Maharashtra Monsoon Session Begins Amid Drought Fears, Farmer Crisis and Political Turmoil
The Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Legislature begins in Mumbai on Monday, setting the stage for a heated political battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition as the state grapples with drought-like conditions, irregular rainfall and rising concerns over farmer distress.
The opposition is expected to aggressively target the government over water scarcity in several regions, delayed monsoon progress and the preparedness of the administration to handle a possible drought situation. With rainfall still below normal in multiple districts, opposition leaders are preparing to demand urgent relief measures and a long-term water management strategy.
Farmer-related issues are likely to dominate the early days of the session, particularly the government’s loan waiver scheme announced earlier under the ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana’, which promises relief of up to ₹2 lakh. While the government has pitched it as a major support measure for the agriculture sector, opposition parties are expected to question the eligibility conditions attached to the scheme and push for a comprehensive, unconditional loan waiver.
Political tensions within the opposition camp may also influence the tone of the session, as internal developments linked to the Shiv Sena UBT faction and reports of shifting loyalties continue to create unease ahead of the assembly debates.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad hooch tragedy, in which 22 people reportedly died due to consumption of illicit liquor, is also set to become a major flashpoint, with opposition parties likely to hold the Home Department and Excise officials accountable for enforcement failures and regulatory gaps.
Another contentious issue expected to trigger sharp exchanges is the state government’s move towards sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes based on a committee report that has not been made public. Several community groups have already expressed opposition to the proposal, and the matter is likely to witness protests both inside and outside the legislature.
Alongside political confrontations, the session will also focus on legislative business, including the anticipated introduction of the long-pending Coaching Classes Regulation Bill. The proposed law is expected to bring structured norms for private coaching institutes, covering infrastructure standards, fee regulation, safety measures and operational guidelines after years of policy discussions.
On the financial front, the government is set to present supplementary demands for the 2026-27 fiscal year on the opening day of the session, with allocations expected to include funding support for agriculture relief measures. The discussion on these demands is scheduled later in the session.
