THANE: The Navi Mumbai incident where the invite for inauguration of a civic health related facility failed to mention the name of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who is also the guardian minister of the district has triggered strong reactions from senior Shiv Sena leaders and close associates of Shinde on Monday.MP Naresh Mhaske and cabinet minister Pratap Sarnaik accused the local BJP of repeatedly sidelining Shinde and warned of escalating the matter before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.Sarnaik said that while the Shiv Sena-led Thane Municipal Corporation has consistently adhered to Mahayuti alliance protocol, the situation in BJP-dominated civic bodies such as Navi Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander presents a contrasting picture.“The Navi Mumbai incident appears deliberate. I had already brought a similar matter to the notice of Chief Minister Fadnavis, who ordered an inquiry. Barely 48 hours later, another such incident has surfaced,” Sarnaik said.He added that he would raise the issue during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting and seek action, including suspension of officials found responsible. “Senior Mahayuti leaders respect alliance dharma. It is time their juniors also follow the same protocol,” he remarked.MP Naresh Mhaske also hit out at BJP MLA Ganesh Naik, saying leaders should focus on their own work instead of attempting to diminish the contributions of others.Citing information attributed to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner, Mhaske claimed Shinde’s name was included in the original invitation issued by the administration but was allegedly removed by the Mayor’s office.“Eknath Shinde’s name is etched in the hearts of the people. Such attempts cannot dent his popularity,” Mhaske said, while alleging that both he and Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre were kept uninformed about the inauguration until the last moment despite having pursued the project since June 2025.

THANE: Residents in several parts of Thane will face a 24-hour water supply shutdown beginning Thursday afternoon after the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) announced a 20% reduction in water supply amid concerns of a potential water shortage in the coming months.The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) said the decision follows a review meeting of the Water Resources Department, where authorities assessed the impact of climatic factors such as El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on water availability.According to TMC, the shutdown will affect areas under the Diva, Kalwa and parts of the Mumbra ward committees. Water supply will also remain suspended in Rupadevi Pada, Kisan Nagar No. 2 and Nehru Nagar in the Wagle Estate ward committee, along with Kolshet Lower Village under the Majiwada-Manpada ward committee.Officials said MIDC informed civic authorities about the 20% water cut as a precautionary measure to manage water resources and ensure adequate availability in the months ahead.The municipal corporation has appealed to residents in the affected areas to store sufficient water in advance and use it judiciously during the shutdown period. Civic officials also urged citizens to cooperate with the administration as it undertakes measures to address the anticipated water shortage.