1. Saffron Allies on Warpath, Fadnavis and Thackeray Accuse Each Other of Lying
The three-decade-old saffron alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena stands on the brink of collapse, with Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray accusing each other of lying over the agreement to share the chief minister’s post, on Friday.
While both, Fadnavis and Thackeray, did not spell out the alliance was over, keeping some elbow room for a compromise, a retreat by both parties seems difficult. The BJP (105 seats) and Sena (56 seats) together have a clear majority in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.
Source: Hindustan Times
2. Maharashtra Govt Formation — Rs 25 Cr to Rs 50 Cr Being Offered to MLAs to Switch: Cong
Amid no breakthrough in the stalemate between BJP and Shiv Sena over government formation, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Friday claimed that sums of “Rs 25 crore to Rs 50 crore” were being offered by the BJP to party MLAs to switch sides in Maharashtra.
“Some of our MLAs have been approached by BJP. We got information about this and have asked our MLAs to record these calls as evidence. I am sure that none of our MLA will switch over because if anyone does, we will put up a combined Opposition candidate against that person and ensure that he never wins an election,” Wadettiwar told mediapersons.
Source: The Indian Express
3. Ayodhya Verdict Today, Police Rope in SRPF and Paramilitary
Police deployment in Maharashtra has been stepped up ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ramjanmab-hoomi-Babri Masjid case on Saturday. The Maharashtra Police will be assisted by SRPF companies and other paramilitary forces that will be present on the ground across the state.
The police have also invoked sections of the Bombay Police Act, which prohibits assembly of more than five persons. The police have engaged with community leaders from both Hindu and Muslim communities to ensure that there are no “victory parades” carried out and that both sides accept the Supreme Court verdict.
Source: The Indian Express
4. ‘Wanted PMC Director Likely to Surrender Within 15 Days’
Daljit Singh Bal, one of the directors of the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank, is likely to surrender within a fortnight, said a source from the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Bal is wanted in the ₹4,355-crore fraud case and is currently absconding.
On Wednesday, he secured a transit anticipatory bail from a local court in Punjab. Bal, who was reportedly hiding in Punjab, moved the local court after a team from the Mumbai EOW went to nab him, sources told Hindustan Times. He managed to get the interim protection after assuring the court that he would surrender to the EOW within a fortnight.
Source: Hindustan Times
5. City Sets November Rain Record
Mumbai broke its all-time record for the highest November rainfall on Friday, receiving 109.3 mm rain this month. The previous record for the month was 101.3 mm in 1979.
Rain in November is an unusual phenomenon. The city received rain on November 1, and then intermittent showers over the next few days. And early on Friday, many parts received heavy rainfall. The city recorded 32.6 mm rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 8.30 a.m. on Friday. Between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m., it received 30.4 mm rain.
Source: The Hindu
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)