'Devabhau' ads featuring CM Fadnavis sparks row in Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance
Mumbai: A fresh political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra after full-page advertisements and hoardings across Mumbai projected Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as “Devabhau,” while sidelining Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. The publicity campaign has raised questions about unity within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
The row comes soon after the Maratha reservation protests in Mumbai, where Fadnavis appeared politically isolated as both Shinde and Pawar distanced themselves. Now, the sudden visibility of advertisements focusing solely on the Chief Minister has intensified speculation of a power struggle and credit wars within the coalition.
The advertisements, published on Saturday, depicted Fadnavis offering flowers to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and performing Ganesh puja on Anant Chaturdashi, with the tagline “Devabhau.” No mention was made of his coalition partners. While the sponsor remains unidentified, the scale and cost have fueled political debate.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that ₹40–50 crore was spent in a single day, accusing the BJP of misusing Shivaji Maharaj’s image for political gain. He questioned the source of funding and hinted at the use of black money. “At a time when Maharashtra is reeling under farmer suicides and heavy rains, such extravagance is shameful,” Raut remarked, further challenging the RSS to prove its respect for Shivaji Maharaj by installing his portrait or statue at its Nagpur headquarters.
Adding another twist, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that the BJP did not fund the advertisements. Instead, he alleged that a minister from an allied party sponsored the campaign without informing Fadnavis. “Who is this minister and where did the crores come from? Maharashtra deserves answers,” Rohit Pawar wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde downplayed the controversy, asserting that there was no internal rivalry. “There is no competition for credit. We are working together as a team under the Mahayuti government. Fadnavisji and I are in our second innings with the same agenda of development and welfare of the poor,” Shinde told reporters in Thane.
एकीकडे राज्यात रोज ८ शेतकरी आत्महत्या होत असताना आणि अतिवृष्टीने संपूर्ण महाराष्ट्र झोडपला असताना वृत्तपत्रांच्या पहिल्या पानावर तसेच अनेक विमानतळांवर कोट्यवधी रुपये उधळून मुख्यमंत्र्यांच्या मोठमोठ्या जाहिराती देण्याची सरकारची वृत्ती बघून मोठी चीड आली, परंतु मा. देवेंद्र फडणवीस… pic.twitter.com/IpLZjm8DUv
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
