Maharashtra Assembly will have two pair of brothers as MLAs in next term
Mumbai: It is all in the family for a couple of newly-elected MLAs in Maharashtra as two pairs of brothers have made it to the legislative Assembly this time around.
Late Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh's sons, Dhiraj and Amit, have emerged victorious from Latur Rural and Latur City assembly constituencies, respectively.
Whereas in Solapur district, NCP's Baban Shinde and his brother Sanjay have won from Madha and Karmala Assembly seats, respectively.
While Baban retained his Madha seat, defeating Shiv Sena's Sanjay Kokate by a margin of 68,245 votes, his younger brother Sanjay contested as an NCP-backed Independent in Karmala, defeating Sena rebel Narayan Patil by a margin of 5,494 votes.
Vilasrao Deshmukh's sons will carry forward his legacy from their home turf, Latur. Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was chief minister between 1999-2003 and 2004-2008, nurtured his home district in central Maharashtra during his decades-long political career.
For Dhiraj Deshmukh, it was a maiden win by a handsome margin of 1.21 lakh votes, while Amit Deshmukh, a seasoned player in the field, retained his Latur City seat for a third consecutive term.
Among the Shinde brothers, Baban has been elected from Madha for a sixth term. Sanjay Shinde was the NCP candidate from the Madha Lok Sabha constituency where he was defeated by Ranjit Nimbalkar, who switched over to the BJP from the Congress, in May this year.
In the past, there have been father-son duos in the Lower House like Chhagan Bhujbal and his son Pankaj, and Ganesh Naik and his son Sandeep (all NCP).
The polling in Maharashtra was held on October 21 and results were announced three days later.
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Amid blistering heat in coastal areas, Udupi DC urges precautionary measures
Udupi: Amid rising temperatures across coastal districts this summer, Udupi Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa T.K. has urged the public to take necessary precautionary measures.
Chairing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority at the District Collectorate Hall, Rajatadri in Manipal on Tuesday, she said that people must be made aware of the risks associated with excessive heat.
She stressed the need for caution against dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which are common during extreme weather conditions.
The Deputy Commissioner noted that heatstroke can have serious adverse effects on human health and urged the public to follow precautionary measures issued by the District Disaster Management Authority.
She directed health department officials to ensure adequate stocks of ORS and other essential medicines at all health centres to tackle heat-related illnesses. She also instructed authorities to provide clean drinking water in crowded places such as markets, bus stands and railway stations.
Immediate steps should be taken to address drinking water shortages during the summer, she said. At present, there is no shortage of fodder for cattle in the district, with sufficient stock available for the next 39 weeks across all taluks.
Highlighting the increased risk of fire accidents during summer, the Deputy Commissioner called for regular inspections of fire safety measures in hospitals, industries and other crowded places. She emphasised the need for preparedness to respond swiftly in case of fire emergencies.
Expressing dissatisfaction over delays in conducting fire safety audits despite instructions issued in the previous meeting, she directed fire department officials to complete the audits at the earliest and submit a report.
Swaroopa also instructed taluk-level task force committees to hold regular meetings and ensure there are no disruptions in drinking water supply. She added that a district-level committee has been formed under her chairmanship to handle emergencies such as oil spills, and members should be well-informed about response plans.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Abid Gadyal, ASP Sudhakar Nayak, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary, Assistant Commissioner Rashmi, Municipal Commissioner Mahantesh Hangargi, and other district officials and tahsildars were present.
The Deputy Commissioner furthermore stressed that any issues related to drinking water supply for people and livestock in both urban and rural areas must be addressed on priority. In areas already facing shortages, borewells should be identified and water should be supplied through tankers.
She also directed that strict measures be taken to prevent the supply of contaminated water and that regular water quality testing be made mandatory.
“There are several adverse effects of extreme temperatures. Awareness should be created among both urban and rural populations through posters, banners and public announcements on the precautions to be taken. This will help safeguard public health,” Swaroopa said.
