The chief minister said a joint committee of representatives of the government and the unions would discuss nitty-gritty of the welfare board and schemes to be rolled out for drivers and owners within seven days.

Authorities have declared a public holiday in Mumbai on Tuesday after IMD forecasts heavy rain. “People in Mumbai should avoid stepping out of their homes on Tuesday due to heavy rains,” the official said.

Against the backdrop of a planned agitation by Marathi litterateurs, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday reiterated that teaching Marathi is mandatory in all the schools in the state-affiliated to any Central or state education boards.

 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday said the state government would seek a legal opinion on creating a framework for hearing litigations against the projects costing over Rs 100 crore.

The senior IAS officer said the scheme, approved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, envisages setting up one lakh units in five years, 40 per cent of them in rural areas.Kamble said this year's target is setting up of 10,000 micro-ventures to be set up by first-generation entrepreneurs.

The 13 comprise 10 from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two from Shiv Sena and one from ally the Republican Party of India (A) (RPI-A).

Fadnavis  also elaborated on the benefits of Jal Yukt Shivar farm ponds and the ongoing irrigation projects and plans for the ambitious Marathwada Watergrid project. 

According to present indications, a few ministers are likely to be dropped or shifted, some may be promoted and around half a dozen new ones could be inducted to fill up existing vacancies.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister, who will be completing five years of rule this October, spoke extensively about his ally Shiv Sena, and made the audience guffaw when he made sarcastic remarks about NCP chief Sharad Pawar. He also spoke about MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

"I believe that Modi has started taking strong steps in Kashmir. Like Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, who brought about the unconditional merger of 542 princely states in the Indian Union, Modi will also bring the Kashmir question to an end."

In the latest edition of the Election Special Aap Ki Adalat, Rajat Sharma put Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the dock.

In the latest edition of the Election Special Aap Ki Adalat, Rajat Sharma put Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the dock. The show will be broadcast at 10 pm tonight at India TV. You can watch the show here.

Earlier on Monday, BJP president Amit Shah met Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.

Maharashtra accounts for the second highest number of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the country after Uttar Pradesh, which has 80.

Taking a swipe at opposition unity, Fadnavis said that 'MahaThug Bandhan' will achieve nothing and it is time to strive and ensure that the reforms initiated after 2014 are continued by bringing back Modi to power.

The state has collaborated with the World Economic Forum for Fourth Industrial Revolution and has begun pilot project to introduce drones in agriculture, the chief minister said. 

Speaking to IndiaTV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma at Lokmat National Conclave, Fadnavis pointed out that the BJP got more votes than the Congress in Assembly polls.

The Maharashtra Assembly has passed a bill giving 16 per cent reservation to Marathas under socially and educationally backward category.

Around Rs 21,000 crore were distributed to farmers under the loan waiver scheme, while another 27,000 crore were given under various direct benefit transfer schemes, the chief minister said.

"We've accepted the recommendations and constituted a Cabinet Sub-committee to take statutory steps for implementing them", said Fadnavis.