scorecardresearch
Friday, August 15, 2025
HomeStateDraft

StateDraft

More political & more cartoon-centric — Bal Thackeray’s 60-yr-old weekly Marmik gets new look

Since 17 November, Marmik has published three more editions along the lines of its revamp plans of making the weekly almost like a deeper shadow of Shiv Sena’s Saamana. 

In Shiv Sena’s support to farmer protests, a deliberate strategy to shed its urban image

Shiv Sena, which has a very Mumbai-centric urban image, has backed almost every farmers’ protest in Maharashtra & the country over the past few years.

After year in opposition, this is how ‘unbeatable’ BJP is planning to regroup in Maharashtra

BJP was confident the MVA govt wouldn’t last but has now spent a year in opposition — its image, of an unbeatable force with a ‘development first’ agenda, having taken a beating. 

Packed meeting rooms, no mask — no surprise 18 of Maharashtra’s 43 ministers got Covid

While politicians are more susceptible to Covid due to the very nature of their job, the number of ministers infected in Maharashtra is one of the highest in the country.

NCP aide, Modi backer, now Mumbai’s ‘Godfather’ — the political gymnastics of Raj Thackeray

The MNS chief’s latest political avatar, aimed at the 2022 Mumbai civic polls, is to project himself as a ‘godfather’ who solves people’s woes and champions Marathi pride. 

Aarey to Kanjurmarg in 9 yrs — Mumbai Metro car shed to still take over 2 yrs if all goes well

CM Thackeray has shifted the car shed for Mumbai’s costliest metro rail out of Aarey Colony. But it took years of political back and forth for the project to reach Kanjurmarg.

Not all farmers are against Modi’s new farm laws, this group in Maharashtra is celebrating

Farmers associated with Shetkari Sanghatana, founded by economist Sharad Joshi in 1978, believe the laws are a step closer to their demand — freedom of access to markets.

Gilbert Hill, a Mesozoic Era marvel Thackeray govt wants to preserve after years of neglect

Last week, Uddhav Thackeray spoke about preserving Gilbert Hill, which is rare and special, but has been reduced to a trifling hillock in the dense suburb of Andheri.

How Aaditya Thackeray’s using Covid downtime to prep Maharashtra as post-pandemic tourist hub

Since the beginning of the year, the Maharashtra tourism department has sent at least 5 major policy decisions to state cabinet, all of which have been approved.

In Aaditya and Rohit, seeds of another Thackeray-Pawar friendship in Maharashtra politics

Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, has been praising Aaditya Thackeray for his work and returning barbs of his political opponents.

On Camera

Trump is swinging on Russia again. What this means for Europe’s security architecture

The dynamics between Europe and Russia have gone so south that mending fences looks like an uphill task—even as the US swings between sanctions and olive branches.

Slashing GST on waste can unlock Rs 1.8 lakh crore, high tax hurting circular economy goals—CSE

Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.

President awards 1st set of Sarvottam Yudh Seva medals since Kargil, 7 honoured for leading Op Sindoor

This year, the Indian Air Force received four of the seven awards, followed by the Indian Army with two medals, and the Indian Navy with one. 

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.