Love to wear sarees daily? Beware, draping it tightly may give you skin cancer, warned doctors in Bihar and Maharashtra on Wednesday. 

After treating two women with this type of malignancy, doctors from Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Wardha, and Madhubani Medical College and Hospital, in Bihar warned that tightly tied waist cord of the underskirt (petticoat) traditionally worn under a saree, particularly in rural parts of India, may cause continued friction linked to chronic inflammation, leading to skin ulceration, and in some cases, progress to skin cancer.

The phenomenon has previously been described as “saree cancer,” but it is the tightness of the waist cord that’s to blame, the doctors pointed out in the study published in the BMJ Case Reports, and dubbed it as ‘petticoat cancer’.

In the first case, a 70-year-old woman sought medical help because of a painful skin ulcer on her right flank that she had had for 18 months and which wouldn’t heal. The skin in the surrounding area had lost its pigmentation. She wore her petticoat underneath her Nauvari saree which was tightly tied around her waist.

The doctors conducted a biopsy, which revealed that the woman had a Marjolin ulcer, also known as squamous cell carcinoma (ulcerating skin cancer).

Another woman in her late 60s consulted doctors for an ulcer on her right flank that wouldn’t heal for two years. For 40 long years, she has been wearing a traditional ‘lugda’ saree daily, which is tied very tightly around the waist without an underskirt.

A biopsy specimen revealed that she too had a Marjolin ulcer. The cancer had already spread to one of the lymph nodes in her groyne when she was diagnosed.

A Marjolin ulcer is rare but aggressive. It develops in chronic burn wounds, non-healing wounds, leg ulcers, tuberculous skin nodules, and in vaccination and snake bite scars, the doctors explained.

The doctors noted that while the exact mechanism by which chronic ulcers or wounds become malignant remains unknown, “every cutaneous lesion that is continuously irritated (chronically inflamed) has been shown to have a higher risk of developing malignant transformation.”

“Constant pressure at the waist often leads to cutaneous atrophy, which ultimately breaks down to form an erosion or an ulcer,” they added.

The experts said that this ulcer often “does not heal entirely due to ongoing pressure from tight clothing. A chronic non-healing wound results, which may develop malignant change”.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday hinted at retiring from politics. The senior politician said that he had fought elections 14 times and stressed the need to hand over responsibility to the new generation.

Pawar made the remark during his visit to Baramati to campaign for party candidate and grandson Yugendra Pawar, who will take on his uncle Ajit Pawar in the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls.

Pawar stated that after completing his Rajya Sabha tenure, he would consider whether to leave his parliamentary position.

“I am not in power. I am in Rajya Sabha and the last one and a half years are left. I have already contested 14 elections. How many more shall I contest? Every time you have made me win the elections. I should stop somewhere. A new generation should be brought in,” reported ANI, quoting Pawar.

The former chief minister said that he would continue to do social work and would not need any elections for that, adding, “I will not contest in the Lok Sabha. I will not contest any election.”

Pawar’s Rajya Sabha tenure will be completed in 2026.

Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting in Shirsuphal, Pawar acknowledged Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s contribution to Baramati but asserted that the region needs new leadership for its development for the next three decades.

“Now, it’s time to prepare for the future. We need to groom leadership that will work for the next 30 years,” the former Union minister said, adding that everyone should get an opportunity, and he had never held anyone back.

In an apparent dig at Ajit Pawar, he said if someone keeps saying he will take everything, people may not say anything but will disapprove of it.

Pawar further said that though he hadn’t come to ask for votes recently, the people of Baramati have never disappointed him.

Congress in-charge for Maharashtra, Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday hit out at the Mahayuti alliance, claiming that unlike them, the Congress has given “equal treatment to all parties” in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Also Read: Maharashtra Election 2024: BJP fighting 152 seats, Congress 102, no clarity on few as nominations end

“Nominations have been filed on all 288 seats by Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates. When you compare MVA with Mahayuti, there is no tussle within our group. Mahayuti is finished now. We have given equal treatment to all parties in MVA. In Mahayuti, BJP has stolen all seats of NCP and Shiv Sena-Shinde,” he said during a press conference.

The “tussle” refers to Bharatiya Janata Party opposing the nomination of Nawab Malik as Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) candidate from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar.

Earlier, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya called Malik a terrorist, saying, “Nawab Malik is a terrorist who tried to break India into pieces. He is Dawood’s agent and Ajit Pawar’s NCP has betrayed the country by giving ticket to Nawab Malik. On behalf of Mahayuti, Eknath Shinde’s candidate Suresh Krishna Patil (Bullet Patil) of the Bharatiya Janata Party started campaigning yesterday.”

Chennithala further claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to “kill” their alliance partners, the Congress has just given the A and B forms to candidates who were already announced.

“This is a clear message that the BJP wanted to kill their alliance partners…We have given ‘A’ & ‘B’ forms only to those candidates whose names have been announced by the party. Those Congress leaders who have filed nominations independently should withdraw their nominations,” he said.

He further criticised the implementation of the state government’s Ladli Behen Yojana, saying that the government has no funds for the scheme, which is why it was stopped by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

“They have no funds for the Ladli Behen Yojana in the Maharashtra government treasury, which is why through the ECI they stopped the schemes. The women of Maharashtra will not get any money from the govt. It was all lies told before the elections,” Chennithala said.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with counting for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. 

महाराष्ट्र विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए शिवसेना शिंदे गुट ने अपने 15 उम्मीदवारों की लिस्ट जारी की है. इनमें से शिवसेना के 13 और सहयोगी दल के 2 उमीदवार हैं. लिस्ट में मुंबादेवी विधानसभा क्षेत्र से शिंदे सेना गुट से भाजपा की शायना एनसी चुनाव लड़ेंगी. शिंदे सेना को 1 या 2 सीटें और मिल सकती हैं. बीजेपी से बातचीत अभी भी जारी है.

रविवार को एकनाथ शिंदे की शिव सेना ने 20 उम्मीदवारों के नाम का ऐलान किया था. इस लिस्ट में संजय निरुपम को दिंडोशी और मिलिंद देवड़ा को वर्ली से टिकट दिया गया. गौर करने वाली बात है कि मिलिंद देवड़ा वर्ली विधायक आदित्य ठाकरे के खिलाफ मैदान में होंगे.

अंधेरी पूर्वी सीट पर पूर्व बीजेपी नेता मुरजी पटेल को खड़ा किया गया है. यह सीट पहले से ही चर्चा में थी क्योंकि शिंदे ने पहले यहां से पूर्व एनकाउंटर स्पेशलिस्ट और एंटीलिया मामले में आरोपी प्रदीप शर्मा की पत्नी को मैदान में उतारने की योजना बनाई थी. हालांकि, बीजेपी ने इस पर जोरदार आपत्ति जताई, जिसके बाद योजना बदलनी पड़ी.

मिलिंद देवड़ा लड़ेंगे आदित्य ठाकरे के खिलाफ चुनाव 
मिलिंद देवड़ा को हाल ही में शिवसेना ने राज्यसभा सांसद के रूप में नामित किया था. वह अब वर्ली सीट पर आदित्य ठाकरे के खिलाफ मुकाबला करेंगे. वर्ली, जो मराठी मध्यवर्गीय, मछुआरा समुदाय और समृद्ध वर्ग का क्षेत्र है, वहां माना जा रहा है कि मिलिंद देवड़ा अपनी कुछ छाप छोड़ सकते हैं. अपने नाम के ऐलान से पहले सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म ‘X’ पर देवड़ा ने कहा था कि उनका ध्यान वर्लीकरों के लिए लंबित न्याय को पूरा करने पर है.

आदित्य ठाकरे ने कसा तंज 
वर्ली से मौजूदा विधायक आदित्य ठाकरे ने कहा कि महायुति पिछले पांच सालों में मेरे खिलाफ एक भी उम्मीदवार नहीं ढूंढ पाई. हालांकि, आदित्य ने तंज कसा कि कई उम्मीदवार सिर्फ अपने प्रचार के लिए मैदान में होंगे. साथ ही, बगल के माहिम निर्वाचन क्षेत्र से मौजूदा विधायक सदा सरवणकर ने दावा किया कि लोग उन लोगों को वोट देंगे जो शिवसेना सुप्रीमो बालासाहेब ठाकरे की वैचारिक विरासत को आगे ले जा रहे हैं. इस बीच, आदित्य ठाकरे के सहयोगी और बांद्रा ईस्ट निर्वाचन क्षेत्र से उम्मीदवार वरुण सरदेसाई ने कहा कि हम यह चुनाव उद्धव ठाकरे को एक बार फिर मुख्यमंत्री बनाने के लिए लड़ रहे हैं.

एकनाथ शिंदे समेत राज्य के कई बड़े नेताओं ने किया नामांकन
महाराष्ट्र के मुख्यमंत्री और शिवसेना के अध्यक्ष एकनाथ शिंदे ने सोमवार को आगामी विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए कोपरी-पचपखड़ी विधानसभा क्षेत्र से नामांकन भर दिया है. ये सीट ठाणे जिले में आती है. नामांकन के दौरान बेटे ऋत्विक और परिवार के सदस्य मौजूद थे. नामांकन दाखिल करने से पहले उन्होंने घर में पूजा अर्चना की. इस सीट से 2019 महाराष्ट्र विधानसभा चुनाव में एकनाथ शिंदे जीते थे. इससे पहले 2014 के चुनाव में भी शिवसेना की टीकट पर एकनाथ शिंदे ने 100,420 वोटो से जीत हासिल की थी. वहीं इस सीट से शिवसेना (UBT) ने ठाणे के कद्दावर नेता दिवंगत आनंद दिघे के भतीजे केदार दिघे को चुनावी मैदान में उतारा है.

अब तक किसने, कितने उम्मीदवार घोषित किए

महाविकास अघाड़ी

शिवसेना यूबीटी = 65+15+4= 84
कांग्रेस = 48+23+ 16+12 = 99
राष्ट्रवादी सपा = 45+22 +9+ 6= 82
कुल = 265
बची सीटें = 23

महायुति गठबंधन

भाजपा = 99+22+25 = 146
शिवसेना = 45+20 +13= 78
एनसीपी = 38+7 +4= 49
सहयोगी – 6
कुल = 279
बची सीटें = 9

The Election Commission of India (ECI) allocated a revised ‘Mashaal’ (flaming torch) symbol to the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction ahead of the Maharashtra state assembly elections.

During the Lok Sabha polls, the original ‘mashaal’ symbol was criticised by the Uddhav faction for resembling an ice cream cone.

The updated version features a clearer representation of the ‘mashaal.’

Also Read: Maharashtra Elections: Congress’ Nana Patole shares big update on MVA seat finalisation, says ‘we decided 260 seats…’

Earlier in October 2022, the Election Commission (EC) assigned the name ‘Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’ to the faction led by Eknath Shinde and ‘Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)’ to Uddhav Thackeray’s faction.

The EC rejected the allocation of symbols like ‘Trishul’, ‘Rising Sun’, and ‘Gada’ as they were “not in the list of free symbols.”

The commission had previously asked the Shinde faction to submit a list of three new symbols by October 11 and declared the ‘flaming torch’ as the symbol for candidates of the Thackeray faction in the current by-election, pending a final resolution of the ongoing dispute.

Eknath Shinde split from the Shiv Sena in June 2022, leading to the downfall of the Maharashtra government headed by then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Also Read: Maharashtra Polls: Mahayuti to seal seat-sharing pact? All eyes on key meet today | 10 points

Following the split, the Election Commission of India assigned the ‘mashaal’ symbol to Uddhav Thackeray’s faction and the ‘two swords and shield’ symbol to Shinde’s faction.

These symbols had previously been associated with the original Shiv Sena before it adopted the iconic ‘bow and arrow’ symbol. The Shiv Sena, founded by Bal Thackeray, notably won an election in 1985 using the ‘flaming torch’ symbol.

Elections for the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly are set to take place in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.

Eknath Shinde became Chief Minister in June 2022 after a split in the Shiv Sena and has navigated various challenges while leading the coalition government. His journey from starting as a rickshaw driver to reaching the highest political office in Maharashtra is considered a remarkable underdog story.

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As the Election Commission (EC) of India has announced the dates for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, a senior Congress leader has raised concerns over the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs). 

Maharashtra assembly elections will be held in a single phase on November 20, and the votes will be counted on November 23. Jharkhand polls will be held in two phases, on November 13 and November 20, and the result will be declared on November 23.

Triggering a fresh controversy, Congress leader Rashid Alvi has cast doubts on the EVMs. “If Israel can allegedly target individuals using pagers and walkie-talkies, what does that imply for the security of EVMs?” Alvi asked. 

He further suggested that the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand should be conducted using paper ballots instead of EVMs. 

Alvi’s statement assumes significance as it was made on the day the election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand were announced.

“In Maharashtra, the Opposition should put pressure to insist on voting by paper ballot and not EVMs. Otherwise, in Maharashtra, the BJP govt and the EC can do anything. If Israel can kill people by use of pagers and walkie-talkies, then where does EVM stand?” he said.

“The PM has very good relations with Israel. Israel is an expert in such things. EVM ka bada khel kahin bhi ho sakta hai aur uske liye BJP chunav se pehle yeh sab khel kar leti hai.”

What did the EC say?

However, refuting the allegations, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday assured that EVMs are 100 per cent foolproof

Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, “The public answers questions by participating in the voting. As far as the EVMs are concerned, they are 100 per cent foolproof. If they raise questions today again, we will tell them again.”

Last week, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also submitted a memorandum to the poll body on the same matter. Ramesh hoped that the body would take cognizance of the issue and give appropriate instructions.

Taking to social media platform X, Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, wrote, “On October 9, senior Congress party leaders submitted a memorandum full of complaints to the Election Commission. Taking it forward today, we have given an updated memorandum, highlighting serious and clear irregularities in the election process in 20 assembly constituencies of Haryana. We hope that the Election Commission will take cognizance of this and issue appropriate instructions.”

The Election Commission announced the poll dates for Maharashtra and Jharkhand on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Dussehra rally: Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday launched a scathing attack on each other’s parties while addressing separate Dussehra rallies in Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) rally was held at Shivaji Park while the Ekanth Shinde’s rally at Azad Maidan.

Holding their respective rallies, both Thackeray and Shinde set the tone for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.

Both the leaders also claimed that the real Shiv Sena belongs to them.

While claiming that they freed Shiv Sena from those who betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals, Eknath Shinde said that earlier everyone thought that the Shinde government would fall in 2–3 months. However, the government completed 2 years. “If the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government had not been removed, Maharashtra would have been left far behind,” claimed Shinde. Whereas, taking a swipe at the BJP and the Shinde government, Thackeray said that he is ready to fight against the Delhi rule and ‘corrupt’ government.

What Uddhav Said:

— BJP is like Kauravas, smacks of arrogance.

— Parted ways with BJP as I don’t believe in its version of Hindutva.

— BJP should be ashamed of calling itself Bharatiya, it no longer belongs to people.

— I am ready to fight against this Delhi rule and corrupt government.

— Ratan Tata had the legacy of his father and I have the legacy of my father Balasaheb Thackeray. “We are the real Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thackeray’s name is with me.”

— Will build temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji in every Maharashtra district when we come to power.

“It (Mahayuti government) built the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj only for votes and that statue collapsed, but I want to tell you and promise you that when we come to power, we will build a temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in every district of Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a vote bank for them, but for us he is God.”

What Eknath Shinde Said

— MVA’s Lok Sabha poll success in Maharashtra accidental, not permanent.

— Shiv Sena won 7 seats in direct fight against Sena (UBT) in Lok Sabha polls which shows we are real Shiv Sena.

— Our government started the Dharavi project and I want to tell the people of Dharavi that no matter what the opposition says, our government is going to give you good houses.

— “Earlier Babu (Uddhav Thackeray) used to wake up, take a bath and go live on Facebook. People never liked Babu’s leadership, that’s why people brought down his government,” reported ANI quoting Shinde.

— Mahayuti government is going to be formed in Maharashtra.

— I thank the Prime Minister for giving Marathi the status of a classical language.

Indian actor Sayaji Shinde joined Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday. The addition of the famous actor is likely to benefit the party in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

Sayaji Shinde has been featured in several Bollywood and Tollywood films. After joining the party, Shinde mentioned that he had never planned to join politics but had always been impressed with NCP’s Ajit Pawar’s strategies. The Indian film industry’s actor had earlier praised the Maharashtra government’s Ladki-Bahin scheme.

“I never thought I would join politics. My decision may also be a shock for many. If I have gone to Mantralaya for 25 times, at least 15 times I met Ajit Pawar. I have liked the strategies of the NCP-Ajit Pawar,” said the actor after joining the party.

Sayaji Shinde joined the political party in the presence of Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, working president of the party Praful Patel, and state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare.

Maharashtra deputy CM Pawar welcomed Sayaji Shinde into the political party and announced him as the star campaigner of the NCP during the upcoming state assembly elections. “Shinde will be given due respect in the party,” PTI quoted Ajit Pawar as saying.

“We feel proud that he is being associated with us. Shinde is also a social activist,” said NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal while welcoming the actor into the party.

Sayaji Shinde is a versatile actor whose work is not limited to any specific language. He has worked in films in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, and Telugu.

Need to be a part of the system to work more effectively, says Shinde

The 65-year-old Shinde applauded Ajit Pawar’s style of functioning and said joining politics would help him work more effectively. “I was impressed by Ajit Pawar’s style of functioning,” the actor said, adding that he interacted with Pawar when working for his favourite cause of tree plantation.

Sayaji Shinde was born in Maharashtra’s Satara district and started his career in Marathi theatre. He achieved his first milestone in the Bollywood industry when he played the role of an antagonist in Hindi film “Shool” released in 1999. Apart from acting in several Marathi and Hindi movies, Sayaji Shinde has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English, Gujarati and Bhojpuri films.

In addition to being a versatile actor, Shinde is also a social activist who has also worked for spreading awareness related to environment protection.

Ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections which are likely to be held in the month of November, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) has moved the Supreme Court to prevent Ajit Pawar camp from using the ‘Clock’ symbol.

The development comes amid NCP(SP) leaders demanding that both the factions of the NCP be treated equally, as only Sharad Pawar camp was given a new poll symbol.

According to Bar and Bench, the plea said that the rival faction leveraged upon the existing confusion in the minds of the people due to a long-standing association between the ‘Clock’ symbol and the Petitioner.

The latest application was filed on September 25.

The plea further stated that confusion would potentially be greater in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections.

Live Law reported the  NCP-SP camp has urged apex court to issue directions to Ajit camp to apply for a fresh symbol for the limited purpose of contesting the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

The matter is scheduled to be heard on October 15. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan will hear the case.

In July 2023, Ajit Pawar along with several other MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government, leading to a split in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founded by his uncle, Sharad Pawar.

The NCP, founded by Sharad Pawar, had ‘clock’ as its election symbol before the split.

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission allotted the NCP name and the ‘clock’ symbol to Ajit Pawar camp in the month of February.

Whereas, in March, Sharad Pawar faction was allowed to use ‘Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar’ as its name and ‘man blowing turha’ (a traditional trumpet) as its symbol by the Supreme court.

The top court had earlier observed that the name and photographs of Sharad Pawar cannot be used by the Ajit Pawar faction for political gains.

When will the Maharashtra elections take place?

Last week, after taking stock of the situation and meeting 11 political parties, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said that the election in the state will have to be completed before the term of legislative assembly ends.