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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To...

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To facilitate this monumental legislative transition, the state government has formally sanctioned the constitution of a dedicated expert committee, which is being spearheaded by a retired High Court judge. This committee has been entrusted with the critical responsibility of meticulously preparing the draft bill for the Uniform Civil Code, which the government intends to enact immediately upon the submission of the final report. Emphasising the overarching objectives of the proposed legislation, Kadam noted that the Uniform Civil Code would universally apply to every citizen irrespective of their religious affiliations and would explicitly incorporate a stringent ban on the controversial practice of polygamy. The minister drew direct parallels with the legislative measures recently adopted by states like Uttarakhand, underscoring that the impending law in Maharashtra would similarly entail severe penal consequences, potentially including imprisonment for up to seven years for violations related to polygamy and illegal divorce practices. He firmly maintained that the government’s approach is fundamentally secular, harboring no animosity toward any specific religion, but is rather driven by the constitutional imperative to extend equal rights, legal protection, and comprehensive justice to women from all communities. This definitive policy assurance from the government was catalysed by a highly volatile calling attention motion initiated by BJP legislator Devyani Farande, which thrust the deeply sensitive issues of triple talaq and polygamy into the center of the assembly’s monsoon session. Farande brought the ongoing plight of Muslim women to the immediate attention of the House, asserting that despite the central government’s strict legislative prohibition, the illegal practice of instant divorce continues to flourish unabated.

Sibling Dominance

At the time of the general election in May this year, of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, the tussle between ruling Mahayuti allies – CM Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the BJP - had been the fiercest over the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency. Both the BJP, by way of the Rane clan and Narayan Rane, and the Sena, in form of Kiran Samant, brother of minister Uday Samant, staking claim.

Kiran, had been eagerly vying for a ticket, was believed to be on the verge of rebellion and had even gone ‘out of range’ at one point. However, the Samant brothers had backed down and ultimately ceded the nomination to Narayan Rane, who won the Lok Sabha.

This time, it is Kiran who is the Assembly election fray from Rajapur, which is part of the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency.


The dominance of the Samant brothers in Ratnagiri has emerged as a pivotal force in Konkan’s political landscape ahead of Assembly polls. They are not just contenders but represent a burgeoning political dynasty in the verdant coastal belt.


The Samants’ ascent is rooted in their ability to engage effectively with the electorate and navigate the treacherous waters of coalition politics. Uday Samant, who is seeking re-election from the Ratnagiri Assembly seat for the fifth consecutive term, already wields significant influence as the state’s Industry Minister.


This, coupled with Kiran’s growing base and grassroots supporters, has ensconced the siblings in a uniquely dominant position throughout Ratnagiri, a constituency that has been a stronghold of the undivided Shiv Sena.


Ravindra Samant, the siblings’ father, was a prominent contractor. Uday entered the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at just 26, winning two consecutive elections on a Nationalist Congress Party ticket before joining Shiv Sena in 2014. His appeal among Ratnagiri’s youth stems from his active engagement in local cultural and religious events, generous support for various causes, and advocacy for sports initiatives, all of which have helped him establish a strong political base in the region.


Uday’s hold over his constituency is said to be so formidable, that opposition parties are compelled to tread cautiously when selecting candidates to challenge him. As Industries minister, he will naturally be touting the investments brought by him during his tenure.


Likewise, though this is Kiran’s debut in the Assembly poll fray from the Rajapur Assembly segment, he can hardly be called a neophyte in politics. Kiran, a prominent figure within Ratnagiri’s government contractor lobby and a key enabler in employment generation in the Konkan, oversees development projects right from the Zilla level onwards. He has running campaigns in several elections.


Kiran’s local base makes him a formidable contender for three-term MLA, incumbent Rajan Salvi of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT).


Salvi, who has initially supported the controversial Nanar-Barsu refinery project, had later reversed his stance, raising questions about the potential repercussions of this shift in the coming contest. Then there is the question whether the Muslim community in Ratnagiri’s Sakhri Nate, which previously voted as a bloc for Uddhav Thackeray in the Lok Sabha elections, will do so this time as Kiran Samant, too, has effectively built a rapport among minorities. Ramdas Kadam, a prominent leader from the Shinde camp, who vocally protested against the BJP’s claim over the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat, will throw his weight behind the Samant brothers as well.


As the election season heats up, all eyes will be on Ratnagiri, where the Samant brothers’ fortunes will not only impact their political ambitions but also signal the future trajectory of the Shiv Sena’s dominance in the Konkan.

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