Shailesh Gaikwad is political editor and heads the political bureau in Hindustan Times' Mumbai edition.In his career of over 20 years, he has covered Maharashtra politics, state government and urban governance issues.
Articles by Shailesh Gaikwad
Vidarbha, MMR-Konkan likely to be decisive for Mahayuti and MVA
Though the MVA has a lead, there is less than 1 percent difference between the coalitions – MVA received 43.71 percent votes while Mahayuti got 43.55 percent
Updated on Oct 22, 2024 08:56 AM IST
Defections pick up pace ahead of Maharashtra assembly election
Three of Ajit Pawar’s legislators, Deepak Chavan, Rajendra Shingne and Satish Chavan have returned to Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP)
Updated on Oct 21, 2024 08:06 AM IST
Aaditya Thackeray: Alliance is important, not Chief Minister's post
If MVA comes to power, it will launch a criminal investigation into decisions taken by the Shinde government in the last few days, Thackeray tells HT
Updated on Oct 19, 2024 08:49 AM IST
Not just Pawar and Thackeray, Maharashtra polls will determine future of many
The upcoming election on November 20 is shaping up to be a critical juncture for the state's political landscape, with the recent splits in two regional parties
Published on Oct 16, 2024 10:10 AM IST
Maharashtra assembly election: A complex political landscape emerges
Unlike the national elections, which presented a clear battle between two narratives, the state faces a mix of multiple issues and factors
Published on Oct 16, 2024 09:59 AM IST
In Maharashtra, no CM face in either camp
MVA leaders won’t project a CM face for the upcoming elections, prioritizing victory over leadership, while BJP plans a similar approach.
Updated on Oct 14, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Baba Siddique: From watchmaker’s son to student leader to minister
Baba Siddique, shot dead in Mumbai, had ties to politics and Bollywood; police probe motives linked to real estate and his connections.
Updated on Oct 14, 2024 09:23 AM IST
Haryana assembly results shot in arm for Mahayuti, alarm bell for MVA
With the BJP heading towards a historic third straight term in Haryana, Mahayuti leaders declared that the results would be repeated in Maharashtra
Updated on Oct 09, 2024 09:38 AM IST
Maharashtra polls: Sharad Pawar fortifies position, one inductee at a time
By inducting Harshavardhan Patil into his party on Monday, Sharad Pawar has effectively snuffed out speculation of a political rapprochement with his nephew
Updated on Oct 08, 2024 09:18 AM IST
Pawar aims 50 seats in Maha polls, most from sugar belt
It’s not just the BJP that is losing leaders to Sharad Pawar but at least three leaders from his nephew Ajit Pawar’s party too are in talks with him
Published on Oct 07, 2024 07:14 PM IST
The Shinde show in Thane
While Shinde’s party colleagues were happy with the grand event, leaders from ally BJP were not so pleased as the chief minister’s hometown of Thane was chosen for the rally in which the prime minister sounded the poll bugle for the assembly elections in Maharashtra
Published on Oct 07, 2024 05:39 PM IST
Pawar fortifies his hold on sugar belt, poaches leaders from BJP, nephew Ajit
In an anticipated move, Harshvardhan Patil, a prominent BJP politician from Pune district, joined Sharad Pawar's NCP on Monday
Published on Oct 07, 2024 05:23 PM IST
NCP: In or out of Mahayuti?
Maharashtra assembly elections may be announced soon, with seat-sharing talks ongoing amid speculation of NCP's potential exit from the ruling alliance.
Updated on Sep 30, 2024 07:58 AM IST
Too little too late
Ahead of elections, CM Eknath Shinde appoints dissatisfied party members to key posts, but they feel it’s too little, too late. Polls may be delayed
Updated on Sep 23, 2024 09:07 AM IST
The friendly interference
Opposition leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sachin Sawant have already levelled such allegations and wondered whether the Shinde government wants to remove the first woman chief secretary from her post within two months of her appointment
Updated on Sep 02, 2024 07:56 AM IST
The political play around Maharashtra's state idols
A team of State Reserve Police Force, which was sent to control the mob, opened fire on the protestors in which 10 Dalits were killed and 26 were injured
Updated on Aug 30, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Divided by rivalry, united in ambition
In Maharashtra, rivals Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde both aim for the CM post, facing resistance from allies. Speculations arise over key bureaucratic appointments and Pawar family politics.
Updated on Aug 26, 2024 10:53 AM IST
Ajit Pawar puts Maharashtra BJP in a tight spot, keeps rivals guessing
Pawar's statements are being keenly watched by allies BJP and Shiv Sena. NCP (SP) leaders suspect this is all part of a strategy to change his image
Updated on Aug 19, 2024 09:15 AM IST
Behind the yatra: A strategic campaign to revamp Ajit Pawar's political image
Ajit Pawar has launched the Jan Sanman Yatra as he attempts to rebuild his political image ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections
Published on Aug 12, 2024 09:00 AM IST
BJP’s dilemma over MLAs in Maharashtra: Going with fresh faces may spark dissent
The BJP faces a dilemma on denying tickets to MLAs for the assembly polls. Fresh faces are recommended, risking defections. RSS support boosts BJP's prospects
Updated on Aug 12, 2024 08:55 AM IST
For MVA, discussion on Maharashtra CM only after assembly polls
On the other hand, state Congress president Nana Patole’s aides have started putting up hoardings describing him as the future chief minister
Updated on Aug 05, 2024 08:51 AM IST
Mahayuti: Once bitten, twice shy
In the past few weeks, top leaders of the three parties-chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-travelled separately to Delhi and met union home minister Amit Shah, who is monitoring the seat-sharing exercise himself
Updated on Jul 29, 2024 08:08 AM IST
Birthday buddies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar prepare for poll battle
The fate of the two colleagues, born on July 22, are linked, as both face a tough political battle in the build-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections
Updated on Jul 23, 2024 03:07 PM IST
Chief ministers in waiting: Who will rule Maharashtra next?
In Maharashtra, upcoming elections raise questions on who will win- Mahayuti or MVA, and who will be the next CM. Various names are in contention
Updated on Jul 22, 2024 09:30 AM IST
‘We will insist that Uddhav Thackeray is declared as MVA’s CM candidate:’ Parab
Parab, who is a key strategist, also said that the MVA allies are aware they will have to work on several things including an amicable seat-sharing pact
Updated on Jul 17, 2024 08:58 AM IST
Why Bhujbal landed unannounced at Sharad Pawar’s home
A day after he suggested that Sharad Pawar was out to “set Maharashtra on fire” over the quota issue, Chhagan Bhujbal landed at his former boss’s Mumbai home
Updated on Jul 16, 2024 09:15 AM IST
Ruling alliance Mahayuti shifts gears, leaders plan statewide campaign
Top leaders of the three parties will soon start criss-crossing the state as a massive campaign blitzkrieg is expected to be unveiled
Updated on Jul 15, 2024 09:29 AM IST
Mahayuti's council victory gives it a boost after LS drubbing in Maharashtra
In contrast, the opposition MVA alliance faced a setback, losing one of its three candidates and encountering apparent cross-voting from some of its MLAs
Updated on Jul 13, 2024 02:45 PM IST
Maharashtra MLC poll results: Boost for Mahayuti, setback for MVA
The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) gambit to win more seats in the elections than its strength in the assembly failed
Updated on Jul 13, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Defiant Ajit Pawar launches bid to retain ground, hires political strategist
A year ago, Pawar led a rebellion against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar
Updated on Jul 10, 2024 09:03 AM IST