Amid major suspense over Mahayuti’s choice for the top post, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde resigned as Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Tuesday. He tendered his resignation to Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, were also present at Raj Bhavan.

Eknath Shinde will continue to serve as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is formed. In the Maharashtra Assembly Elections, BJP-led Mahayuti coalition won a landslide victory, bagging 235 seats in the 288-member Assembly. At present, the coalition has failed to arrive at a consensus on who should be the next chief minister.

The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde has maintained that he should continue to lead the state, emphasizing that the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which proved to be the game-changer in the elections, was his brainchild. Notably, on the counting day, Eknath Shinde too stated that the results are the reflection of the hard work they have done in the past 2.5 years.

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders, which recorded its highest ever tally in the state, have been pitching for Devendra Fadnavis to take oath as the chief minister for a third time. Also, NCP’s Ajit Pawar has backed BJP’s claim. In the elections, the BJP secured 132 seats, its best performance in Maharashtra, while allies Shiv Sena and NCP won 57 and 41 seats respectively.

Furthermore, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske has urged the BJP leadership to replicate the Bihar pattern in Maharashtra for appointing Shinde as the chief minister. The MP said that Nitish Kumar was made the Chief Minister of Bihar even though his party didn’t have the majority.

Earlier on Tuesday, Eknath Shinde took to X and urged his supporters not to throng his official residence to pitch for his continuation as the chief minister. He said that out of love for him, some people have appealed to everyone to gather together and come to Mumbai, but he appeals that no one should come together in his support in such a manner. He also expressed gratitude.

Massive violence broke out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra after the protestors pelted stones and clashed with the security forces during their protests against the proposed ropeway project along the trek route to the holy shrine of Vaishno Devi atop Trikuta hills. 

Reports said that the protestors hurled stones at the security personnel and damaged a CRPF vehicle. Paramvir Singh, Reasi SSP told media that the protest was going on peacefully for the past three days but on Monday some protesters pelted stones at the security forces. 

In Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra, the shopkeepers and labourers on Sunday took out a protest rally on the third day of their strike and held a sit-in outside the office of the subdivisional magistrate and Shalimar Park in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine. 

A member of the joint committee of shopkeepers and pony and palanquin owners had said that the 72-hour strike has been extended by another 24 hours, adding that they will meet again and announce our future course of action. Notably, the three-day strike called by them began on Friday. 

Reports stated that while the businesses located at the base camp of Katra remained operational, shops lining the pilgrimage route from Ban Ganga to Charan Paduka observed closures. Nonetheless, the suspension of pony and palanquin services is causing hardships for the pilgrims, especially the elderly and differently-abled, to continue their sacred journey.

The residents have been complaining that the project would negatively impact the environment and their livelihoods. They asserted that the ropeway project would render them jobless, and also accused the authorities of pushing through the development without adequate consultation.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has assured the protestors of their employment. He mentioned that the committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner has been deliberating on the ropeway project and the rehabilitation of the locals. Furthermore, he also emphasised that the genuine concerns of the locals would be considered while the development of the region would not be ignored.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) had announced implementation of the long-awaited ropeway project to facilitate a safer and faster journey for the pilgrims. As per the project details, the ropeway will be developed with a cost of Rs 250 crore between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre track.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to relax GRAP IV measures in Delhi and ordered the CAQM to consider relaxing norms for students. The apex court observed that several students cannot avail midday meals, online classes and cannot access air purifiers.

The court also pulled up the Delhi Police over no checkpoints at the borders of the city for checking the pollution measures and said that it was a serious lapse. A bench headed by Justice AS Oka stated that they would consider prosecution of the Delhi Police Commissioner under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act for deploying police personnel at only 23 checkpoints, when Stage 4 of the GRAP was implemented.

Earlier, the court has also appointed 13 members from the court as commissioners to check whether the GRAP IV measures are being implemented or not. On Monday, the commissioners submitted their report to the court.

Subsequently, the court told the Delhi government that there were no checkposts at borders of the city and that the ban on trucks entering into the capital was not being followed properly.

The top court bench said that they were informed that no police or government personnel were present at the border checkpoints, and they were only manned by toll collection staff of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Mentioning that they will direct prosecution against all officials, the court questioned why the police were not directed to take action under Stage IV of the GRAP.

Responding, Advocate Shadan Farasat representing the Delhi government said that the CAQM had issued directions. Consecutively, the court asked him to show what written instructions were given by the state and the central government to the police on November 18. To this, Advocate Farasat said that directions were issued to post police personnel at 23 checkpoints where trucks could enter the city.

The court continued that this was negligence, adding that it will direct CAQM to prosecute the Delhi Police Commissioner.