The UBT MPs merger case remains before the Supreme Court after Shiv Sena (UBT) challenged the Lok Sabha Speaker’s recognition of six of its MPs joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The Speaker order remains effective, leaving the Shinde faction with 13 Lok Sabha MPs while the legal dispute continues. UBT plea Shiv Sena (UBT), through party leader Arvind Sawant, moved the Supreme Court aga

Mahayuti scores big in MLC elections The ruling Mahayuti alliance has registered a dominant victory in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, winning 16 of the 17 seats for which results were declared on Monday. The outcome has strengthened the position of the alliance led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the state’s political landscape. Polling for the 17 Legislati

Uddhav Thackeray Rejects Congress Merger Claim As Sena UBT Faces Fresh Rift Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has firmly rejected speculation that his party may merge with the Congress, as internal tension grows after six Lok Sabha MPs skipped a crucial party meeting. Speaking in Mumbai during the 60th foundation day event of the undivided Shiv Sena, Th

Defection allegations spark political turbulence A fresh political storm has erupted within the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp led by Uddhav Thackeray, as allegations of possible defections among its Members of Parliament have triggered a high-stakes internal crisis. Senior leader

Controversy Over Exclusion of Deputy CM The inauguration of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Navi Mumbai International Airport has ignited political tensions within the MahaYuti alliance. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the guardian minister of Thane district, was conspicuously absent from the event. Leaders of Shinde Sena, including Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat, condemned the exclusi

In a historic move for Maharashtra politics, Sunetra Pawar, the wife of the late Ajit Pawar, was unanimously elected as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The decision came at the party's national executive meeting, held on Thursday, where senior NCP leader Praful Patel delivered an emotional speech and formally proposed her name. The proposal was met with overwhelming support from all leaders and delegates present at the convention, officially marking Sunetra Paw

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honours in Baramati on Thursday, as thousands of supporters, political leaders and family members gathered to bid him an emotional farewell. The town witnessed scenes of deep grief as Pawar’s mortal remains, draped in the national flag, were brought from his native village Katewadi to Baramati for the final rites. The atmosphere remained solemn as people from nearby villages and NCP workers lined the streets to pay their respects to the veteran leader fondly known as Dada. Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar, performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre amid chants of emotional slogans from supporters who struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss. Senior leaders from across party lines attended the funeral, underlining Pawar’s influence in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid his last respects, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde were also present. Police personnel and state officials accorded ceremonial honours as part of the official proceedings. Ajit Pawar, aged 66, died on Wednesday morning in a tragic plane crash involving a chartered Learjet near the Baramati airstrip, around 100 kilometres from Pune. The aircraft reportedly crashed shortly after approach, killing all those on board. The sudden nature of the accident sent shockwaves across the state and triggered an outpouring of grief from supporters and political colleagues alike. Large crowds gathered at the Vidya Pratishthan sports ground in Baramati, chanting slogans expressing their disbelief and sorrow over the untimely demise of a leader who played a crucial role in Maharashtra politics for decades. Several prominent figures, including Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, actor Riteish Deshmukh and other dignitaries, visited Pawar’s residence in Katewadi to offer condolences to the family. Ajit Pawar is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, and their sons. The loss has left a significant void within the NCP, with party workers and leaders expressing concern over the future direction of the party in the absence of its chief. The fatal crash also claimed the lives of experienced pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, Ajit Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali. Authorities have registered an accidental death report in connection with the incident, and further investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. As Maharashtra mourns the passing of Ajit Pawar, tributes continue to pour in, highlighting his political legacy, administrative experience and deep connection with the people of Baramati and beyond.

The Pawar family occupies a unique and dominant position in Maharashtra’s political history. For over five decades, the family has shaped regional politics through electoral victories, control over cooperative institutions, and sustained influence in policy-making. Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and a multiple-term Deputy Chief Minister, was a central pillar of this legacy. His untimely death in a tragic plane crash on January 28, 2026, has brought renewed pub

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar died on Wednesday after a chartered aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Baramati airport. He was 66. The tragic accident also claimed the lives of two pilots and two security personnel who were on board the aircraft. Authorities described the crash as extremely severe, with most parts of the plane engulfed in flames after impact. The incident has sent shockwaves across Maharash

In a dramatic twist, a Shiv Sena minister tried to join the opposition Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protest in Thane amidst a brewing language debate in the state. The protest, organized by MNS leader Raj Thackeray, was met with chaos as MNS workers were detained by the police. The protest centered around the controversial 'slapgate' incident, in which MNS workers assaulted a food stall owner for speaking Hindi instead of Marathi.

At a high-voltage rally in Mumbai on Saturday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray shared a public stage for the first time in nearly two decades. The powerful political reunion was triggered by the widespread backlash over the Maharashtra government's controversial decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools. Addressing a p

The Maharashtra government, under Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has withdrawn Y-security cover for 20 MLAs from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, signaling growing tensions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. While security reductions have also affected some BJP and NCP legislators, the majority impacted belong to the Shinde Sena faction. This move is being viewed as an assertion of authority by Fadnavis and a step to curb the misuse of state resources, but it has also intensified the

Amid growing speculation of a power struggle in Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have set up separate offices in Mantralaya, highlighting internal tensions. Fadnavis has established an assistance and medical desk, while Shinde has placed his own medical assistance desk right next to it. Additionally, Fadnavis’s war room is overseeing key projects, while Shinde has set up a coordination committee room t

Four days after a resounding victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to announce its choice for Chief Minister. Senior BJP leader and former CM, Devendra Fadnavis, remains the preferred candidate for the top post within the BJP, but its ally, Shiv Sena, is pushing for Eknath Shinde, who led the rebellion that toppled the previous Uddhav Thackeray government in 2022. The delay in announcing the Chief Minister has drawn criticism from the opposition,

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar playfully suggested to his nephew, Rohit Pawar, that had he campaigned in the Karjat Jamkhed constituency, where Rohit won by a narrow margin of 1,243 votes, it might have been difficult for him to retain the seat. Rohit, the grandnephew of NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, won against BJP's Ram Shinde in the just-concluded assembly polls. Ajit Pawar made the comment during a visit to the memorial of Y B Chavan, Maharashtra's first Ch

Zeeshan Siddique, the son of the late former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, has publicly called for justice following his father's tragic assassination on October 13. In a heartfelt post on social media platform X, Zeeshan emphasized the importance of not politicizing his father's death, stating, "My father lost his life protecting and saving the lives and homes of poor innocent people." Baba Siddique, aged 66, was shot outside his Bandra East office by three