Shailesh Gaikwad is political editor and heads the political bureau in Hindustan Times' Mumbai edition.In his career of over 20 years, he has covered Maharashtra politics, state government and urban governance issues.
Articles by Shailesh Gaikwad
In Maharashtra, some BJP leaders have second thoughts about alliance with NCP
Maharashtra was one of the three states that dealt the biggest blow to the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the national elections
Updated on Jun 14, 2024 08:44 AM IST
What underlies BJP's thinking in picking its ministers from Maharashtra?
In Modi's 71-member cabinet, six members hail from Maharashtra, with four representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two from allied parties
Published on Jun 10, 2024 10:39 AM IST
How Sharad Pawar staged (yet another) comeback by cultivating leaders
In addition to Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, Anil Deshmukh, Amol Kolhe and Rohit Pawar, he now has some new talent in the NCP ranks
Updated on Jun 10, 2024 08:30 AM IST
What MVA did right and what went wrong for the ruling alliance in Maharashtra
Very few would have predicted that the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi would win 30 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state
Updated on Jun 06, 2024 08:39 AM IST
Sena vs Sena: Thackeray ahead of Shinde, does well in Mumbai, but battle's on
On Wednesday, Uddhav Thackeray scored by winning more seats (9), including three in Mumbai, than his rival Eknath Shinde (7)
Updated on Jun 05, 2024 09:17 AM IST
MVA ahead of ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra
There is a close contest between the two coalitions, MVA and the Mahayukti , in Mumbai-MMR while the ruling alliance is leading in Konkan
Updated on Jun 04, 2024 11:23 AM IST
Three likely poll outcomes from the crucial Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra
Potential scenarios range from an NDA victory reinforcing Brand Modi's appeal, to an MVA resurgence signalling a shift in voter sentiment
Published on Jun 02, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Post-election skirmishes: Why there are rumblings in Shiv Sena, NCP, BJP
Candidates in Maharashtra unwind after polls, discontent stirs among parties. Promises made pre-elections now remind leaders of unkept commitments
Updated on May 27, 2024 09:17 AM IST
Mahayuti alliance faces tough contests in the final phase of Maha polls
The ruling Mahayuti alliance is focused on securing the majority of the 13 seats up for grabs in the last phase of Maharashtra elections on May 20
Published on May 20, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Why there's unease in Ajit Pawar’s NCP
Party leaders sceptical about the response their candidates got in the election though they are expecting a close fight in three out of the four seats
Updated on May 20, 2024 09:08 AM IST
‘No anti-incumbency against Modi government:’ Devendra Fadnavis
BJP leader Fadnavis defends Modi, criticizes Thackeray and Pawar in an interview. Claims strong response to Modi, dismisses low voter turnout narrative
Updated on May 13, 2024 09:07 AM IST
Shadow fight of two north Maharashtra heavyweights in Shirdi
Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra sees a fierce battle between BJP and Congress leaders, influencing the region's politics and farmers' issues.
Updated on May 12, 2024 07:12 AM IST
Big battle in Ahmednagar as first-time MLA takes on the Vikhe-Patil clan
BJP’s Sujay Vikhe-Patil is a fourth-generation politician from the Vikhe-Patil family, while the NCP (SP)’s Nilesh Lanke is a small-time activist
Updated on May 10, 2024 12:44 PM IST
It’s Sharad Pawar vs BJP in Maharashtra’s sugar bowl
The 10 seats in the sugar belt, covering Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, and Kolhapur, are witnessing a close fight between the Mahayuti alliance and the MVA
Updated on May 09, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Maha News | An intriguing electoral battle is unfolding in Mumbai
The contest in Mumbai is set to intensify as the Shiv Sena factions finally fielded candidates, leading to a unique intra-party clash.
Published on May 02, 2024 08:30 AM IST
Aaditya Thackeray:Today,unfortunately, jumlas are being re-branded as guarantees
Farmers are unhappy, investment is gone, unemployment and inflation are on the rise. This election is about people who will stand with Maharashtra, he said
Updated on May 02, 2024 11:05 AM IST
Uddhav’s bete noire Rane tries to wrest stronghold Konkan from Sena leader
Outside the Mumbai-Thane belt and some parts of Marathwada, it was Konkan that stood behind the Bal Thackeray-founded party
Updated on Apr 29, 2024 08:44 AM IST
‘Uddhav-led Shiv Sena will be wiped out after Lok Sabha elections:’ Narayan Rane
In a chat with HT, Rane says, “Splits in parties and defections don’t look good in a democracy. I quit Sena because I could not work with Uddhav Thackeray.”
Updated on Apr 25, 2024 09:05 AM IST
Sharad Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis: Chess moves by ace strategists
Pawar and the Mohite-Patils pulled Uttam Jankar, a local BJP leader from the same community, to their side. Fadnavis stepped in, flying Uttam to Mumbai
Updated on Apr 22, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Maha News | Eknath Shinde’s cup of woes
Raj Thackeray’s entry into the BJP fold and Ajit Pawar bringing 40 MLAs to the NDA camp imply that the BJP need not rely on the CM to keep its government afloat
Published on Apr 15, 2024 06:06 PM IST
How Eknath Shinde has navigated Maharashtra's tricky political waters
Shinde’s skills in political management are being tested as he is trying to pacify sitting Shiv Sena parliamentarians who have been denied tickets
Updated on Apr 15, 2024 08:45 AM IST
Eknath Khadse's return to BJP shows Maharashtra class of 2019 is back in action
Many frontline BJP leaders fell out of favour by the end of the BJP-led state government’s tenure by 2019
Updated on Apr 08, 2024 08:33 AM IST
A murder near Mumbai casts shadow on Osmanabad Lok Sabha polls after 18 years
A murder that took place on Mumbai-Pune expressway near Kalamboli in 2006 is casting its shadow on election in Osmanabad even after 18 years
Updated on Apr 06, 2024 09:34 AM IST
Ambedkar turns down MVA offer — what does that hold out for opposition parties?
Three scenarios are likely now that Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi is going solo, and Manoj Jarange Patil has also refused to partner up with him
Published on Apr 05, 2024 11:01 PM IST
Eknath Shinde’s summer of discontent
Infighting in Maharashtra over seat-sharing for 48 Lok Sabha seats. BJP's candidate selection impacting Shiv Sena. New trend of changing parties for tickets
Updated on Apr 01, 2024 08:48 AM IST
MVA in disarray as Shiv Sena (UBT), VBA announce candidates
Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad said they have expressed unhappiness with their leadership over Shiv Sena (UBT)’s move
Updated on Mar 27, 2024 03:34 PM IST
Maha News | MVA versus Mahayuti is actually a Pawar versus Fadnavis showdown
The 2024 election is a battle for dominance between a veteran politician fighting for survival and a younger leader keen to make his mark on the national stage
Updated on Mar 26, 2024 07:23 PM IST
Battle over Baramati
Deputy chief minister Pawar is upset with CM Eknath Shinde over state of affairs in Baramati, which he's trying to wrest from uncle Sharad
Updated on Mar 18, 2024 09:20 AM IST
Why Maha’s 48 seats are crucial for both BJP and INDIA bloc
Maharashtra's 48 seats crucial in NDA vs. opposition battle in India. BJP faces challenges with splits in alliances, caste polarization, and regional party defections.
Updated on Mar 17, 2024 06:58 AM IST
Maha News | The battle for 48 sends all parties in search of winnable candidates
The BJP wants to address anti-incumbency, the new Sena and NCP have depleted bases, and the MVA must set its sights on fewer seats.
Published on Mar 12, 2024 07:08 PM IST