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
The friendly interference
Opposition leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sachin Sawant have already levelled such allegations and wondered whether the Shinde government wants to remove the first woman chief secretary from her post within two months of her appointment
Updated on Sep 02, 2024 07:56 AM IST
The political play around Maharashtra's state idols
A team of State Reserve Police Force, which was sent to control the mob, opened fire on the protestors in which 10 Dalits were killed and 26 were injured
Updated on Aug 30, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Divided by rivalry, united in ambition
In Maharashtra, rivals Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde both aim for the CM post, facing resistance from allies. Speculations arise over key bureaucratic appointments and Pawar family politics.
Updated on Aug 26, 2024 10:53 AM IST
Ajit Pawar puts Maharashtra BJP in a tight spot, keeps rivals guessing
Pawar's statements are being keenly watched by allies BJP and Shiv Sena. NCP (SP) leaders suspect this is all part of a strategy to change his image
Updated on Aug 19, 2024 09:15 AM IST
Behind the yatra: A strategic campaign to revamp Ajit Pawar's political image
Ajit Pawar has launched the Jan Sanman Yatra as he attempts to rebuild his political image ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections
Published on Aug 12, 2024 09:00 AM IST
BJP’s dilemma over MLAs in Maharashtra: Going with fresh faces may spark dissent
The BJP faces a dilemma on denying tickets to MLAs for the assembly polls. Fresh faces are recommended, risking defections. RSS support boosts BJP's prospects
Updated on Aug 12, 2024 08:55 AM IST
For MVA, discussion on Maharashtra CM only after assembly polls
On the other hand, state Congress president Nana Patole’s aides have started putting up hoardings describing him as the future chief minister
Updated on Aug 05, 2024 08:51 AM IST
Mahayuti: Once bitten, twice shy
In the past few weeks, top leaders of the three parties-chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-travelled separately to Delhi and met union home minister Amit Shah, who is monitoring the seat-sharing exercise himself
Updated on Jul 29, 2024 08:08 AM IST
Birthday buddies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar prepare for poll battle
The fate of the two colleagues, born on July 22, are linked, as both face a tough political battle in the build-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections
Updated on Jul 23, 2024 03:07 PM IST
Chief ministers in waiting: Who will rule Maharashtra next?
In Maharashtra, upcoming elections raise questions on who will win- Mahayuti or MVA, and who will be the next CM. Various names are in contention
Updated on Jul 22, 2024 09:30 AM IST
‘We will insist that Uddhav Thackeray is declared as MVA’s CM candidate:’ Parab
Parab, who is a key strategist, also said that the MVA allies are aware they will have to work on several things including an amicable seat-sharing pact
Updated on Jul 17, 2024 08:58 AM IST
Why Bhujbal landed unannounced at Sharad Pawar’s home
A day after he suggested that Sharad Pawar was out to “set Maharashtra on fire” over the quota issue, Chhagan Bhujbal landed at his former boss’s Mumbai home
Updated on Jul 16, 2024 09:15 AM IST
Ruling alliance Mahayuti shifts gears, leaders plan statewide campaign
Top leaders of the three parties will soon start criss-crossing the state as a massive campaign blitzkrieg is expected to be unveiled
Updated on Jul 15, 2024 09:29 AM IST
Mahayuti's council victory gives it a boost after LS drubbing in Maharashtra
In contrast, the opposition MVA alliance faced a setback, losing one of its three candidates and encountering apparent cross-voting from some of its MLAs
Updated on Jul 13, 2024 02:45 PM IST
Maharashtra MLC poll results: Boost for Mahayuti, setback for MVA
The opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) gambit to win more seats in the elections than its strength in the assembly failed
Updated on Jul 13, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Defiant Ajit Pawar launches bid to retain ground, hires political strategist
A year ago, Pawar led a rebellion against his uncle and NCP founder Sharad Pawar
Updated on Jul 10, 2024 09:03 AM IST
Planning a magic
Mahayuti alliance boosts morale with budget schemes for women, farmers, and families ahead of state elections, despite concerns of high costs and opposition strategy.
Updated on Jul 08, 2024 07:06 AM IST
Parties out to settle scores in legislative council election
Ostensibly, the fight is on for 11 seats between the Mahayuti and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), but the ruling coalition has fielded nine candidates while the Opposition three. None of the 12 has withdrawn from the fray even as the deadline to file nominations ended on Friday
Updated on Jul 06, 2024 08:18 AM IST
Leadership chose me as they believe in me and I have performed well: Varsha Gaikwad
Varsha Gaikwad speaks at length about the events in the past two months and how the Congress was readying for the vital assembly elections in Mumbai that would have “repercussions at the national level”
Updated on Jul 05, 2024 09:08 AM IST
Fears of cross-voting as Mahayuti-versus-MVA contest likely for 11 MLC seats
Speculations arise ahead of Maharashtra legislative council election with 12 candidates for 11 seats, sparking fears of cross-voting and horse-trading
Updated on Jul 03, 2024 08:56 AM IST
Eknath Shinde, then and now
With indications from Delhi that Shinde will be the face of the three-party alliance in the assembly elections, none of the BJP leaders chose to go against him
Updated on Jul 01, 2024 09:18 AM IST
Maharashtra budget: Petrol and diesel to be cheaper by 65 paise and ₹2.07 in Mumbai, women to get ₹1,500 per month
Presenting his first full budget as finance minister in the Mahayuti government, Pawar also announced free higher education for girls from weaker sections, waiver of farmers’ electricity bills, and an apprenticeship scheme with a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 for 1 million young people
Updated on Jun 29, 2024 08:56 AM IST
Maharashtra Budget: Farmer, woman, youth; Pawar picks populism ahead of polls
The budget's unveiling comes at a critical time for the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which secured only 17 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in recent polls
Published on Jun 28, 2024 05:24 PM IST
Shiv Sena (UBT) wants Uddhav Thackeray as CM candidate, MVA allies non-committal
Thackeray had to unceremoniously step down as chief minister in June 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion in the Shiv Sena and pulled down his government
Updated on Jun 28, 2024 08:41 AM IST
Ruling Mahayuti back to the drawing table in its bid to retain power in state
The challenge before the Mahayuti is to win back voters, find a solution to the alienation of Marathas and prevent voting for the MVA by Dalits and Muslims.
Published on Jun 27, 2024 08:00 AM IST
Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray could change stand on rebel MLAs
Sharad Pawar said he will pick new faces for assembly elections, and added that he might consider some of the MLAs who went with Ajit Pawar
Updated on Jun 25, 2024 11:47 AM IST
Season of migration?
MVA MLAs consider returning to original factions, Khadse may return to BJP, MNS eyes Worli seat, Maharashtra loses heavy industries portfolio in new govt.
Updated on Jun 24, 2024 06:42 AM IST
Why is Chhagan Bhujbal unhappy in the NCP?
For the second day in a row, senior NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal expressed his anguish about not getting a chance to move to Parliament
Updated on Jun 15, 2024 08:52 AM IST
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