Political Leaders Converge at Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Pandal Amid Ganpati Festival

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and NCP chief Sharad Pawar visited the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal in Mumbai on Monday, offering prayers amid the ongoing Ganpati festival. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde accompanied Shah, while Pawar attended with his family.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar separately visited the famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal in Mumbai on Monday, offering prayers to the deity amid the ongoing Ganpati festival.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and BJP's national general secretary Vinod Tawde were present with Shah during his visit to Mumbai's popular Ganesh pandal in the Lalbaug area.

Shah then proceeded to the Bandra West Ganesh pandal, associated with Mumbai BJP head Ashish Shelar. Earlier on Monday, Shah had visited the official residences of CM Shinde and Fadnavis to offer prayers. This marks the second day of Shah's visit to Mumbai where he also held meetings with top state leaders on Sunday night.

Sharad Pawar, accompanied by his son-in-law Sadanand Sule and granddaughter Revati, also paid a visit to the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal. In a social media post, Pawar stated he prayed for strength to fight for the causes of farmers and common people, despite BJP MLC Pravin Darekar labeling Pawar's visit as 'pretentious.'

The visit comes as the Maharashtra assembly elections approach in a few months' time, adding a political dimension to the religious occasion.

(With inputs from agencies.)