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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 9:20:26 am

Thousands turn out to welcome ‘Madhuri’ home

Kolhapur: After 409 days away from home, Madhuri, the elephant belonging to the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Sansthan Math at Nandani in Shirol taluka, finally returned to the monastery on Friday night, bringing an outpouring of emotion among residents of Nandani and neighbouring areas. Thousands of people from across communities gathered to receive the elephant, with many visibly moved to tears. The return of Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi, followed a 1,160-km journey from...

Thousands turn out to welcome ‘Madhuri’ home

Kolhapur: After 409 days away from home, Madhuri, the elephant belonging to the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Sansthan Math at Nandani in Shirol taluka, finally returned to the monastery on Friday night, bringing an outpouring of emotion among residents of Nandani and neighbouring areas. Thousands of people from across communities gathered to receive the elephant, with many visibly moved to tears. The return of Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi, followed a 1,160-km journey from Vantara’s elephant rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. She was transported in a specially equipped animal ambulance that left Jamnagar at 7.17 pm on Thursday. Accompanied by the Vantara team and a medical crew, the convoy travelled through Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, Navsari, Vasai, Virar, Thane, Pune, Satara and Karad before reaching Nandani after nearly 32 hours. At Gandhi Chowk in Nandani, thousands waited for her arrival. Drums and traditional dhol-tasha beats, flower showers and chants filled the streets as the convoy passed through the town. People lined both sides of the road merely to catch a glimpse of Madhuri. The celebrations also briefly affected traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru highway. Former MP Raju Shetti was among those who welcomed her, while MLAs Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar and Rahul Awade, Datt Group chairman Ganpatrao Patil, and former MLAs Ulhas Patil and Prakash Awade were also present. A specially prepared floral and fruit arrangement awaited Madhuri near her newly created residence. Banana bunches, papaya, beetroot, apples, oranges, sweet lime, sugarcane, watermelon, pomegranate, pineapple and other fruits were arranged along the route. Citizens also distributed sugar and jaggery and decorated the approach roads with colourful rangolis. The final arrival at the monastery was an emotional moment. Madhuri was brought down from the transport vehicle and entered her newly constructed accommodation amid religious rituals and chants. The monastery’s religious heads, including Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami, Swastishri Dharmasen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami and Swastishri Laxmisen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami, formally welcomed her. Vantara Routine Madhuri was among 376 elephants housed at Vantara’s rehabilitation centre in Gujarat. Two mahouts were assigned to her care. Her daily routine included feeding in the morning, a walk, food and fruits, cleaning and time in the swimming tank. She was given wet and dry fodder and water during the day, followed by another walk in the evening and fruits and fodder at night. A veterinary team regularly monitored her health. ‘Kolhapur has made it happen’ The return follows a prolonged legal and public campaign. After a High Court order resulted in Madhuri being shifted to Vantara, the Nandani Math approached the Supreme Court. The campaign subsequently received support from people across communities, while Shetti led a major public mobilisation. The eventual return of Madhuri has been described by supporters as the result of sustained efforts by the Nandani Math, citizens of Kolhapur and neighbouring districts, and the wider public response across Maharashtra and beyond. Strict Conditions The permission for Madhuri’s return was granted following approval by the high-powered committee. Under the conditions, she will not be made to perform any work. She will receive round-the-clock care and undergo a health examination every 15 days. Vantara’s veterinary department will assist with medical examinations and treatment whenever required. A 40-member Vantara team reached Nandani on Friday to assist with her care and ensure a smooth transition. More than 27 police officers, over 100 police personnel and more than 70 home guards were deployed to maintain law and order during the homecoming.

Discussions on among allies for govt formation: Ajit Pawar

Correspondent
Nov 26, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Ajit Pawar on Monday said discussions were underway among the Mahayuti partners to finalise a formula for the new government formation in the state.


Speaking to reporters at Karad in Satara district, Pawar also acknowledged the contribution of the government's Ladki Bahin scheme, which provides financial assistance to women, in the Mahayuti's victory in the just-concluded state assembly polls.


The NCP leader also assured that the alliance was working cohesively following its resounding victory in the state assembly elections.


Pawar paid tributes to Maharashtra's first chief minister Yashwantrao Chavan at his memorial in Karad on his death anniversary.


In the state poll results declared on Saturday, the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, bagged an impressive 230 of the 288 assembly seats.


The focus has been on BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is being seen as a strong contender to occupy the top post for the third time, as his party bagged 132 of the 149 seats it contested in the state.


Notably, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar has said his party legislators feel Eknath Shinde should continue as the chief minister of the state, where the ruling Mahayuti scored a landslide victory in the assembly polls.


Ajit Pawar said, "We will decide what formula to work out on the cabinet formation among the three parties."


Reflecting on the elections, he acknowledged the contribution of the Ladki Bahin scheme in the Mahayuti's win.


"We cannot ignore that Ladki Bahin helped us in this election. We are grateful to them (women voters)," he said.


Defending the scheme, Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, further said, "Had I been opposed to the Ladki Bahin scheme, I would not have presented it in the House. I discussed the scheme with several retired finance officers before finalising it."


Pawar also dismissed concerns raised by some opposition leaders over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), pointing out that polls in states like Punjab, West Bengal and Telangana, governed by their political opponents, have been conducted with the same system.


Commenting on members of same families contesting against each other during the elections, Pawar expressed annoyance over repeated questions on it.


He then asked, "Why was my close nephew fielded? Atram's own daughter was fielded against him, and even Rajendra Shingne faced a similar challenge. I don't want to comment further on this. I have got tired of apologising for fielding my wife against Supriya. Yugendra was in business, then why was he prepared to contest against me?"


In the Baramati assembly seat, Ajit Pawar was pitted against his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar.


In Aheri seat, NCP leader Dharamraobaba Atram's daughter Bhagyashree Atram contested against him on NCP (SP) ticket.

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