Mumbai, June 21: The Maharashtra Assembly’s three-week monsoon session is set to commence on Monday, running until July 10. This session is expected to be tumultuous, marked by political upheaval and weather-related challenges. The political atmosphere is heated due to the alleged ‘Operation Tiger,’ while irregular monsoon patterns and farmers’ issues pose significant challenges for the government.
Ahead of the session, ‘Operation Tiger’ has become the focal point of state politics. The opposition accuses the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition of attempting to sway some Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) to its side. Recently, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray launched a sharp attack on alleged rebel leaders, labeling them as “shameless and ungrateful” during the party’s 60th foundation day celebrations.
This time, it is anticipated that neither the Assembly nor the Legislative Council will have an official leader of the opposition. Consequently, the ruling party aims to leverage this situation to advance its legislative agenda. In response to ‘Operation Tiger,’ Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has warned of initiating ‘Operation Wolf,’ indicating a more aggressive stance from the opposition within the house.
The ruling coalition plans to conduct elections for the Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council in the first week of the monsoon session. There are indications that Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe may be reinstated in this position after being re-elected as a member of the Legislative Council.
Amidst political accusations, the plight of farmers will also remain a key issue. The erratic and prolonged weak monsoon in Maharashtra has raised concerns in the agricultural sector. The government has urged farmers to refrain from hasty sowing and to wait for the next advisory from the meteorological department.
Water levels in over 3,000 reservoirs across the state are continuously declining, prompting the government to initiate several relief and rescue measures. However, the opposition claims that the government has not adequately prepared to tackle the drought-like conditions caused by El Niño.
Uncertain weather has also impacted the sowing of Kharif crops. The opposition is gearing up to confront the government over the conditions of the ₹36,585 crore agricultural loan waiver scheme, demanding unconditional loan forgiveness and immediate compensation for crop losses.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane have stated that the government has relaxed several conditions of the loan waiver scheme, benefiting over 4 million farmers so far.
The opposition is also preparing to challenge the government on issues such as inflation, the impact of conflicts in West Asia, NEET exam controversies, crimes against women, law and order, the Maratha-OBC reservation dispute, Special Intensive Review (SIR), and the sub-categorization of Scheduled Caste reservations.
Meanwhile, the government plans to highlight its achievements in resolving issues related to the Maratha and OBC communities, police modernization, controlling the rising drug trade, and enhancing women’s safety. It may also introduce a bill aimed at empowering women farmers and announce several reformative measures related to the revenue department to provide relief to farmers and the general public.
Political analysts believe that this session will serve as a platform for more than just standard legislative proceedings; it will be a battleground for political power displays and dominance. With the session commencing with demands for supplementary budget approvals, sharp debates, slogans, walkouts, and political confrontations are anticipated. Given the current political climate in Maharashtra, this monsoon session is viewed as a crucial platform for shaping the state’s political and economic future.
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