Swapnil Rawal is Principal Correspondent with the Hindustan Times. He covers urban development and infrastructure. He had long stints with leading national dailies and has experience of over a decade in journalism.
Articles by Swapnil Rawal
Devendra Fadnavis orders shifting of metro car shed project back to Aarey Colony
After taking over as CM in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray had stayed the construction of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro 3 corridor and appointed a committee to look for alternative plots. Subsequently, his government designated Aarey colony as a reserve forest.
Updated on Jul 01, 2022 12:56 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai
Two Shiv Sena factions to fight it out for control over the party
The Shinde faction, which has the strength of 39 MLAs, issued a letter on Thursday calling all Sena MLAs at the hotel in Goa, where the group is staying since Wednesday.
Published on Jul 01, 2022 12:17 AM IST
Sanjay Raut faces ire of rebels, Sainiks alike
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut was instrumental in starting talks with NCP leaders Sharad Pawar, and Praful Patel after the BJP allegedly went back on its power-sharing formula to share the chief minister’s post.
Updated on Jul 01, 2022 12:37 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai
Maharashtra crisis: Uddhav recalls his ‘unexpected’ start at ‘unexpected’ end
The Thackerays have always remained behind the scenes and ran the proceedings with a ‘remote control’, but Uddhav Thackeray, 62, took the chief minister’s post to keep the BJP out.
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 04:25 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai
Uddhav quits as CM after SC allows floor test to go ahead
Uddhav Thackeray resigned as Maharashtra chief minister on Wednesday, minutes after the Supreme Court refused to stall a floor test that his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was set to lose, ending a crisis that erupted last week after dozens of Shiv Sena lawmakers rebelled against his authority.
Published on Jun 30, 2022 12:29 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Utkarsh Anand, Mumbai/new Delhi
It’s still not late, come and talk, urges Uddhav
It was an emotive appeal to those MLAs who might be having second thoughts about breaking their affiliation with the Shiv Sena.
Published on Jun 29, 2022 01:24 AM IST
Surendra P Gangan and Swapnil Rawal
Bonhomie, tension and missing home-cooked food: Day in the life of a rebel MLA
Several MLAs holed up in a Guwahati hotel described their time in this political limbo as they await a denouement: Breakfast followed by a walk within the hotel perimeter and lots of small talk with fellow MLAs.
Updated on Jun 29, 2022 04:44 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Dhaval Kulkarni
Bonhomie, tension and missing home-cooked food: Day in the life of a rebel MLA
Mumbai: A week is a long time in politics
Published on Jun 29, 2022 12:42 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Dhaval Kulkarni
Still not too late, come and talk: Uddhav to rebel MLAs
Legal experts say a floor test would be challenged if it’s called for before the next hearing in the SC on the plea about the disqualification of 16 MLAs and a no trust motion against the deputy speaker
Published on Jun 29, 2022 12:36 AM IST
Surendra P Gangan and Swapnil Rawal
Uddhav Thackeray wanted to resign soon after revolt broke out: Shiv Sena sources
Senior Sena functionaries also claimed that there was a difference of opinion in the party over Thackeray’s proposed resignation, about whether the party should pull out of the MVA, and whether it should fight it out and face a floor test.
Updated on Jun 28, 2022 01:36 AM IST
Shiv Sena crisis highlights the urban-rural divide
With the new generation of Mumbai-centric functionaries led by Aaditya Thackeray increasingly influencing the party’s policies, the restiveness of MLAs from the hinterland went largely unaddressed.
Updated on Jun 26, 2022 06:05 AM IST
‘Shiv Sena and Balasaheb cannot be separated’; party writes to EC
The Shiv Sena national executive meeting is usually held every five years and the next was to be held in 2023, but on Saturday, party president Uddhav Thackeray called for an emergency meeting following Eknath Shinde’s full-blown revolt
Published on Jun 26, 2022 01:34 AM IST
Fight over Sena control deepens crisis in Maharashtra
The crisis first broke out on Monday night after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a setback in the legislative council polls, a week after a similar debacle in the Rajya Sabha polls.
Updated on Jun 26, 2022 07:23 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Utpal Parashar
A combative Aaditya names and shames rebels
Mumbai: Hours after the Shiv Sena’s national executive affirmed faith in the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, his heir apparent Aaditya Thackeray made his own outreach to party workers at Mahalaxmi
Published on Jun 25, 2022 11:34 PM IST
Maharashtra crisis: Shinde camp consolidates as Uddhav reaches out to cadre
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government continued to rest on knife’s edge as the rebels, led by state urban development minister Eknath Shinde, saw their ranks boosted by the entry of Dilip Lande.
Updated on Jun 25, 2022 06:45 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Utpal Parashar, Mumbai/guwahati
Uddhav Thackeray says 'left Varsha, not the fight' in address to Sena workers
Uddhav Thackeray said he will continue to fight against the rebellion and the Shiv Sena will start afresh. The chief minister was addressing the party's district chiefs and taluka heads.
Published on Jun 24, 2022 03:08 PM IST
Swapnil Rawal | Edited by Poulomi Ghosh
Eknath Shinde-led rebel Shiv Sena faction to meet today
The faction now has the required 37 legislators needed to split the party without attracting disqualification under the anti-defection law
Updated on Jun 24, 2022 11:24 AM IST
Maharashtra political crisis: Eknath Shinde’s aggressive push-back on Twitter
Shinde and his rebel camp, which is now 37-strong is likely to form a a new political grouping swearing allegiance to the legacy of Bal Thackeray.
Updated on Jun 24, 2022 06:03 AM IST
Maha crisis: Sharad Pawar steps in as Sena crisis threatens to topple MVA govt
Through the day, Pawar held a series of meeting with his party top brass following which NCP leaders Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil came out in full force to support Uddhav.
Updated on Jun 24, 2022 06:54 AM IST
Sena hints it’s ready to sacrifice MVA as rebels hit magic mark
The rebels, led by state minister Eknath Shinde, swelled to the magic number of 37 as more Shiv Sena lawmakers flew from Maharashtra to Guwahati, and adopted a resolution reiterating Shinde as the Shiv Sena leader in the assembly, and the appointment of one of its own as the chief whip.
Updated on Jun 24, 2022 02:20 AM IST
War on Sena: Rebels likely to float new party
A close aide of Shinde said that they were likely to form a group in the name of the late Sena chief, who enjoys a talismanic appeal over the masses
Updated on Jun 24, 2022 12:59 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Dhaval Kulkarni
Now, Shiv Sena may lose about 12 MPs to rebel group
Mumbai: After managing to take away a major chunk of the members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) to his side, Shiv Sena rebel leader Eknath Shinde is now in touch with around 10-12 Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MPs) from the Sena
Published on Jun 23, 2022 10:48 PM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Dhaval Kulkarni
Open to considering pulling out of MVA if rebels want so: Raut
This came hours after Eknath Shinde posted fellow rebel lawmaker Sanjay Shirsat’s letter on Twitter saying a coterie around Uddhav Thackeray was preventing them from meeting the chief minister
Updated on Jun 23, 2022 03:47 PM IST
'Uddhav ji gave you…': Nitin Deshmukh who was ‘kidnapped’ appeals to Shinde
Shiv Sena MLA Kailash Patil who returned to Mumbai from the Maharashtra-Gujarat border said many MLAs currently in the Eknath Shinde camp want to return.
Published on Jun 23, 2022 02:54 PM IST
Swapnil Rawal | Edited by Poulomi Ghosh
Can resign but will next CM be a Sainik: Uddhav Thackeray
Thackeray’s speech, broadcast live on social media, came on a day marked by high drama as rebel MLAs – led by his one-time lieutenant and state urban development minister Eknath Shinde – flew from Surat to Guwahati under police protection, and gained in strength.
Published on Jun 23, 2022 02:07 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai
Uddhav now races to save the party as his biggest challenge lies ahead in BMC polls
A letter by Shinde’s faction to deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal bore the signatures of 34 legislators, of which two were from an allied party and two were Independents
Published on Jun 23, 2022 12:20 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal and Dhaval Kulkarni
Maharashtra crisis: Attend meeting or face action, Sena tells rebel MLAs
The Shiv Sena, in a letter issued by party chief whip Sunil Prabu, has told the MLAs that whoever remains absent at the meeting called by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at his residence will be considered to have decided to quit the party voluntarily
Updated on Jun 22, 2022 04:03 PM IST
Raut’s tweet about Maharashtra assembly fuels speculation ahead of Cabinet meet
Sanjay Raut said that they can get back into power but the Shiv Sena’s reputation is the most important thing
Published on Jun 22, 2022 01:11 PM IST
Parab’s colleagues step in for damage control
As Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s trusted lieutenant Anil Parab was busy facing a volley of questions from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the money-laundering charges, Parab’s party colleagues stepped in to handle the situation on Tuesday morning
Published on Jun 22, 2022 01:12 AM IST
Swapnil Rawal, Mumbai
Maha govt on a knife’s edge as leader splits Sena’s flock
Shinde said he would never “cheat for power” but later in the day, appeared to have rebuffed overtures from two Thackeray emissaries who flew to Surat to speak to him.
Updated on Jun 22, 2022 01:10 AM IST
