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Maharashtra parties try to woo Ganpati devotees with free travel | Latest News India
MUMBAI : With local body elections round the corner, political parties with a voter base in the Konkan are busy doling out freebies to Ganesh devotees travelling to their hometowns in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg for Ganeshotsav. Among the ruling parties, the Shiv Sena has arranged for 2,379 buses for over 100,000 devotees, while the BJP has organised 550 buses and four trains for over 50,000 passengers. The opposition, Shiv Sena (UBT), on its part, has provided over 200 buses.
Apart from the free travel, the Mahayuti has shelled out ₹11.50 crore to fund celebrations and competitions for Marathi-speaking voters from Konkan living in Mumbai. According to a rough estimate, at least 40% of the over six million people originally hailing from this coastal region live in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and at least 1.5 million of these travel back to Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg every Ganeshotsav. This large slice of voter pie has politicians and political parties scrambling to woo it.
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This year, the Mumbai BJP, led by Ashish Shelar, has arranged for at least a hundred more buses than last year and one train more.
“We have provided 550 State Transport (ST) buses with a capacity of 42 passengers per bus,” said Suhas Aadivarekar, president of the Konkan Vikas Aghadi and vice-president of the Mumbai BJP.
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“The four special trains have been sponsored by Ashish Shelar, Nilesh Rane, Nitesh Rane and Mangal Prabhat Lodha.”
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“The four special trains have been sponsored by Ashish Shelar, Nilesh Rane, Nitesh Rane and Mangal Prabhat Lodha.”
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Aadivarekar claimed that the BJP’s MLAs and former corporators had funded another 500-odd buses on their own.
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Aadivarekar claimed that the BJP’s MLAs and former corporators had funded another 500-odd buses on their own.
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The strategy for the festival began two months ago, with the BJP planning at least two buses per ward.
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The strategy for the festival began two months ago, with the BJP planning at least two buses per ward.
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“We prepare a list of devotees, book ST buses by paying ₹31,000 per bus and allot seats,” said Aadivarekar. “Although no food is planned for, some of our party workers take the responsibility of providing it.”
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“We prepare a list of devotees, book ST buses by paying ₹31,000 per bus and allot seats,” said Aadivarekar. “Although no food is planned for, some of our party workers take the responsibility of providing it.”
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The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has arranged for 2,379 buses, including 895 from Thane, 712 from Kalyan, and 703 from Mumbai. “They will carry 95,160 passengers to Konkan free of charge and with food and water to boot,” said a Sena leader. “Overall, the number of devotees we cater to is over 1,25,000, the highest by any party.”
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The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has arranged for 2,379 buses, including 895 from Thane, 712 from Kalyan, and 703 from Mumbai. “They will carry 95,160 passengers to Konkan free of charge and with food and water to boot,” said a Sena leader. “Overall, the number of devotees we cater to is over 1,25,000, the highest by any party.”
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Opposition parties lag behind in the freebie gala owing to limited resources. Although the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray also enjoys strong support among Konkani voters, the number of buses put out by the party is comparatively low. Former MP and Sena (UBT) leader Vinayak Raut said the party had arranged for over 200 ST buses. “Local leaders in Mumbai have provided these buses from Magathane, Bhandup and Wadala,” he said. “There is no dearth of vehicles, but the Mumbai-Goa highway is in bad shape, thanks to the contractors, who are ruling party leaders. The ruling alliance has been boasting about arranging for the highest number of special trains, but they are late by at least four hours, as the infrastructure is inadequate.”
The Ashish Shelar-led cultural affairs department has rolled out another drive to connect with voters. Last week, the department issued a GR officially naming Ganeshotsav as the “state festival”.
The government has announced funding worth ₹11.50 crore to Ganesh mandals, household Ganpatis, and bhajan mandals, most of which are from Konkan. This sum includes prizes worth ₹1.5 crore to 480 mandals across the state. A capital grant of ₹25,000 each has been announced for 1,800 mandals. The ruling alliance expects millions of devotees to thus benefit and in turn shower the ruling parties with votes.
The wildlife season is just around the corner, and we are excited about that. But this time, we are not here for that. For nature lovers, India’s diverse landscapes do not disappoint. Here we are looking at experiences beyond wildlife safaris, from lush valleys to serene backwaters. The winter months will provide perfect weather for exploring the outdoors. Here are eight exceptional nature trips across India to plan before the year ends.
Mawlynnong, Meghalaya
From Shillong Airport, Mawlynnong is located just 90 km. Also known as Asia’s cleanest village, Mawlynnong’s forests, waterfalls, and living root bridges are some of the best things you will experience in Northeast India. Not to forget, winter is the time when Dawki River (located just 30 km from Mawlynnong) is at it’s best form. Crystal clear water of Dawki River will leave you mesmerised. When in Mawlynnong, stay in village guesthouses. They are budget-friendly, and will let you have authentic traditional stay experience.
Dandeli, Karnataka
Located just 125 km from Goa Airport, Dandeli is nestled in the Western Ghats’ foothills. Its dense forests and Kali River offer adventure and serenity. Its flat terrain and riverine landscape are photogenic, perfect for the ‘gram.’ If you can, take out time to go rafting on the Kali River, or trek to Kavala Caves.Bhitarkanika National Park, OdishaLocated just 150 km from Bhubaneswar Airport, this mangrove ecosystem and wetland, spans 672 sq km. It offers serene boat rides through creeks and sightings of crocodiles and migratory birds. Bhitarkanika is a beautiful mix of wildlife and offbeat travel. Cruise through mangroves, spot estuarine crocodiles, or visit the Olive Ridley turtle nesting site at Gahirmatha.Gokarna, KarnatakaGokarna is located approximately 150 km from Goa Airport. It’s a quieter alternative to Goa. Gokarna’s pristine beaches and coastal cliffs offer a laid-back nature escape, far from the hustle and bustle of an over-crowded (and expensive) tourist trap. Here’s what to do in Gokarna: Relax on Om Beach, trek to Kudle Beach, or visit Half Moon Beach for solitude. The Mahabaleshwar Temple is a beautiful addition to your serene coastal holiday.
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New Delhi: For the first time since 2001, excluding the Covid-19 years, the number of Indians visiting the United States has fallen as 2.1 lakh Indians travelled there in June 2025, which is an 8 per cent drop compared to 2.3 lakh in the same month last year, according to the US Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO).
The downward trend seems to be continuing in July as well, with provisional data showing a 5.5 per cent decline compared to July 2024.
This slowdown is part of a broader global trend. NTTO data shows that overall international arrivals to the US also fell, with a 6.2 per cent drop in June, 7 per cent in May, 8 per cent in March, and 1.9 per cent in February.
Only January and April saw increases of 4.7 per cent and 1.3 per cent, respectively.
India continues to be the fourth largest source of international visitors to the US. Since Canada and Mexico share land borders with America, India ranks as the second largest overseas market after the UK, followed by Brazil in fifth place.
Together, these five countries contributed nearly 60 per cent of all international arrivals to the US in June.
Traditionally, Indian travellers to the US include students, business professionals, and those visiting friends and relatives.
Leisure travel to America has always been less popular compared to destinations like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
The current slowdown is being seen most clearly among students, though experts believe that business and family visits could also be affected if visa delays and constraints continue.
The Indian diaspora in the US is strong, with over 50 lakh people, which has generally ensured a steady flow of travel.
In fact, NTTO data shows that every June since 2001 had recorded higher numbers than the year before — until now.
April this year had been a positive month for Indian travellers overall, with 29 lakh people flying abroad.
The UAE was the top destination, followed by Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, and the US.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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