Shiv Sena MLA escapes unhurt in sword attack in Mumbai's Mankhurd
Mumbai, Oct 13 : Shiv Sena MLA Tukaram Kate was attacked by a group of people, one of whom was wielding a sword, in the eastern suburb of Mankhurd late Friday night, police said.
While Kate escaped unhurt, one of his supporters suffered injuries fending off the attack, Shahaji Umap, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone VI said.
The DCP said that the incident happened when Anushakti Nagar MLA Kate, along with his bodyguards and supporters, was returning after participating in a Navratri celebration in the area.
A group of people attacked the MLA but his bodyguards and supporters managed to fend it off, Umap said.
A supporter of the MLA who was injured in the attack was rushed to hospital with doctors stating that he was presently out of danger, the official said.
The attackers fled the scene and efforts were underway to nab them, he added.
Six persons of the group have been identified and the sword used in the attack has been recovered, he said. A case under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered, the DCP said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
