Kartik Lokhande's blog

By Kartik Lokhande “The day rainwater got arrested at the weir... It was a day of joy for entire village. The location of the reservoir has become a spot to sit and relax for villagers. It is also a location, the sight of which boosts confidence of farmers,” says an enthusiastic Abhay Dhokne, a farmer from village Madni (Amgaon) in Seloo tehsil of Wardha district. Neither is Dhokne the only farmer with such a positive reaction, nor is Madni (Amgaon) the only village where positive result of a well-planned ambitious initiative ‘Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan’ of Maharashtra Government is visible. The wonderful initiative ‘Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan’ has arrested rainwater, percolated joy among villagers, and has also sowed seeds of confidence among farmers across Maharashtra. Dhokne, who tills 8 acres of land, takes various crops including sugarcane and soyabean. The nullah, where the weir has been built now, has been a source of water for farmers in the area. A couple of years ag...

* Thousands of people thronged the streets and still more continued pouring in to get a glimpse of Devendra Fadnavis on his maiden arrival after taking over as Chief Minister * Rangolis of BJP symbol of Lotus, aarti, shower of flower petals, slogans in praise, sea of Nagpurians, and spilling over enthusiasm and joy welcome Fadnavis By Kartik Lokhande  Sunday, the November 2, 2014, will be recorded in the history of Nagpur in golden letters. For, on this day, a sea of Nagpurians welcomed the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra from the city in a never-seen-before manner. For, how much the city loves the man called Devendra Fadnavis, was seen on every street in the form of colourful rangolis, gantries, hoardings, banners, posters, shower of flower petals, slogans, joy, respect, and awe. For, entire Orange City had become one persona with only one mood -- celebration. On his maiden arrival in his home-town after taking over as the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ele...

* BJP has fielded Dr Ashish Deshmukh against his uncle Anil Deshmukh, who is NCP heavyweight and one of the longest serving ministers from the district, is seeking fifth consecutive term from Katol By Kartik Lokhande  It’s all in the family in Katol constituency of Legislative Assembly, this time. Against the NCP heavyweight Anil Deshmukh, BJP has fielded his nephew Dr Ashish Deshmukh. NCP’s long-term ally Congress, and BJP’s estranged ally Shiv Sena are contesting separately. Anil Deshmukh’s old rival Virendra Deshmukh’s son Rahul also is in the fray as Peasants’ and Workers’ Party (PWP) candidate. All these elements have added the component of keen interest to the contest this time. Traditionally, Katol has been a bastion of Congress and its factions. But, the voter behaviour has been erratic as in the very second election of Maharashtra Assembly in 1967, voters in Katol elected an Independent in J S Chandak, while pushing the incumbent legislator Shankarrao Gedam...