Maharashtra Budget Session Set for Fireworks Amid Political Tensions

Mumbai, Feb 28: The upcoming Budget Session of the Maharashtra legislature, beginning Monday, is poised to be a stormy affair as reports suggest a widening rift between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputy, Eknath Shinde. The opposition, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), is gearing up to target the government over embattled ministers Dhananjay Munde and Manikrao Kokate.

The session, which will see the presentation of the 2025-26 Budget on March 10, marks the first full-fledged assembly meeting since the Fadnavis-led government took charge. The previous winter session in Nagpur was held before ministers were sworn in.

Power Struggle Between Fadnavis and Shinde?​

A fresh controversy has emerged after Fadnavis ordered a probe into a ₹900 crore housing project in Jalna, which was initially deemed financially unviable but was later approved during Shinde’s tenure as chief minister. Additionally, the government has canceled a ₹1,400 crore solid waste collection tender, also approved under Shinde’s leadership.

Shinde’s recent "don't take me lightly" remark, referring to his role in toppling the MVA government in 2022, has further fueled speculations about internal conflicts. His absence from multiple meetings chaired by Fadnavis and his tendency to hold parallel meetings have only added to the tensions.

The friction became more apparent when Fadnavis revealed that he had blocked the appointment of 16 out of 125 candidates for personal secretary (PS) and officer on special duty (OSD) roles due to their reputation as “fixers.” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut seized the opportunity to claim that those rejected were linked to Shinde’s ministers, adding another layer to the rift.

Opposition to Corner Government Over Corruption Allegations​

Despite a significant electoral setback in the November assembly polls, the opposition MVA—comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress—is expected to aggressively challenge the government, particularly over ministers Dhananjay Munde and Manikrao Kokate.

• Dhananjay Munde is under pressure after his close aide, Walmik Karad, was arrested in an extortion case linked to the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9.
• Manikrao Kokate's ministerial position is in jeopardy after a Nashik court sentenced him to two years in jail for cheating and forgery related to government housing schemes.

The MVA has accused the entire Fadnavis cabinet of corruption, not just Munde and Kokate. The opposition is particularly targeting Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for his refusal to demand Munde’s resignation.

Government’s Strength and Challenges​

The ruling Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, holds a commanding position with 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. The BJP alone won 132 seats in the November elections, solidifying Fadnavis’ leadership. However, he faces the challenge of managing internal tensions with both Shinde and Pawar.

Other Issues to be Raised in the Session​

The opposition is also likely to bring up:

• The Pune bus rape case, which has sparked outrage over women's safety.
• Allegations by French firm Systra that state-run MMRDA harassed them, which contradicts the government’s claims of an improved ease of doing business.

With multiple political and administrative issues at play, the Budget Session is set to be a crucial test for Fadnavis as he attempts to navigate internal power struggles while fending off opposition attacks.