1. Betrayal, Defections Defamed Maharashtra, Sena: Uddhav in Shinde Stronghold          Thane.


Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday inaugurated a medical camp in Maharashtra’s Thane city on the eve of the birth anniversary of late Anand Dighe, a hugely popular politician considered the mentor of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Dighe’s massive popularity made Thane one of the safest seats of the undivided Sena but Shinde’s rebellion last June led to a vast majority of the rank and file in the region moving to the latter’s Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena.

Thackeray’s visit as well as the mega medical camp organised to commemorate Dighe’s anniversary, which falls of Friday, are being seen as an attempt to rebuild the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Thane.

He also paid floral tribute to Dighe at Anand Math, the de facto centre of the Sena movement in Thane for decades now.

Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said Shiv Sena and Maharashtra have been defamed due to the “betrayal and defections" that took place, a reference to Shinde and 39 MLAs bringing down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.



2. "Can't Go Without...": Aide After Nitish Kumar Asks Him To Quit



Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has asked his party colleague and parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha to quit the JD(U).

Mr Kushwaha retorted saying that he could not leave the party without his share in the "paternal property".

This comes amid speculation about Mr Kushwaha 'being in touch' with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Well said, Bhai Saheb....! If the younger brothers keep leaving the house like this at the advice of the elder brothers, then all elder brothers will grab the entire property of Baap-Dada (ancestors) by throwing away the younger brothers. How can I go out (of the party) while leaving behind my share in entire properties...?" Upendra Kushwaha tweeted in Hindi.