-Sena">Shiv Sena</keyword>, the 25-year-old saffron alliance is likely to disintegrate, say observers. 
 Both Sena and <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> are said to be preparing to go their separate ways. The two parties have asked their cadre to prepare to go solo in the October 15 polls. The state BJP has convened a meeting of senior party functionaries in Mumbai on Tuesday to review the political situation in the wake of the aborted seat-sharing talks. 
 
As it became clear that the alliance was set to walk into the sunset, the two parties began the blame game. BJP state unit chief Devendra Fadnavis accused the Sena of bringing seat-sharing talks to a halt. “You can’t hold negotiations with a person who has closed the doors of his mind,” he told a Marathi news channel. 
 
A key Sena functionary said the alliance is dying an untimely death because of BJP’s Big Brother attitude. “BJP should accept the fact that Sena is a senior ally in the state... We accepted BJP’s ‘Mission 272’ during the LS polls. Why should our ‘Mission 150’ ruffle it?” he asked. 
 
 
 
 The Sena did make a feeble attempt earlier in the day to revive the alliance. A close confidant of Sena president <keyword id="53973" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Uddhav-Thackeray">Uddhav Thackeray</keyword> rang up BJP’s poll observer for the state, Om Prakash Mathur, suggesting resumption of seat-distribution talks, sources said. 
 
 
 Sena BJP leaders at their first poll rally in 1984. (Left to right) AB Vajpayee, <keyword id="6371377" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bal-Thackeray">Bal Thackeray</keyword>, Ram Naik, <keyword id="38062" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ram-Jethmalani">Ram Jethmalani</keyword>, Manohar Joshi and Pramod Mahajan. (Picture courtesy — Bal Thackeray: A photobiography by <keyword id="6355257" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Raj-Thackeray">Raj Thackeray</keyword>) 
But Mathur insisted on the party’s formula that the BJP should get 130 seats and the Sena could contest 140. The Sena president’s emissary did not get back to Mathur. 
 
Speculation was rife that the Maharashtra BJP may go for new allies, including the MNS and the NCP. However, BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy scotched talk of any kind of partnership with the NCP. 
 
“Actually, we would want the saffron partnership to survive the present crisis and we are eager to contest the assembly polls as allies. This is the collective wish of the people of Maharashtra. However, should the alliance end, the BJP will contest the election [all 288 seats] on its own. There is no question of cosying up to new friends,” Rudy said. 
 
Thackeray’s Sunday formula, which earmarked 151 seats for the Sena and 119 for BJP, with the remaining 18 seats going to four smaller allies, has been rejected by BJP. “The party is over. But we have no regrets,” said a senior BJP functionary. 
 
Sena and BJP offered completely contradictory versions on reports that Shah had spoken with Thackeray over the phone earlier in the day and urged for reconciliation. While Sena rubbished these reports, Rudy said, “Shah has spoken to the Sena chief, and that itself indicates that we are very, very eager to have the alliance. We won’t pull the plug. We are hopeful a solution will be found.” 
 
 
 
 
Sources said neither party wanted to create the impression that it was the one pulling the plug. 
 
Sources in New Delhi said Shah had reiterated to Sena president BJP’s demand for 130 seats, saying the party was prepared to accept the seats which Sena had never won in the last 25 years. Sena is then learned to have improved its offer to 126 seats instead of 119, sources said. 
 
The state BJP, however, said there was no new offer from Sena for more seats. “There is practically no room for fresh talks with Sena as Thackeray has said in no uncertain terms that he would not offer a single seat more to us,” a BJP functionary pointed out. 
 Reports also said Uddhav had spoken to two top BJP leaders—foreign minister <keyword id="6355111" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sushma-Swaraj">Sushma Swaraj</keyword> and home minister Rajnath Singh—on Sunday to try and find a way out of the impasse. 
 
The saffron alliance’s fate was sealed at the BJP’s Parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, sources said. The state BJP leaders briefed the party president on the Sena’s “haughty” stance on seat-sharing and re-allocation of 59 Sena seats which it has been losing in five consecutive polls. 
 
Shah is believed to have told the Maharashtra leaders to take the final decision on whether or not to continue the alliance. He, however, made it clear that the party should not accept anything less than 130 seats. 
 
Shah is upset with the Sena for several reasons, it is said. First, for ignoring his “come two steps forward” appeal last week. Second, for rejecting the BJP’s 140:130:18 formula. Third, Thackeray announcing the 151:119:18 formula at a Sena conclave on Sunday in full media glare. “Seat-sharing proposals are not announced on TV channels,” remarked state BJP leader Eknath Khadse. 
 
 
 Fourth, for referring to <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> Narendra Modi’s ‘chaiwalla’ antecedents at the Sena’s Sunday conclave. Fifthly, for snubbing Om Prakash Mathur, the BJP’s poll observer in Maharashtra, by sending Aditya Thackeray as the Sena’s emissary to a crucial meeting with Mathur last week. 
 
BJP is keen on retaining the Rashtriya Samaj Party, RPI and Shiv Sangram Sanghatana as allies in the post-Sena era as part of a rainbow coalition of caste-based parties. 
 
Sena tried to put up a brave face in the middle of this crisis in the alliance. “Sena has survived many crises in the past. We will emerge stronger from the present one as well,” said Sena leader Vinod Ghosalkar, an MLA. 
 
Pooh-poohing talks of the MNS joining hands with the BJP, MNS leader Nitin Sardesai, also an MLA, said, “As of now, we would like to concentrate on the polls entirely on our own.”

As Alliance Crumbles, BJP & Sena Begin Blame Game

A week into the unprecedented <keyword id="3365925" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-crisis" source="Orion">political crisis</keyword> that threatens the survival of Maha Vikas Aghadi government, <keyword id="13126" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra" source="Orion">Maharashtra</keyword> Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday stripped all the <keyword id="14299562" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nine-rebel-ministers" source="Orion">nine rebel ministers</keyword> of their portfolios and allocated them to other existing ministers. The decision was taken in public interest to ensure a smooth functioning of all departments and not hinder the decision-making process in view of the absence of the five cabinet ministers and four ministers of state, according to Thackeray. The work of the departments belonging to the concerned <keyword id="2490053" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rebel-ministers" source="Orion">rebel Ministers</keyword> and Ministers of State has been handed over to the existing Ministers and Ministers of State, till further orders, said the CMO. The rebel group's leader and Minister Eknath Shinde's Urban Development, Public Works (Public Enterprises) have been allocated to Minister Subhash Desai, Minister Gulabrao Raghunath Patil's Water Supply and Sanitation Department goes to Anil Dattatraya Parab, Minister Dadaji Dagdu Bhuse's Agriculture and Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department and Minister Sandipan Asaram Bhumare's Employment Guarantee Scheme &amp; Horticulture have been given to Minister Shankar Yashwantrao Gadakh, Minister Uday Samant's Higher &amp; Technical Education Department goes to Minister Aditya Thackeray. Similar changes have been affected for the Ministers of State -- who are currently not attending to duties since a week -- and their departments have been passed onto existing MoSs till further orders. An official said that the Chief Minister may direct any other Minister to carry out all or any of the duties in the absence of any minister when it is not possible to carry out his duties due to illness or any other reason as per the Government of Maharashtra rules. The development came soon after a PIL was filed before the Bombay High Court seeking 'return to duty' of all the rebel Ministers -- currently camping in Guwahati -- and directions to the Chief Minister and others to "submit detailed plan of assurance" mentioning the process of governance in the absence of so many Ministers. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/the-winds-of-change-are-changing-the-fortunes-of-indian-farmers/articleshow/92487685.cms">The winds of change are changing the fortunes of Indian farmers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/agnipath-scheme-rocks-bihar-assembly-opposition-calls-it-pms-dictatorial-step/articleshow/92488610.cms">Agnipath scheme rocks Bihar assembly; opposition calls it PM's dictatorial step</a>

Maha crisis: CM strips the portfolios of nine rebel ministers

The recent <keyword id="406897" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmer-protests">farmer protests</keyword> in <keyword id="13126" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra">Maharashtra</keyword>, in which around 40,000 farmers and tribals staged a peaceful 180 km march from Nashik to <keyword id="6358070" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>, has been lauded for its execution by politicians and media outlets alike, with The Hindu even calling it a <a href="http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-model-protest/article23229917.ece">“model protest”</a> and the chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, saying that he was “deeply humbled” before agreeing to their demands. What really made the farmers protests stand out and ultimately successful, was its amazing public relations machine. The farmers earned the sympathy of not only the citizens of Mumbai but the rest of India, as they marched at night to avoid disruptions to urban commuters and students sitting for their board exams. There were no overt theatrics or violence, unlike the farmer protests around Maharashtra between June last year which resulted in the announcement of the 34,000 crore <keyword id="56684" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="loan-waiver">loan waiver</keyword> scheme. The organisation sponsoring the march, All-India Kisan Sabha, an ally of the Communist Party of India, left no stone unturned when it came to social media. From the very first day of the march, they posted announcements and regular updates regarding the march’s progress on Twitter, using the hashtag #KisanLongMarch. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The march benefited from widespread media coverage. On March 12th, the Indian Express ran a <a href="http://epaper.indianexpress.com/1575825/Delhi/March-12,-2018#page/1/2">front page report</a> on the march and included interviews with 10 participating farmers on the problems they were facing. Scroll conducted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in/videos/1718003171615889/?hc_ref=ARS9e9XHfRx2R7ilvXgedCUq-Zqf43UQC40hbD4YM2G547c0iDuf5AHHY0kBTg8_68E&amp;pnref=story.unseen-section">Facebook Live conversations</a> with farmers and Mid-Day ran a front-page headline that read, “Mumbaikars Welcome Farmers With Open Arms”. In a <a href="https://thewire.in/rights/i-walked-40km-with-the-farmers-in-maharashtra-heres-what-i-learnt">piece for the Wire,</a> Ayush Dubey, a young journalist, wrote of his experience as a participant in the march, stating “this is a real protest by a sad farmer community. They are working hard for their demands”. All news outlets explicitly mentioned that the farmers were looking for more than just debt forgiveness. It was clear that they were also calling for the implementation of property rights and minimum support prices for their produce as well as the cancellation of river-sharing agreements. Attention was also drawn to the severity of their conditions, epitomised by their bleeding, blistered feet- a sign of dignified, non-violent desperation. The public didn’t need any more convincing. Images of the march at night went viral on social media on March 11th. This achieved the holy grail from a public relations standpoint- it made a protest against the government look beautiful. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 There were also posts that highlighted the ingenuity of the farmers, making them stand out as individuals as opposed to faceless members of a crowd. The case of Lakshman Bhasre proved to be an important human interest story. Bhasre, a farmer from Nashik, had a solar panel on his head for charging phones. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The march also received the support of prominent members of the Opposition such as Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress and Aditya Thackeray, the leader of the youth wing of the Shiv Sena. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 The success of the march, especially in terms of public relations, points to why the protests by Tamil Nadu farmers in Delhi last year didn’t amount to much. Starting in March last year, around 150 farmers from Tamil Nadu staged a protest for 144 days outside the Jantar Mantar to ask for a loan waiver, which would be financed by the Centre’s drought relief fund. Their protests also received media coverage and sympathy from statesmen like Rahul Gandhi and the chief minister of Tamil Nadu but failed to elicit the same level of public support as the long march in Maharashtra. There are likely many reasons for this. First, the numbers might have been too low to justify a full-blown media frenzy. 150 farmers feels too small compared to a procession of 40,000 farmers. Secondly, given the fast pace of the 24-hours news cycle, the 144-day protest likely lost relevance to news readers and viewers well before its conclusion. The protest also lacked a groundswell of support from beginning as the farmers from Tamil Nadu weren’t on their home turf. Being stationed in the capital, which was necessary given that it was a federal rather than a state issue, might have actually worked against their favour. Lastly, unlike their counterparts in Maharashtra, their protest tactics, which included the brandishing of skulls, the consumption of faeces and stripping, might have proved too “unpalatable” to the public. With their well-oiled public relations machine and sponsorship by a national farmers union, the Maharashtra farmers were able to wrest public support and effectively demonstrate the importance of their cause.

The amazing public relations of the farmer protests in Maharashtra

Ahead of his possible resignation, Chief Minister <keyword id="53973" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uddhav-thackeray" source="Orion">Uddhav Thackeray</keyword> started making 'final calls' after his emotional challenge to the rebels previous evening that he was ready to quit the post (CM) as well as <keyword id="110829" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shiv-sena-chief" source="Orion">Shiv Sena chief</keyword>, here on Thursday. Simultaneously, alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party (<keyword id="42402" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ncp" source="Orion">NCP</keyword>) state President and Minister Jayant Patil ruled out the possibility of the CM's demitting office and expressed optimism that the political crisis would be defused. On Wednesday evening, Thackeray addressed the state via social media and expressed his readiness to step down from both crucial posts provided the rebels led by Minister Eknath Shinde come to meet him and say they don't want him to continue. However, Shinde promptly spurned the CM's offer, reiterating his pre-condition that the Shiv Sena must first walk out of its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance government with the NCP and Congress. Hours after that, late on Wednesday, Thackeray and family packed up their bags and left the CM's official residence 'Varsha' at Malabar Hill and returned to the family home, 'Matoshri' in Bandra. Prior to that, he also held meetings with NCP President Sharad Pawar and NCP state chief Patil, Congress leaders including state President Nana Patole and central leader Kamal Nath, besides other senior Sena leadership. Thackeray is scheduled to address an online meeting of all top Mantralaya bureaucrats this day ostensibly to express his gratitude for their cooperation and contributions during the 30-month tenure of the MVA regime. The political suspense continued with Sena MP Sanjay Raut claiming in Mumbai that "around 20 MLAs" from the rebel group were in contact with the party leaders, besides the 15-odd currently in Mumbai. "About 20 MLAs are in touch with us... When they come to Mumbai, you will get to know. We will reveal soon under what circumstances and pressures these (rebel) MLAs left us," declared Raut. NCP's Patil expressed hope that the rebels would return to the Sena fold and ensure the continuation of the MVA government for which Thackeray is making all efforts and the other allies are fully helping out. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-airtel-vodafone-idea-to-buy-spectrum-worth-71000-crore-in-the-coming-5g-auction-reveals-report/articleshow/92405807.cms">Reliance Jio, Airtel, Vodafone Idea to buy spectrum worth ₹71,000 crore in the coming 5G auction, reveals report</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/samsung-introduces-a-200mp-camera-sensor-with-0-56-micrometer-pixels/articleshow/92405653.cms">Samsung introduces a 200MP camera sensor with 0.56-micrometer pixels</a>

Uddhav Thackeray starts making farewell calls ahead of possible resignation

After giving Delhi its first <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Welcome-to-Lodhi-Colony-Indias-first-open-air-public-art-district/articleshow/51142000.cms">public art district in Lodhi Colony</a>, St+art India is set to make Mumbai all the more beautiful with one of its installations finding a permanent place in the city. 
 
The ‘Love Mumbai’ typography installation was showcased in this year’s Kala Ghoda Festival in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=mumbai">Mumbai</a> and has been designed by Hitesh Malaviya and Hanif Kureshi. 
 St+Art India had written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation requesting that the installation be given a permanent home in the city and was joined by <keyword id="2941350" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Humans-of-Bombay">Humans of Bombay</keyword> which started a petition to make it a part of the city landscape. 
 
And, finally their answers were heard on Wednesday when <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=aditya+thackeray">Aditya Thackeray</a>, head of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=shiv+sena">Shiv Sena’s</a> youth wing announced on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=facebook">Facebook</a> that the installation will be permanently displayed at the Bandra Reclamation Promenade. 
 
He also wrote that he was in love with the installation. 
 
Well, we seem to agree, because we were awestruck on first look too! 
 
Rest assured, this installation will be every Mumbaikar’s new favourite thing to Instagram and take a selfie with!

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The amazing public relations of the farmer protests in Maharashtra

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