Surendra P Gangan is Senior Assistant Editor with political bureau of Hindustan Times’ Mumbai Edition. He covers state politics and Maharashtra government’s administrative stories. Reports on the developments in finances, agriculture, social sectors among others.
Articles by Surendra P Gangan
Mixed reactions in BJP to Raj’s potential tie-up with party
A day after the informal confirmation on the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s tie-up with the BJP, experts and insiders from the state ruling alliance have expressed reservations on whether they will benefit from the move
Updated on Mar 21, 2024 07:44 AM IST
Bickering over seats, dissent rife in ruling, opposition alliances in state
There has been a spree of resignations or threats by workers to resign in the ruling combine -- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, and Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar
Updated on Mar 20, 2024 07:10 AM IST
BJP-MNS work out a deal; final announcement expected later this week
MNS is expected to get the South Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency in the four-party alliance. The official announcement is expected later in the week
Updated on Mar 20, 2024 06:40 AM IST
BJP may add MNS in state’s ruling alliance
BJP extends hand to MNS for alliance in Maharashtra, eyeing seats in Mumbai. Leaders meet Amit Shah to discuss strategy for upcoming elections.
Updated on Mar 19, 2024 09:38 AM IST
Shinde govt once again urges EC to exempt Chahal from transfer
The state government has once again requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to exempt transfers of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner I S Chahal and other officers, citing their crucial role in the upcoming monsoon
Updated on Mar 17, 2024 03:23 PM IST
5-phase election in state, Mumbai-Thane polls on May 20
Maharashtra's Lok Sabha elections for 48 constituencies will be held in five phases over a month, with approximately 90.03 million voters.
Updated on Mar 17, 2024 12:09 PM IST
State approves purchase of 20 new patrolling boats for coastal security
Maharashtra approves ₹118 crore for 20 new patrolling boats for coastal security. Also, ₹26 crore allocated for repairing 22 non-functional boats.
Updated on Mar 16, 2024 07:38 AM IST
Back-room hustle to notch up numbers in run-up to polls
The tradition that started in 2014 is expected to continue. In the past, the BJP’s induction of stalwarts from their respective strongholds paid huge dividends.
Updated on Mar 15, 2024 07:16 AM IST
BJP could contest 31 seats, Shinde 13, Ajit Pawar 4
After a lot of toing and froing between its three allies, the state’s ruling combine has almost arrived at a seat-sharing formula for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections
Updated on Mar 14, 2024 08:30 AM IST
BJP to contest 5 of 6 seats in Mumbai
Union minister of commerce and industry, consumer affairs, food and public distribution Piyush Goyal will run from Mumbai North, one of the safest seats for the party, while sitting MLA Mihir Kotecha is the party’s candidate from Mumbai North-East
Updated on Mar 14, 2024 07:20 AM IST
Centre asks Maharashtra to amend plan for ₹14,000 crore ring metro project in Shinde’s hometown
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met MHUA Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi in October last year, requesting approval for the project, which holds significance for his hometown
Updated on Mar 09, 2024 08:52 AM IST
Sena, NCP disgruntled over paltry numbers in proposed seat-sharing
While Shiv Sena is expected to get 10 to 11 seats, 4 have been marked for NCP, with BJP rooting for 34 seats.
Updated on Mar 08, 2024 04:23 AM IST
BJP aims for 34 seats, Shinde’s MPs likely to move over
BJP's allies in Maharashtra likely to settle for fewer seats in upcoming elections, with Shiv Sena expected to get 10-11 and NCP 4 seats.
Updated on Mar 07, 2024 08:24 AM IST
In the absence of elected officers, civic bodies to lose ₹7000 Cr funds
According to the guidelines of the 15th finance commission, of the mandated kitty, ₹2323 crore are for ULBs and the remaining amount is meant for RLBs. In the absence of elected bodies, the central government released only ₹2500 crore in FY 2023-24 which ends in the next three-and-a-half weeks
Updated on Mar 07, 2024 07:30 AM IST
2023-24 nears end, but Maha spends just 52% of budget
State govt spent 51.73% of ₹7.26 lakh crore budgeted allocations. School education, technical education, and agriculture saw highest expenditure. Expected spending at end of 2023-24 around 80%.
Updated on Mar 06, 2024 07:34 AM IST
Surendra P Gangan, Mumbai
Marathas regressed socially, educationally, in last 5 years: MSCBC report
Maratha community's government job representation dwindled by 4% in 5 years, justifying recent 10% quota. Economic, educational regression cited as exceptional circumstances.
Updated on Mar 05, 2024 07:46 AM IST
BJP sends observers to review potential LS candidates, eyes allies’ seats too
BJP reviews MPs' performance, scouts for candidates in Maharashtra. Expected to contest over 32 LS seats, causing tension with allies seeking larger share. Second candidate list to be out soon.
Updated on Mar 05, 2024 07:40 AM IST
Tug-of-war ensues between BJP and its allies over Lok Sabha seats
BJP and Shiv Sena in a tussle over Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, with BJP eyeing seats held by Sena, leading to internal conflicts within the alliance.
Updated on Mar 03, 2024 07:10 AM IST
Maha govt announces revised NPS
Mumbai state govt. announces revised NPS similar to OPS for employees joining after Nov 2005. Pension of 50% last salary + DA, 60% family pension.
Updated on Mar 02, 2024 08:00 AM IST
‘Budget 2024-25 is an exercise in camouflage and jugglery’
Mumbai's budget 2024-25 shows discrepancies in revenue generation and expenditure, with officials and analysts pointing to inflated figures and hidden deficits.
Updated on Mar 01, 2024 06:52 AM IST
Verbal spat erupts in Assembly between ruling and opposition MLAs over infra projects
On the other hand, Congress MLA and Mumbai unit chief of the party Varsha Gaikwad targeted Bharatiya Janata Party and prime minister Narendra Modi over the Adani bagged Dharavi redevelopment project. “The ‘friend’ is getting all contracts right from Dharavi to the airport colony
Updated on Feb 29, 2024 08:50 AM IST
Amid a bureaucratic churn, Maha’s chief poll officer shunted out by EC
S Chockalingam, a 1996 batch IAS officer and director general of Yashada, will take over from Deshpande, an ECI order said. Chockalingam was picked from a list of three IAS officers sent by the state government about a month ago. Deshpande will retire on April 30
Updated on Feb 29, 2024 08:26 AM IST
Surendra P Gangan, Mumbai
Ajit Pawar presents interim budget, state debt reaches ₹7.82 lakh crore
Budget an announcement of centrally financed schemes and a jugglery of figures, say experts and opposition
Updated on Feb 28, 2024 08:20 AM IST
Jarange-Patil buckles under state’s aggressive stand, withdraws agitation
Jarange-Patil confined to Ambad tehsil in Jalna by police, BJP leaders accuse Sharad Pawar of inciting him as government takes aggressive action.
Updated on Feb 27, 2024 01:26 AM IST
₹8,609-crore supplementary demands are 17% of actual budget
Mumbai state legislature tables ₹8,609 crore supplementary demands, pushing consolidated budget to ₹1.05 lakh crore, 17% of annual budget for FY 2023-24.
Updated on Feb 27, 2024 08:14 AM IST
Jarange-Patil warned by CM, Ajit Pawar hints at invisible hand behind him
Maharashtra govt warns Maratha activist not to cross limits after he accuses deputy CM Fadnavis of trying to kill him. Govt vows to take action.
Updated on Feb 26, 2024 07:26 AM IST
A day after ‘discrimination’ allegations by Zeeshan, Youth Congress leaders call him an ‘underperformer’
Mumbai Youth Congress (MYC) chief Akhilesh Yadav and working president Sufiyan Haider said that Zeeshan was targeting Congress at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has been trying to woo the Muslim community
Updated on Feb 24, 2024 07:28 AM IST
Sharad Pawar’s faction to sound ‘tutari’ from Raigad Fort
NCP launches new election symbol "man blowing turha" at Raigad Fort. ECI allotted symbol to Sharad Pawar's faction, seen as historic instrument of Maratha kingdom.
Updated on Feb 24, 2024 06:44 AM IST
Surendra P Gangan, Mumbai
Mahanand Dairy to be turned over to Anand-based NDDB
Mahanand Dairy, Maharashtra's milk producers' federation, to be handed to NDDB. State govt cites brand revival, opposition alleges shift to Gujarat.
Updated on Feb 23, 2024 07:38 AM IST
Will the third iteration of the Maratha quota act pass muster?
This isn’t the first time that a law has been passed on reservation for the Marathas. The previous two attempts were shot down by the courts. Here’s why
Updated on Feb 21, 2024 04:16 PM IST