Mumbai, June 21: The opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), announced on Sunday that it would boycott the traditional high-tea meeting organized by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, just a day before the Maharashtra Assembly’s monsoon session.
The three-week monsoon session is set to commence on Monday and will conclude on July 10.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, senior MVA leaders including Jayant Patil, Jitendra Awhad, and others criticized the ruling government for failing to address the severe issues plaguing the state.
The opposition stated that participating in a formal tea party while the public faces significant hardships would completely disregard the people’s anger. Following a meeting earlier in the day, they unanimously decided to boycott the tea gathering.
During a press conference, MVA leaders highlighted 13 key issues, showcasing the government’s inaction and insensitivity. They emphasized that the primary reason for their boycott was the vacant positions of Leader of Opposition (LOP) in both the Assembly and the Legislative Council. They accused the government of undermining democratic and constitutional values by leaving these essential watchdog positions unfilled and instead sending separate tea party invitations to MLAs.
Leaders pointed out that delayed rains have led to severe drought conditions. The water storage level in the state’s dams has plummeted to just 23.54 percent, halting agricultural activities.
The opposition criticized the ₹36,585 crore Punnyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Kisan Swatantra Yojana, labeling it a web of conditions and rules rather than genuine relief. They demanded that farmers’ 7/12 land records be cleared and debt-free without any conditions.
Claims have emerged that farmers are receiving very low prices for their produce. The MVA also alleged a major scam in procurement, noting that 11 ineligible cooperative societies were unlawfully awarded NAFED purchase contracts. The compensation of ₹22,000 per hectare for mango and cashew farmers was deemed insufficient, leading to a tragic increase in farmer suicides in the region.
Additionally, the Mumbai-Goa Highway remains incomplete after 17 years, yet toll collection continues at Kharepada. The MVA accused the flagship Ladki Bahin scheme of significant irregularities.
They revealed that out of 2.47 crore beneficiaries, an astonishing 81 lakh were found ineligible, indicating a misallocation of nearly ₹24,300 crore. They also questioned how 14,000 men managed to register on a portal intended solely for women.
Discussing law and order, the MVA noted that 3,279 POCSO cases were registered in the first four months of 2026. The reported statistics included an attack on a minor every 53 minutes and daily incidents of rape involving 24 minors.
They also addressed the rising drug addiction among youth, referencing recent drug overdoses at a rave party in Pune and a music concert in Mumbai. Furthermore, they highlighted Nagpur’s murder case ranking second nationwide.
Allegations of corruption were severe, with the MVA claiming that contractors now face demands for a 44 percent commission to secure government projects and an additional 5 percent to get their bills passed. They stated that pending bills for Marathi contractors have accumulated to nearly ₹1 lakh crore.
While the government claims to have planted 1.38 crore trees, reports indicate that rampant deforestation around Thane, Aarey, and major corridor projects has led to the loss of 23,000 hectares of trees.
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