Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that Maharashtra has attracted the maximum FDI after the formation of the BJP-led Mahayuti government in the state. He added that the people have benefited from the investment.

Addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for the November 20 state Assembly elections, Modi claimed that more than Rs 70,000 crore contracts have been finalised “in this region alone”.

PM Modi said that the BJP-led Mahayuti government is working with the vision of Viksit Bharat, which led to the development of Maharashtra by building modern infrastructure in the state. “Today Samruddhi Mahamarg is passing through Sambhaji Nagar. It is directly connected to Marathwada, Vidarbha and Mumbai,” he added.

“Maharashtra has to lead the vision of Viksit Bharat. BJP and Mahayuti are working for the same Sankalp. To achieve this, now modern infrastructure is being built in Maharashtra… In this entire region, the railway is being modernised,” said Modi.

Slamming the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP) over water crisis issues, PM Modi said the Aghadi has only exacerbated the problems of Maharashtra. He said when the Congress-led Aghadi was in power in the state, it did nothing to resolve the issue of water crisis, which persisted for a long time. In contrast, under BJP-led Mahayuti government, for the first time, it took some concrete steps against drought, said Modi.

To fulfill the wish of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Modi said, the BJP-led Mahayuti government renamed Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

“The whole of Maharashtra knows that the demand to rename this city as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was raised by Balasaheb Thackeray,” he said. The Congress party went to the court to overturn this decision, he added.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi government was in power for two-and-a-half years but did not have the courage to rename the city under pressure from the Congress, he said.

“This election in Maharashtra is not just an election to elect a new government. In this election, on one side some patriots believe in Sambhaji Maharaj and on the other side there are people who praise Aurangzeb,” Modi said.

“BJP-Mahayuti ahe, tar gati ahe, Maharashtrachi pragati ahe (If there is Mahayuti there is progress in Maharashtra),” PM Modi said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government after Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission aspirants’ protest continued for the fourth consecutive day outside the commission’s office in Prayagraj, saying the BJP has crossed all the limits of arrogance.

Yadav claimed that the UP Police took away the crutches of the disabled student protesting at the site in Allahabad, adding that he said this shows how cruel and insensitive the BJP government is.

“Such a government has no right to continue. BJP has crossed all the limits of arrogance. The higher a government rises, the lower and faster it falls. Today disabled students say they don’t want BJP!” the SP chief said in Hindi on X.

In another post, Yadav said if the arrogant BJP thinks that by removing the protesting candidates from outside commission’s office in “Prayagraj”, will put an end to the democratic protest of the youth fighting for their rights, then it has been mistaken.

“Movements are fought with the mind, not the body, and so far the world has not developed such a power that can take the mind under custody,” he added.

Continuing his attack on the BJP, Yadav said if the saffron party only understands the maths of elections, then it should know that if other competitive students like PCS/RO/ARO/LOWER SUBORDINATE and their family members are included, then this number is almost one crore.

“If we divide this ‘big number’ by about 400 Assembly seats, then BJP will lose about 25,000 votes in every Assembly seat, which means BJP will be reduced to double digits,” he added.

“It is hoped that by understanding this mathematics, today itself the heartless BJP government will stop the atrocities and fulfill the democratic legitimate demands of the protesting youth,” the former Chief Minister said.

He said: “BJP has developed a habit; fearing public anger, it is finally forced to concede, but only when all its violent methods fail and its negative anti-job politics fails completely. BJP is going to end forever.”

According to reports, the aspirants are demanding that the upcoming PCS and RO/ARO exams be conducted in a single shift, as was previously done. They believe this will make the process fairer and more manageable.

A day after the first phase of election was held in Jharkhand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that BJP will form SIT to probe corruption by leaders of the JMM-led coalition and they will be put behind the bars. He added that every paisa looted by the leaders will be returned to the treasury. 

Amit Shah also vowed that mineral based industries would be established in the state, and such an environment would be created that no one has to mitigate from the state for work. Claiming that while Jharkhand powers the nation with coal, the people of the state have remained poor. He promised that if the BJP is voted to power, it will make Jharkhand the most prosperous state in the country. 

Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Giridih election rally, Amit Shah said that Sonia Gandhi tried to launch her son 20 times, and her Rahul plane was going to crash on the 21st attempt in Jharkhand. He claimed that the JMM-led alliance has been shown the exit door in the first phase, adding that results are out, and that BJP is going to form a government. 

Alleging that the ruling JMM-led alliance has turned infiltrators into its vote banks, he echoed that BJP will wipe out Naxalism and infiltration in the state, and will also check illegal immigration, if voted to power.

In addition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also accused the waqf board of grabbing farmlands. He said that in Karnataka , Waqf board have devouered assets of the entire village, 500 years old temples, and grabbed farmlands. Asking whether changes are required in waqf boards, he said that the BJP will pass a bill in Parliament for amendment to Waqf Board Act, even if Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi oppose it. 

The first phase of Jharkhand Assembly Election was held on November 13, and the second phase will be held on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23.