Maharashtra polls: 26 Shiv Sena Corporators resign after Kalyan East seat falls in BJP's quota
Thane (Maharashtra), Oct 10: In a major setback to Shiv Sena-BJP alliance ahead of the State Assembly polls slated for October 21, as many as 26 of Shiv Sena Corporators from Kalyan East constituency and around 300 party workers have sent their resignation to party chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Supporting the rebel Shiv Sena candidate, Dhananjay Bodare, those who tendered their resignation were miffed over Kalyan East seat falling into the BJP's quota. Shiv Sena and BJP are contesting Maharashtra Assembly polls in alliance.
Among the Corporators who have resigned, 16 are from Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) while 10 are from Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation.
Though both BJP and Shiv Sena are claiming that everything is alright within their respective parties, there are several rebel candidates from both parties in different constituencies in Maharashtra. "We have resigned from the party so that our senior leaders from Shiv Sena do not face an embarrassing situation.
As they have already announced an alliance and have appealed to support the alliance candidate who is from BJP , which we cannot to do and hence decided to resign. We have sent out resignations to Uddhav Ji, Guardian minister Eknath Shinde and Local MP Shrikant Shinde ji," said Sharad Patil, Shasnyojak of Shivsena from Kalyan.
The rebel candidate Dhananjay Badore said: "I have decided to contest polls as an independent candidate because in last 10 years there is no development in our area and people are just suffering, we cannot accept BJP candidate as our MLA and hence I am contesting against him."
On the other hand, Uddhav Thackeray has issued several appeals to the rebel candidates of his party contesting against BJP candidates, after which some have taken their nominations.
Uddhav Thackeray had apologized in Dussehra rally to all his party workers those who could not get tickets and appealed them to support alliance candidates.
As per the seat-sharing pact between BJP and Shiv Sena , BJP will be contesting on 150 seats while Shiv Sena on 124 constituencies in the Assembly elections in Maharashtra. Other allies have got 14 seats. Maharashtra, which has 288-member Assembly, will go to polls on October 21, while the counting of votes will take place on October 24.
Courtesy: www.aninews.in
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Prasoon Joshi appointed chairman of Prasar Bharati
New Delhi (PTI): Noted lyricist, writer and communications expert Prasoon Joshi has been appointed as the chairman of Prasar Bharati, India's public service broadcaster.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting appointed Joshi to the key post, according to an official statement on Saturday.
Joshi, a distinguished creative professional with wide-ranging contributions across literature, advertising, cinema, and public communication, and known for his impactful writing and deep cultural sensibility, has played a significant role in shaping contemporary Indian media narratives, the statement said.
Joshi's body of work spans acclaimed film lyrics, advertising campaigns, and socially resonant storytelling that connects with diverse audiences across the country.
On his appointment, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "My heartfelt congratulations to Shri Prasoon Joshi ji on his appointment as chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board. Prasoon ji is a rare creative spirit celebrated across the world in advertising, literature, art and cinema, yet his heart beats unmistakably for India."
Vaishnaw said Joshi's words carry the fragrance of the country's soil, and his vision reflects the timeless essence of Indian culture.
"Under his stewardship, Prasar Bharati will discover renewed energy, deeper purpose, and a fresh creative voice. My very best wishes to him for a memorable and meaningful tenure ahead," the minister said.
Before this appointment, Joshi has served as chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Mumbai since August 2017.
He contributed to strengthening film certification processes while engaging with stakeholders across the film industry and his tenure at CBFC reflected a balanced approach towards creative expression and regulatory responsibility, the statement said.
Earlier, he had also served as CEO, McCann World Group India and Chairman, McCann World Group Asia Pacific (a subsidiary of McCann Erickson). Joshi is also one of the Trustees of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts since 2016.
With his extensive experience in creative industries and public communication, Joshi is expected to bring a unique perspective to the leadership of Prasar Bharati at a time when public broadcasting is navigating rapid technological transformation and evolving audience expectations, it said.
Established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, and operational since 1997, Prasar Bharati is India's statutory autonomous public service broadcaster.
It comprises two major divisions: All India Radio (AIR)-- one of the largest radio networks in the world, reaching millions across urban and rural India in multiple languages and dialects; and Doordarshan (DD) -- India's national television broadcaster, offering a wide range of programming including news, education, entertainment, and cultural content.
