News / Author / Swapnil Rawal

Swapnil Rawal

Swapnil Rawal is Principal Correspondent with the Hindustan Times. He covers urban development and infrastructure. He had long stints with leading national dailies and has experience of over a decade in journalism.

Articles by Swapnil Rawal

The Shiv Sena MLA who 'escaped' from rebel camp, walked 5 km to Uddhav Thackeray

Patil claimed to have walked at least five kilometres, hitched a ride on a bike and a truck to finally reach Mumbai.

the legislators were told that Eknath Shinde would meet them at the border check-post in Talasari in Palghar district (Kunal Patil/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 22, 2022 10:02 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal, Mumbai

Shiv Sena replaces Eknath Shinde as legislative party leader, reaches out to him

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claimed the Shiv Sena MLAs with Eknath Shinde are being kept under the watch of the Gujarat police and some MLAs have said that their lives are in danger

The Surat Police outside a hotel where Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and a group of party lawmakers are camping (PTI)

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Updated on Jun 21, 2022 05:16 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

Five MLCs each but BJP outwits MVA

While seemingly a tie, Monday’s results cemented BJP’s position as a powerful opposition and presented a grave challenge to the MVA parties, as it secured votes from independent and smaller parties as well as from ruling party legislators

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis alongwith BJP party MLA's celebrate after winning all 5 seat in MLC election at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. (Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jun 21, 2022 09:15 AM IST

ByHT Correspondent

Fight for BMC on Sainiks’ minds as they celebrate party’s 56th anniversary

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that upcoming Legislative Council election and all future elections would be to show that Maharashtra does not bow against “arrogance of power”.

In addition to the council election, the Sena rank and file is also occupied with the Mumbai civic polls which are likely to be held in August or September (HT PHOTO)

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Published on Jun 20, 2022 12:27 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

Once bitten, twice shy? Ruling parties keep strategies under wraps

Despite an open ballot system and enough votes on the side, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was scorned in the Rajya Sabha election after Shiv Sena candidate Sanjay Pawar had to face defeat

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded five candidates- Pravin Darekar, Shrikant Bharatiya, Ram Shinde, Uma Khapre and Prasad Lad. The Shiv Sena’s candidates are Sachin Ahir and Amshya Padvi, while the Congress has fielded Bhai Jagtap and Chandrakant Handore (Hindustan Times)

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Published on Jun 19, 2022 11:58 PM IST

ByFaisal Malik and Swapnil Rawal

Not a single booster dose administered in 10 districts in 18-59 age group

As the government pushes for vaccination amid a sudden spike in Covid cases, health department’s data shows that 10 districts in the state have not administered a single booster among 18-59 years

Officials attributed this to a lack of access to private hospitals offering booster doses in several districts (Vijay Bate)

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Published on Jun 15, 2022 08:05 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

Divided by politics, united by languages: Modi, Thackeray point to deep ties between Gujarati and Marathi

Mumbai Amid the hostility between the Centre and Maharashtra, there was a rare display of bonhomie at an event in the city on Tuesday where prime minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray shared the dais

Prime minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at an event on Tuesday. Satish Bate/ HT Photo

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Published on Jun 15, 2022 01:19 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

Aaditya in Ayodhya: Young Sena leader avows party’s Hindu heart

While 8,000 of them from Thane, Nashik and Mumbai are expected to reach tonight, party MPs Arvind Sawant and Rajan Vichare as well as state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde will travel with Thackeray on Wednesday

Shiv Sena workers celebrate while leaving for Ayodhya by a special train as Maharashtra Tourism and Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray will visit on June 15 to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla, at Thane Railway Station on Monday. (Praful Gangurde/HT Photo)

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Published on Jun 14, 2022 12:53 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

How the BJP edged out the MVA for the sixth seat in Maharashtra

Five winning candidates were declared in the first round of counting: Praful Patel, Sanjay Raut, Imran Pratapgarhi, Bonde and Goyal

Winning candidates Piyush Goyal (C), Anil Bonde (R) and Dhananjay Mahadik (L) celebrate after the results of Rajya Sabha elections, outside BJP office in Mumbai, (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Jun 12, 2022 04:52 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal, Faisal Malik

How the BJP edged out the MVA for the sixth seat in Maharashtra

Five winning candidates were declared in the first round of counting: Praful Patel, Sanjay Raut, Imran Pratapgarhi, Bonde and Goyal

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Updated on Jun 12, 2022 12:28 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

The state of Maha’s politics: MVA v BJP again

Even Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was magnanimous enough to credit BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis for his ability to garner the support of independent legislators

Shiv Sena leader and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that their candidate Sanjay Pawar lost to Mahadik as six independents and small-party MLAs did not vote in the favour of the MVA (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Jun 11, 2022 09:41 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

BJP’s victory exposes vulnerabilities in ruling MVA alliance

This led some MLAs, including independents, gravitating towards deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who is seen as more hands-on and as the alpha male of the regime

Congress leaders point to how some of the independents, who are claimed to have voted for the BJP, are close to the NCP. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Jun 11, 2022 09:36 PM IST

ByDhaval Kulkarni and Swapnil Rawal

Maharashtra: What the RS result means for the BJP and MVA?

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s unexpected with in the third Rajya Sabha seat in Maharashtra has important implications ahead of the legislative council elections, set to take place on June 20.

With Maharashtra legislative council election just a few days away, the ruling MVA must be feeling the pressure, given how the BJP succeeded in the RS polls in weaning away independents and smaller parties. (HT File Photo)

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Updated on Jun 11, 2022 07:23 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

Can MVA win 4 seats: experts say it’s possible

Mumbai: The ruling Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition parties found themselves in another battle on Friday after the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised complaints against the polling conduct of three MVA party legislators with the Election Commission of India (ECI) soon after the Rajya Sabha elections drew to a close on Friday evening

Mumbai, India - June 10, 2022: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and Ashok Arjunrao Jagtap (Bhai) of Congress reach Vidhan Bhavan for Rajya Sabha elections, in Mumbai, India, on Friday, June 10, 2022. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Jun 11, 2022 12:33 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal and Faisal Malik

Maharashtra Rajya Sabha election: MVA, BJP claim RS poll misconduct by MLAs

The BJP alleged three MLAs of the ruling MVA parties — cabinet ministers Jitendra Awhad (Nationalist Congress Party) and Yashomati Thakur (Indian National Congress), besides Shiv Sena legislator Suhas Kande — violated the model code of conduct

(Left to Right) Rajesh Tope, NCP, Sunil Shinde, Shiv Sena, Bhai Jagtap, Congress, Jayant Pàtil, NCP, Sachin Ahir, Shiv Sena and Varsha Gaikwad, Congress, interact outside Vidhan Bhavan during Rajya Sabha elections, in Mumbai, on June 10, 2022. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Jun 11, 2022 12:23 AM IST

ByFaisal Malik and Swapnil Rawal

Maharashtra suspense on Rajya Sabha seats continues; counting yet to begin

Rajya Sabha elections: BJP legislators Parag Alavani and Atul Save demanded that three votes of MVA legislators be declared invalid as they allegedly did not follow voting rules

Rajya Sabha elections: Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray during Rajya Sabha elections outside Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on Friday. (PTI)

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Updated on Jun 10, 2022 07:08 PM IST

ByFaisal Malik and Swapnil Rawal

Stage set for polls of six Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra

Mumbai: The three ruling coalition parties, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, as well as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held separate meetings with their respective legislators and supporters from smaller parties, discussing details of how to cast their ballot in the Rajya Sabha election slated to be held today

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Published on Jun 10, 2022 12:32 AM IST

ByFaisal Malik and Swapnil Rawal

Council polls: BJP backs sixth candidate, MVA confident of bagging six seats

Former Maharashtra minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Sadabhau Khot on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the state legislative council elections as a BJP-backed Independent candidate

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Archive

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Published on Jun 10, 2022 12:02 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal Faisal Malik, Mumbai

Maharashtra BJP holds MLAs’ meeting before Rajya Sabha elections

Of the three candidates it has fielded, the BJP has the numbers to push through two. The fight for the sixth Rajya sabha seat from the state is therefore between the Shiv Sena’s second candidate and BJP’s third candidate.

BJP candidates for Rajya Sabha elections, Dhananjay Mahadik, Piyush Goyal and Anil Bonde, after filing their nomination papers, at Vidhan Bhavan, in Mumbai. (ANI)

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Published on Jun 09, 2022 12:54 AM IST

ByFaisal Malik, Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai

BJP meets legislators ‘informally’ to ensure support for Friday’s RS poll

Based on their strength in the state assembly, the three ruling parties can each get one nominee elected while the BJP can get two elected

The polling for Rajya Sabha, scheduled on June 10, will see a contest after 24 years. The members are elected unopposed usually (Hindustan Times)

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Published on Jun 09, 2022 12:33 AM IST

ByFaisal Malik and Swapnil Rawal

Where is BJP leading country, asks CM over Prophet remark

Thackeray added that instead of unleashing central agencies on a political opponent, the Centre must fight for the Kashmiri Pandits

Weeks after the leader of the opposition and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis held a Jal Akrosh Morcha against the water crisis in Aurangabad, Thackeray said the protest was for losing power and not for the welfare of the people in the city. (Pratik Chorge/HT PHOTO)

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Published on Jun 09, 2022 12:10 AM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

After Rajya Sabha polls, another bitter contest between MVA and BJP on the cards

Even before the heat over the Rajya Sabha polls could die down, another election fever has started to grip Maharashtra

Shiv Sena candidates Sachin Ahir and Amshya Padvi after filing their nomination papers for the state legislative council elections, at Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday. Tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray is also seen. PTI Photo

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Updated on Jun 08, 2022 11:18 PM IST

ByDhaval Kulkarni Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai

RS polls: MVA puts up a show of unity; Independents, smaller allies assure support

The voting for the Rajya Sabha election is set to take place after 24 years as the same was usually unopposed

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar arrives at Trident Hotel for the MVA meeting to be headed by CM Uddhav Thackeray and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar before the Rajya Sabha polls, in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, June 07, 2022 (Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo)

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Updated on Jun 08, 2022 05:25 PM IST

BySurendra P Gangan and Swapnil Rawal

Shiv Sena extends a helping hand to Kashmiri Pandits as it prepares to showcase its brand of Hindutva

Three decades after Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray offered assistance to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the party headed by his son and the state’s current chief minister has taken a similar outreach initiative

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray HT File Photo

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Published on Jun 07, 2022 09:02 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal, Mumbai

Uptick in Covid cases: State refuses to reintroduce curbs

State health minister Rajesh Tope said that the department gave a detailed presentation on the current Covid situation to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and the cabinet on Monday

As per the presentation, Mumbai has seen a 135% increase in the cases recorded between May 23-29 and May 30-June 5 (Vijay Bate)

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Published on Jun 06, 2022 09:33 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

With RS polls near, MVA and BJP reach out to smaller parties, Independents

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting of independents and smaller parties on Monday and another with the ruling party MLAs the next day.

The MVA coalition has fielded four candidates, while BJP has put up three candidates for the RS elections, slated to be held on June 10. (Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times)

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Published on Jun 05, 2022 11:58 PM IST

BySurendra P Gangan and Swapnil Rawal

‘Unable to protect citizens’, Shiv Sena attacks BJP over J&K targeted killings

In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to pay attention to the issues of national security

india news

Updated on Jun 02, 2022 03:03 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

Shiv Sena slams BJP for targeting opponents

In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said the BJP will also have to face the music once the parties in the Opposition come to power at the Centre

india news

Published on Jun 01, 2022 01:11 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

For sixth Rajya Sabha seat, 29 smaller parties’ MLAs and Independents hold the key

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielding a third candidate, the elections to six Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra are likely to be a bitter tussle

BJP candidates Dhananjay Mahadik, Piyush Goyal, and Anil Bonde along with leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis outside Vidhan Bhavan after filing their nomination papers on Monday. Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo

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Published on May 31, 2022 12:24 AM IST

BySurendra P Gangan, Faisal Malik, Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai

Sanjay Raut calls on Shahu Chhatrapati in Kolhapur amid RS polls drama

The election to the sixth seat of Rajya Sabha has turned into a major political drama with Sambhajiraje seeking the support of all political parties to get elected as an Independent.

The meeting between Raut and Shahu Chhatrapati is being viewed as Sena’s attempt to put the issue to rest (Twitter/Sanjay Raut)

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Published on May 29, 2022 11:07 PM IST

BySwapnil Rawal

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Swapnil Rawal

Swapnil Rawal is Principal Correspondent with the Hindustan Times. He covers urban development and infrastructure. He had long stints with leading national dailies and has experience of over a decade in journalism.

Patil claimed to have walked at least five kilometres, hitched a ride on a bike and a truck to finally reach Mumbai.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claimed the Shiv Sena MLAs with Eknath Shinde are being kept under the watch of the Gujarat police and some MLAs have said that their lives are in danger

While seemingly a tie, Monday’s results cemented BJP’s position as a powerful opposition and presented a grave challenge to the MVA parties, as it secured votes from independent and smaller parties as well as from ruling party legislators

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that upcoming Legislative Council election and all future elections would be to show that Maharashtra does not bow against “arrogance of power”.

Despite an open ballot system and enough votes on the side, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was scorned in the Rajya Sabha election after Shiv Sena candidate Sanjay Pawar had to face defeat

As the government pushes for vaccination amid a sudden spike in Covid cases, health department’s data shows that 10 districts in the state have not administered a single booster among 18-59 years

Mumbai Amid the hostility between the Centre and Maharashtra, there was a rare display of bonhomie at an event in the city on Tuesday where prime minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray shared the dais

While 8,000 of them from Thane, Nashik and Mumbai are expected to reach tonight, party MPs Arvind Sawant and Rajan Vichare as well as state cabinet minister Eknath Shinde will travel with Thackeray on Wednesday

Five winning candidates were declared in the first round of counting: Praful Patel, Sanjay Raut, Imran Pratapgarhi, Bonde and Goyal

Five winning candidates were declared in the first round of counting: Praful Patel, Sanjay Raut, Imran Pratapgarhi, Bonde and Goyal

Even Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was magnanimous enough to credit BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis for his ability to garner the support of independent legislators

This led some MLAs, including independents, gravitating towards deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who is seen as more hands-on and as the alpha male of the regime

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s unexpected with in the third Rajya Sabha seat in Maharashtra has important implications ahead of the legislative council elections, set to take place on June 20.

The BJP alleged three MLAs of the ruling MVA parties — cabinet ministers Jitendra Awhad (Nationalist Congress Party) and Yashomati Thakur (Indian National Congress), besides Shiv Sena legislator Suhas Kande — violated the model code of conduct

Rajya Sabha elections: BJP legislators Parag Alavani and Atul Save demanded that three votes of MVA legislators be declared invalid as they allegedly did not follow voting rules

Former Maharashtra minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Sadabhau Khot on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the state legislative council elections as a BJP-backed Independent candidate

Of the three candidates it has fielded, the BJP has the numbers to push through two. The fight for the sixth Rajya sabha seat from the state is therefore between the Shiv Sena’s second candidate and BJP’s third candidate.

Based on their strength in the state assembly, the three ruling parties can each get one nominee elected while the BJP can get two elected

Thackeray added that instead of unleashing central agencies on a political opponent, the Centre must fight for the Kashmiri Pandits

Even before the heat over the Rajya Sabha polls could die down, another election fever has started to grip Maharashtra

The voting for the Rajya Sabha election is set to take place after 24 years as the same was usually unopposed

Three decades after Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray offered assistance to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the party headed by his son and the state’s current chief minister has taken a similar outreach initiative

State health minister Rajesh Tope said that the department gave a detailed presentation on the current Covid situation to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and the cabinet on Monday

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting of independents and smaller parties on Monday and another with the ruling party MLAs the next day.

In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to pay attention to the issues of national security

In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said the BJP will also have to face the music once the parties in the Opposition come to power at the Centre

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielding a third candidate, the elections to six Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra are likely to be a bitter tussle

The election to the sixth seat of Rajya Sabha has turned into a major political drama with Sambhajiraje seeking the support of all political parties to get elected as an Independent.

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