Maharashtra MLC Polls: BJP’s Arun Lakhani Faces Scrutiny Over Family Ties to Sharad Pawar’s Kin The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) selection of Arun Lakhani as its candidate for the Wardha-Chandrapur-Gadchiroli MLC seat has sparked significant debate, primarily due to his close familial connections with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leadership. Lakhani’s son, Sarang, is engaged to Revati Sule, the daughter of Supriya Sule. Supriya, a prominent NCP working national president and Baramati MP, is also the daughter of Sharad Pawar, the leader of the NCP. This union between families representing opposing political ideologies—BJP and NCP—has drawn widespread attention on social media, with many questioning the BJP’s rationale for endorsing Lakhani. The BJP’s decision has been met with mixed reactions. While the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), has avoided directly criticizing Lakhani, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut has highlighted the ideological divide between the families. Raut described Lakhani as an “RSS guy,” emphasizing his long-standing association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and his role as a founding figure of the Sangh in Vidarbha. He noted that the ideological differences between the families are “100% and extreme,” but stressed that the personal relationship between the two families is a private matter. Raut also pointed out that the BJP’s choice to nominate Lakhani should be questioned directly with the party, as the decision lies solely with them. Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, when asked about the BJP’s candidature for Lakhani, reiterated that the Congress has no stake in the matter. He stated, “What is Congress’s connection here? BJP gave the ticket.#bjp #sharad_pawar #shiv_sena #nationalist_congress_party #arun_lakhani
Global Energy Crisis Disrupts Jal Jeevan Mission Pipeline Projects Nagpur: The ongoing global energy crisis, exacerbated by the US-Iran conflict, has disrupted critical infrastructure projects under India’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a government initiative aimed at providing tap water connections to every rural household. The crisis has particularly impacted the supply of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines, which form the backbone of the mission’s arterial network. HDPE, a petroleum-derived material, is essential for constructing the last-mile water distribution systems. However, manufacturers are now facing severe supply constraints and soaring prices, threatening the progress of JJM projects across states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The conflict has triggered a sharp rise in crude oil prices, which has directly affected the cost of HDPE. Market sources report that the price of HDPE has surged from Rs1.03 lakh per metric tonne in February to Rs1.62 lakh per MT, a 50% increase. This jump has exceeded the escalation clauses in government contracts, which are designed to adjust for inflation based on broader commodity indices. Contractors argue that the current price surge is unprecedented and not accounted for in existing contractual terms, leaving them vulnerable to financial losses. Arun Lakhani, chairman of Vishwaraj Group, which undertakes water supply contracts for JJM in multiple states, confirmed the supply crisis. “The rates have gone beyond reasonable levels, but the supply constraints are having a far greater impact on the contracts,” he said. Lakhani highlighted that delays in payments from state governments had already hampered JJM progress, and the current situation risks further slowing down the project.#us_iran_conflict #jal_jeevan_mission #high_density_polyethylene #arun_lakhani #anirudh_hazra
