Former NCP MLA Tukaram Bidkar killed in road accident in Akola
Akola (Maharashtra): Former MLA Tukaram Bidkar (73) and another individual lost their lives in a road accident on Thursday after a pickup truck collided with their two-wheeler in the Shivni area around 3:30 pm.
Bidkar, who was riding pillion, suffered critical injuries and was taken to a private hospital, where he was declared dead. The rider, identified as Rajdatta Mankar (48), also succumbed to his injuries.
A CCTV video of the accident has surfaced online, showing the moment of impact. The pickup truck overturned due to the collision, dragging the two-wheeler along the road. Bystanders rushed to assist the victims.
Bidkar was returning home after meeting Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule at the airport in Shivni when the incident occurred. MIDC police have arrested the truck driver, Mohammad Sahil Abdul Shahid (25), and are in the process of registering an FIR.
Bidkar was a former MLA of the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), representing the Murtizapur assembly constituency from 2004 to 2009. He also served as chairman of the Vidarbha Development Corporation and was a Zilla Parishad member. Apart from politics, he was active in cultural and social work and had produced a Marathi film, Debu, based on the life of social reformer Saint Gadge Maharaj.
माजी आमदार तुकाराम बिडकर यांच्या अपघाताचा व्हिडीओ. #ॐ शांती pic.twitter.com/3h9VUF886x
— SACHIN KORDE (@loksachin) February 13, 2025
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
