Maharashtra: Without naming Sena, Amit Shah says NDA will get three-fourth majority
Mumbai: The NDA will get "three fourth majority" in the Maharashtra Assembly polls scheduled for October 21, BJP chief Amit Shah said at a rally here on Sunday, though he did not mention ally Shiv Sena in his speech.
Shah's statement comes at a time when the BJP and the Sena are trying to finalise a seat-sharing deal for the crucial elections.
"Polls for Maharashtra and Haryana have been announced. I am sure the BJP will win with a majority. In Maharashtra, the NDA (BJP, Sena and smaller allies) will have a three-fourth majority (in the 288-member House)," he said, avoiding mention of the Sena.
Shah also added that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would continue to hold the coveted post after elections, a statement being viewed as a snub to the Sena which is projecting Aaditya Thackeray, son of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, as its nominee for the coveted post.
"The Fadnavis government worked along side Narendra Modi government at the Centre. The Modi government got a second term and I am clear voters have made up their minds to give Fadnavis another term," Shah said.
Thackeray had recently said that the seat-sharing announcement will be announced soon. Earlier, speculation was that the seat-sharing deal might be announced during Shah's visit.
While leaders of the BJP and the Sena have committed to fight the elections together, the issue of the number of seats to be shared between the two parties is dragging the negotiations.
As part of a strategy to better its 2014 poll tally of 122 seats in Maharashtra, the BJP has been inducting leaders from opposition Congress and the NCP, to expand its base.
The Sena, which has lost its big brother or the party with the maximum reach status to the BJP after 2014 elections, has been trying to win more number of seats by welcoming turncoats from other parties in its fold, so that it could be in a better bargaining position in a BJP-led government of future.
In 2014, the Sena had won 63 seats.
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Two held in UP's Bijnor for contact with Pakistan linked Dubai handler
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Bijnor (PTI): Two men were arrested in this Uttar Pradesh district on Friday for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-linked handler based in Dubai, police said.
Circle Officer, Najibabad, Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi said Uvaid Malik and Jalal Haider were arrested following inputs on their alleged links with Aqib, a resident of Meerut currently staying in Dubai.
According to police, Aqib had earlier come into the spotlight after a video surfaced on Instagram purportedly showing him displaying an AK-47 rifle and explosives.
During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly told police that Aqib used to incite youngsters against Hindus and encourage anti-national activities, the officer said, adding that detailed questioning of the accused is underway.
On April 6, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Jha said the video first surfaced in November last year. Aqib, a native of Sathla village in the Mawana area of Meerut, was allegedly seen in the video brandishing weapons.
Following the viral clip, a case was registered at the Nangal police station by sub-inspector Vinod Kumar. However, the then station house officer and investigating officer Satyendra Singh had recorded Aqib's statement and filed a final report, stating that the weapons seen in the video were toys, effectively giving him a clean chit.
Police said fresh developments have now revealed Aqib's suspicious links and the probe has been handed over to the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
The SP said action has been taken against the officials concerned, with the then SHO and investigating officer suspended and Circle Officer Nitesh Pratap Singh removed from his post.
