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
Will Eknath Shinde’s move lead to Maratha Vs OBC war in state?
Shinde's ability to lead the ruling alliance against the MVA coalition has been questioned, as also his capacity to run the government.
Updated on Jan 28, 2024 10:05 AM IST
Different shades of saffron
With the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena are embracing saffron politics, while the NCP is in a tricky situation, not fully embracing Hindutva but not ignoring it either. Meanwhile, the Congress and NCP are clear in their stand, and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena is using its own version of Hindutva. The question remains which shade of saffron will gain public support. Additionally, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is trying to build an alliance with the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi for the upcoming elections, and the development of Mumbai Port Trust's idle land is still awaiting approval. Lastly, the disqualification petitions filed by rival NCP factions are being heard by Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, and the Pawar faction is prepared for a possible court battle.
Updated on Jan 22, 2024 07:48 AM IST
Maha News| Milind Deora's departure is the denouement everyone was expecting
Though Milind Deora hasn’t won an election since 2014, his surname carries heft. Things became complicated since the formation of the MVA alliance, experts say
Updated on Jan 21, 2024 12:37 PM IST
Sena versus Sena: Final round between Thackeray and Shinde begins
On the legal front, the SC’s decision will be the clincher, for the political front, the upcoming elections will give the leaders their mandate
Updated on Jan 15, 2024 08:34 PM IST
Deora’s exit shows Cong failed to resolve leadership crisis in Mumbai
Milind Deora, a former Mumbai unit chief and MP, has quit the Congress party, severing his family's 55-year association with the party.
Updated on Jan 15, 2024 05:45 AM IST
Musical chairs ahead of LS polls
Some more defections related to Lok Sabha calculations are expected in the coming days, according to insiders from the ruling camp. For instance, BJP’s assessment says the prospects of its Sangli MP Sanjay Patil are not good
Updated on Jan 15, 2024 06:52 AM IST
‘The ECI record does not bear out the claim that Uddhav Thackeray was chief of the party’
These allegations have been made for the last one year, ever since I started adjudicating this issue, perhaps with the intention of putting pressure on my decision-making process, says Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar
Updated on Jan 12, 2024 08:26 AM IST
What does Assembly Speaker’s verdict on Shiv Sena mean for Maharashtra politics
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s verdict on the Shiv Sena may set the tone for the electoral battle in the days to come
Updated on Jan 11, 2024 06:47 AM IST
What to expect in Maharashtra’s political landscape this year
A national election and state polls, as well as judgments over the NCP split and the legality of Eknath Shinde’s CM post. 2024 promises to be a juggernaut, too
Updated on Jan 01, 2024 08:25 PM IST
Mission from promoting drone use in state
The government has prepared a five-year implementation plan based on a report by a team of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Bombay
Updated on Dec 30, 2023 06:56 AM IST
Maharashtra notifies drone mission, seeks to become global hub for drone tech
A committee headed by the chief secretary will oversee the implementation of a five year plan drafted on the basis of an IIT-B report
Published on Dec 29, 2023 07:05 PM IST
Mega rally in Nagpur today shows Maha central to Cong’s poll agenda
arlier in the day, Congress announced that Rahul Gandhi would commence the second leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, titled Bharat Nyay Yatra, from Manipur on January 14. The yatra is slated to culminate in Mumbai on March 20
Updated on Dec 28, 2023 06:30 AM IST
Uddhav Thackeray emerging as a key player in INDIA?
Uddhav Thackeray is emerging as a key player in the INDIA coalition, holding closed-door chats with AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.
Updated on Dec 25, 2023 01:20 PM IST
Tense year-end, hectic new year ahead
Members of the ruling alliance are somewhat anxious as two significant deadlines are approaching. First is the December 24 deadline set by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil for the government. The second is the December 31 deadline set by the SC for Speaker Narwekar to give his verdict on the disqualification petitions against CM Eknath Shinde and his MLAs as well as the MLAs from the Thackeray camp
Updated on Dec 11, 2023 07:12 AM IST
Gloves are finally off between uncle and nephew
After Ajit’s first address to his faction’s workers soon after taking oath as deputy chief minister, he had stopped personally attacking his uncle. But latest developments indicate that he is out to finish Pawar politically. His announcement of contesting four Lok Sabha seats including Pawar family pocket-borough Baramati confirms this. It remains to be seen if he fields wife Sunetra or son Parth as is being speculated.
Updated on Dec 04, 2023 06:56 AM IST
“I am not against Marathas but the rule of mob is not acceptable in the state”
Bhujbal, a battle-scarred veteran, says he will continue his opposition to the fine-slicing of the OBC reservation even if it means risking his ministerial berth
Updated on Nov 25, 2023 08:32 AM IST
Shinde-Ajit cold war
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi has highlighted the ongoing power struggle between him and CM Eknath Shinde in the ruling alliance. Pawar is reportedly unhappy with Shinde's handling of things and has expressed his dissatisfaction to the BJP. The tension between the two has also been evident in recent events, such as the Maratha reservation issue. It remains to be seen if Pawar's meeting with Shah will change the dynamics or escalate the conflict further. Additionally, an ego clash is emerging between Sena veterans Gajanan Kirtikar and Ramdas Kadam, and the Pandharpur temple trust is in a dilemma over which deputy CM to invite for a ritual.
Updated on Nov 13, 2023 05:36 AM IST
Backroom strategies that worked
As the agitation took a violent turn three days after Jarange-Patil went on hunger strike a second time, Shinde and Fadnavis held an all-party meeting and succeeded in isolating Jarange-Patil over the demand that all Marathas should be given Kunbi certificates
Updated on Nov 06, 2023 07:48 AM IST
State averse to all Marathas as OBCs
Govt to collect empirical data afresh to fight the case in SC; activist threatens stir from today if govt fails to change its stance
Updated on Nov 01, 2023 07:04 AM IST
One social media post, many speculations
On Saturday, Fadnavis gave an interview to Marathi channel TV9 insisting that Shinde would remain chief minister for the full term, adding that he would be made member of the legislative council if he is disqualified as member of the legislative assembly
Updated on Oct 30, 2023 07:34 AM IST
Maha becomes caste cauldron as communities get aggressive about reservation
Maharashtra is facing a socio-political crisis as various communities protest for reservation rights, threatening to tear apart the social fabric. Maratha activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is set to resume his hunger strike, demanding benefits for Marathas in the OBC category, and has also joined forces with the Dhangar community, who are agitating for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category. The government has not yet made a decision on the demands, leading to increased tensions and protests. This issue is expected to impact the upcoming elections in Maharashtra.
Updated on Oct 25, 2023 07:38 AM IST
Tackling the topic that was not in the syllabus
Over the past few years, BJP has been trying to win over Marathas. It managed to get several influential Maratha leaders on its side. From the late Vinayak Mete to descendant of Maratha king Shivaji, Chhatrapati Sambhaji, several Maratha leaders who were vocal on the issue of reservation, made common cause with BJP
Updated on Oct 23, 2023 08:14 AM IST
Ceasefire over, gloves are off
Uncle Sharad Pawar dismissed Ajit Pawar's dream of becoming CM, intensifying their feud. The chances of bye-polls for Pune and Chandrapur before 2024 are slim.
Updated on Oct 16, 2023 08:14 AM IST
The caste cauldron
For the past couple of months, the issue of caste-based reservation is already dominating state politics with Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil staging a hunger strike and a jittery state government accepting his demand that Marathas should be given caste certificates as Kunbis (a sub caste of Maratha) for reservation in jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category
Updated on Oct 09, 2023 08:26 AM IST
Vacant cabinet posts to be filled to pacify allies
As per the rules, the council of ministers can have a maximum of 43 members, including the chief minister. The current strength of the council is 29: the Shinde-led Sena and the BJP have ten ministers each while nine ministers are from the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP
Updated on Oct 09, 2023 08:16 AM IST
Jarange-Patil kicks off tour to push for Maratha reservation; OBC activist calls off hunger strike
Jarange-Patil’s demand for Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community in Marathwada region has upset OBC outfits. They are worried that a similar demand will come from Marathas in other areas, and they will eventually end up losing a large chunk of their quota as Kunbi is a sub-caste of Marathas but gets reservation under the OBC quota
Updated on Oct 01, 2023 11:01 PM IST
The disqualification riddle
The Supreme Court's directive on the disqualification petition against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has created uncertainty in the Shiv Sena and NCP factions. MLAs from both parties are concerned about the impact of the verdict on the ruling alliance's prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. There is speculation that the Assembly may be dissolved after the verdict, leading to simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and Assembly. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's recent actions have also confused allies, with some wondering if he is sulking or trying to distance himself from the BJP. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar's interactions with rivals have caused unease among his allies. Finally, leaders of the Janata Dal (Secular) in Maharashtra are planning to dissociate themselves from former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda's decision to join the BJP.
Updated on Sep 25, 2023 12:37 AM IST
Biggest test yet for Speaker
When the hearing began, it was made clear by Narwekar that nobody except the MLAs and their lawyers would be allowed inside the hall in the Vidhan Bhavan
Updated on Sep 18, 2023 12:47 AM IST
State govt faces hunger pangs
Also, Kunbis and other existing castes in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category would come out on the roads to protect their quota. For the past few days, ministers and officials have been scratching their brains to find out a solution to end the activist’s fast
Published on Sep 11, 2023 12:50 AM IST
Pawar vs Fadnavis, round 2
The first round began post the 2014 elections when Fadnavis, then chief minister, realised that he had to take on Pawar to establish his dominance in the state. It went on till 2019 as Fadnavis cracked down on NCP rule in cooperative sector, lured several Pawar aides to join BJP and also led the saffron combine to return to power
Updated on Sep 04, 2023 12:20 AM IST