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
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
Planning a magic
Mahayuti alliance boosts morale with budget schemes for women, farmers, and families ahead of state elections, despite concerns of high costs and opposition strategy.
Updated on Jul 08, 2024 07:06 AM IST
Parties out to settle scores in legislative council election
Ostensibly, the fight is on for 11 seats between the Mahayuti and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), but the ruling coalition has fielded nine candidates while the Opposition three. None of the 12 has withdrawn from the fray even as the deadline to file nominations ended on Friday
Updated on Jul 06, 2024 08:18 AM IST
Leadership chose me as they believe in me and I have performed well: Varsha Gaikwad
Varsha Gaikwad speaks at length about the events in the past two months and how the Congress was readying for the vital assembly elections in Mumbai that would have “repercussions at the national level”
Updated on Jul 05, 2024 09:08 AM IST
Fears of cross-voting as Mahayuti-versus-MVA contest likely for 11 MLC seats
Speculations arise ahead of Maharashtra legislative council election with 12 candidates for 11 seats, sparking fears of cross-voting and horse-trading
Updated on Jul 03, 2024 08:56 AM IST
Eknath Shinde, then and now
With indications from Delhi that Shinde will be the face of the three-party alliance in the assembly elections, none of the BJP leaders chose to go against him
Updated on Jul 01, 2024 09:18 AM IST
Maharashtra budget: Petrol and diesel to be cheaper by 65 paise and ₹2.07 in Mumbai, women to get ₹1,500 per month
Presenting his first full budget as finance minister in the Mahayuti government, Pawar also announced free higher education for girls from weaker sections, waiver of farmers’ electricity bills, and an apprenticeship scheme with a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 for 1 million young people
Updated on Jun 29, 2024 08:56 AM IST
Maharashtra Budget: Farmer, woman, youth; Pawar picks populism ahead of polls
The budget's unveiling comes at a critical time for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which secured only 17 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in recent polls
Published on Jun 28, 2024 05:24 PM IST
Shiv Sena (UBT) wants Uddhav Thackeray as CM candidate, MVA allies non-committal
Thackeray had to unceremoniously step down as chief minister in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion in the Shiv Sena and pulled down his government
Updated on Jun 28, 2024 08:41 AM IST
Ruling Mahayuti back to the drawing table in its bid to retain power in state
The challenge before the Mahayuti is to win back voters, find a solution to the alienation of Marathas and prevent voting for the MVA by Dalits and Muslims.
Published on Jun 27, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray could change stand on rebel MLAs
Sharad Pawar said he will pick new faces for assembly elections, and added that he might consider some of the MLAs who went with Ajit Pawar
Updated on Jun 25, 2024 11:47 AM IST
Season of migration?
MVA MLAs consider returning to original factions, Khadse may return to BJP, MNS eyes Worli seat, Maharashtra loses heavy industries portfolio in new govt.
Updated on Jun 24, 2024 06:42 AM IST
Why is Chhagan Bhujbal unhappy in the NCP?
For the second day in a row, senior NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal expressed his anguish about not getting a chance to move to Parliament
Updated on Jun 15, 2024 08:52 AM IST
In Maharashtra, some BJP leaders have second thoughts about alliance with NCP
Maharashtra was one of the three states that dealt the biggest blow to the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the national elections
Updated on Jun 14, 2024 08:44 AM IST
What underlies BJP's thinking in picking its ministers from Maharashtra?
In Modi's 71-member cabinet, six members hail from Maharashtra, with four representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two from allied parties
Published on Jun 10, 2024 10:39 AM IST
How Sharad Pawar staged (yet another) comeback by cultivating leaders
In addition to Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Anil Deshmukh, Amol Kolhe and Rohit Pawar, he now has some new talent in the NCP ranks
Updated on Jun 10, 2024 08:30 AM IST
What MVA did right and what went wrong for the ruling alliance in Maharashtra
Very few would have predicted that the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi would win 30 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state
Updated on Jun 06, 2024 08:39 AM IST
Sena vs Sena: Thackeray ahead of Shinde, does well in Mumbai, but battle's on
On Wednesday, Uddhav Thackeray scored by winning more seats (9), including three in Mumbai, than his rival Eknath Shinde (7)
Updated on Jun 05, 2024 09:17 AM IST
MVA ahead of ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra
There is a close contest between the two coalitions, MVA and the Mahayukti , in Mumbai-MMR while the ruling alliance is leading in Konkan
Updated on Jun 04, 2024 11:23 AM IST
Three likely poll outcomes from the crucial Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra
Potential scenarios range from an NDA victory reinforcing Brand Modi's appeal, to an MVA resurgence signalling a shift in voter sentiment
Published on Jun 02, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Post-election skirmishes: Why there are rumblings in Shiv Sena, NCP, BJP
Candidates in Maharashtra unwind after polls, discontent stirs among parties. Promises made pre-elections now remind leaders of unkept commitments
Updated on May 27, 2024 09:17 AM IST
Mahayuti alliance faces tough contests in the final phase of Maha polls
The ruling Mahayuti alliance is focused on securing the majority of the 13 seats up for grabs in the last phase of Maharashtra elections on May 20
Published on May 20, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Why there's unease in Ajit Pawar’s NCP
Party leaders sceptical about the response their candidates got in the election though they are expecting a close fight in three out of the four seats
Updated on May 20, 2024 09:08 AM IST
‘No anti-incumbency against Modi government:’ Devendra Fadnavis
BJP leader Fadnavis defends Modi, criticizes Thackeray and Pawar in an interview. Claims strong response to Modi, dismisses low voter turnout narrative
Updated on May 13, 2024 09:07 AM IST
Shadow fight of two north Maharashtra heavyweights in Shirdi
Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra sees a fierce battle between BJP and Congress leaders, influencing the region's politics and farmers' issues.
Updated on May 12, 2024 07:12 AM IST
Big battle in Ahmednagar as first-time MLA takes on the Vikhe-Patil clan
BJP’s Sujay Vikhe-Patil is a fourth-generation politician from the Vikhe-Patil family, while the NCP (SP)’s Nilesh Lanke is a small-time activist
Updated on May 10, 2024 12:44 PM IST
It’s Sharad Pawar vs BJP in Maharashtra’s sugar bowl
The 10 seats in the sugar belt, covering Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, and Kolhapur, are witnessing a close fight between the Mahayuti alliance and the MVA
Updated on May 09, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Maha News | An intriguing electoral battle is unfolding in Mumbai
The contest in Mumbai is set to intensify as the Shiv Sena factions finally fielded candidates, leading to a unique intra-party clash.
Published on May 02, 2024 08:30 AM IST
Aaditya Thackeray:Today,unfortunately, jumlas are being re-branded as guarantees
Farmers are unhappy, investment is gone, unemployment and inflation are on the rise. This election is about people who will stand with Maharashtra, he said
Updated on May 02, 2024 11:05 AM IST
Uddhav’s bete noire Rane tries to wrest stronghold Konkan from Sena leader
Outside the Mumbai-Thane belt and some parts of Marathwada, it was Konkan that stood behind the Bal Thackeray-founded party
Updated on Apr 29, 2024 08:44 AM IST