No LoP, Rising Political Tensions Mark Start of Maharashtra Legislature Session
Amid heightened political tensions due to the rebellion of six Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT), the three-week monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature is set to begin on Monday.
Mumbai: Amid heightened political tensions due to the rebellion of six Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT), the three-week monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature is set to begin on Monday. While the BJP-led ruling Mahayuti alliance is in dominant mood, the opposition parties are planning to focus on farmer loan waivers, falling prices of agricultural produce, drought conditions, unemployment and inflation to confront the State Government.
The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) boycotted the traditional ‘tea party’ hosted by the state government on the eve of the session. They submitted a six-page memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, raising various issues including farm loan waivers, the NEET exam controversy and the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition.
This session too, the legislature is also likely to function without officially recognised Leaders of Opposition in either the Vidhan Sabha or the Vidhan Parishad. The opposition parties accused the State Government of not filling these posts due to fear of their misdeeds getting exposed.
“The post of Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional one. However, the opposition is not even allowed to voice its views. The ruling party fears that if the opposition exercises the powers vested in the Leader of the Opposition, many of their misdeeds will be exposed,” said senior Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav.
The ruling alliance, however, is expected to hold elections for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad during the opening week of the session. Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe, who was recently re-elected to the Upper House, is likely to be renominated and is expected to sail through easily due to the alliance’s numerical strength.
The opposition has accused the government of failing to adequately prepare for an agrarian crisis due to a possible drought-like situation linked to El Nino conditions. It is expected to demand immediate compensation for crop losses and seek relaxation of conditions attached to the state’s Rs 36,585 crore farm loan waiver programme.
“Even as June draws to a close, there is no sign of rain. Kharif sowing operations have stalled. In areas where farmers sowed seeds out of hope, a situation has arisen where the seeds are likely to go to waste. Over the past few days, banana growers and orchard farmers in Nashik, Jalgaon, Dhule, Solapur, Satara, Pune, and Sangli have suffered immense losses. Orchards growing crops like grapes, guavas and pomegranates have been damaged, yet the government has not announced any relief. Onion-growing farmers are in distress,” stated Jayant Patil, the NCP (SP) MLA.
However, CM Fadnavis said that the State Government’s loan waiver scheme’s focus is on ensuring the survival and financial empowerment of farmers. “We have implemented loan waivers even when there were no upcoming elections. He noted that the current relief measures are designed to benefit approximately 5.6 million farmers,” he said.
The government is also expected to introduce a bill aimed at empowering women farmers, alongside announcing several policy initiatives to support the farming community and simplify public services through reforms in the revenue department.