First woman chief of Maharashtra poll panel dies of COVID-19
Mumbai: Former Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Neela Satyanarayan died of COVID-19 at a hospital here on Thursday morning, hospital authorities said.
She was 72. The 1972-batch IAS officer was the state's first woman election commissioner.
She died at Seven Hills Hospital in suburban Andheri around 4 am, the medical facility's dean Dr Balkrishna Adsul said. Her husband and son are also undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at the hospital, he said.
The Seven Hills Hospital is a dedicated facility for coronavirus treatment. Satyanarayan retired as additional chief secretary of the state's revenue department in 2009.
After retirement, she served as the State Election Commissioner between 2009 and 2014. She authored several books and was also a singer.
While serving as a bureaucrat, she had raised her voice against women IAS officers not being given important postings in the state secretariat.
Later, she was posted in the state revenue and Home departments. During her posting in the Home department, she handled administration of prisons where she encouraged artistic skills of women inmates.
Political leaders, including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar, paid glowing tributes to Satyanarayan.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said apart from her duties as a bureaucrat, she also carved a niche for herself in the field of literature.
Maharashtra will remember her forever as someone who left a stamp on her administrative career, the field of literature and art and for being a sensible personality, Thackeray said in his message.
He noted that Satyanarayan was born in a Marathi family in Mumbai and was an inspiration for the youth looking to join the administrative services.
Thackeray also praised her stint as the election commissioner, saying she made the panel more people-oriented.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said he was shocked to know about Satyanarayans death. Her contribution in the states administrative service and field of literature will be remembered forever. Tributes to her, Pawar tweeted. NCP chief Sharad Pawar also expressed grief over Satyanarayan's demise.
We have lost a humane and empathetic ex-officer. May her soul rest in peace. Condolences to her family members, the veteran leader tweeted.
Maharashtra minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat also took to the micro-blogging site to pay respects to her. She was a diligent official and a sensible writer. Tributes to her! he tweeted.
State NCP president Jayant Patil lauded Satyanarayan for serving the country as an administrative service official and guiding the society through her literature.
Maharashtra BJP head Chandrakant Patil also paid homage to Satyanarayan, and in a tweet said, Prayers to the god that her soul rests in peace."
Maharashtra ministers Ashok Chavan, Nawab Malik, Dhananjay Munde and Anil Parab, and NCP MP Supriya Sule also expressed grief over the former state election commissioners death.
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Beauty of democracy: Tharoor congratulates BJP on civic body poll win in his constituency
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, while lauding the win of the UDF in Kerala local bodies elections, also congratulated the BJP for its historic performance in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, calling it the "beauty of democracy".
In a post on X, he said the people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in his constituency.
"What a day of amazing results in the Kerala local self-government elections! The mandate is clear, and the democratic spirit of the state shines through.
"A huge congratulations to @UDFKerala for a truly impressive win across various local bodies! This is a massive endorsement and a powerful signal ahead of the state legislative elections. Hard work, a strong message and anti-incumbency have all clearly paid off to achieve a much better result than in 2020," Tharoor said.
He said he also acknowledges the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and "offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city corporation - a strong showing that marks a notable shift in the capital's political landscape."
Tharoor said he campaigned for a change from 45 years of the LDF "misrule", but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance.
"That is the beauty of democracy. The people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency.
"We will continue to work for the betterment of Kerala, advocating for the people's needs and upholding the principles of good governance. Onwards and upwards!" Tharoor, who is the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said.
The lotus bloomed in the state capital as the BJP-led NDA achieved a resounding win in the polls for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, snatching it from the CPI(M)-led LDF and marking an end to 45 years of continuous Left rule in the local body.
The win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will act as a boost for the BJP in the 2026 Assembly polls, especially in the state capital.
Of the 101 wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP won 50, LDF 29, UDF 19 and two wards were won by independent candidates.
The BJP is one seat short of a decisive majority in the corporation.
Besides this, the NDA retained the Palakkad municipality after a close battle with the Congress-led UDF and wrested the Thrippunithura Municipality from the grand old party.
In Thrissur, from where Suresh Gopi won in the Lok Sabha polls last year, the BJP won 18 out of the 46 wards in Kodungallur Municipality, eight in Thrissur Corporation, two each in Guruvayoor and Vadakkancherry municipalities, seven in Kunnamkulam Municipality, six in Irinjalakuda Municipality and one in Chalakudy Municipality.
