Mumbai: The upcoming Maharashtra budget session, commencing on March 3, will be a crucial test for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the ruling Mahayuti coalition, as internal differences within the alliance surface while the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) gears up to mount pressure.
With a comfortable majority of 232 MLAs, the Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), holds a strong position against the weakened MVA, which has only 47 MLAs after its electoral defeat last year. However, despite the numerical advantage, tensions between Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with controversies surrounding NCP ministers Dhananjay Munde and Manikrao Kokate, threaten to disrupt the session.
Dhananjay Munde Facing Heat Over Beed Sarpanch Murder Case
Munde, the food and civil supplies minister, is under scrutiny following the arrest of his close associate Walmik Karad in connection with the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Meanwhile, agriculture minister Kokate has been sentenced to two years in prison for a decades-old document fraud case. The Opposition is expected to bring both issues to the forefront.
Adding to the coalition's internal strife is Fadnavis’ move to curb ministerial appointments of personal secretaries and officers on special duty (OSDs), a decision that has sparked resentment. Shinde’s dissatisfaction over his party being sidelined from the guardian minister positions in Nashik and Raigad further fuels speculation of discord within the alliance. While Fadnavis has downplayed these tensions, remarks from alliance leaders indicate an ongoing power struggle, which the Opposition is likely to exploit.
The session will also see a heated debate over the recent rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a state transport bus at Pune’s Swargate depot. The incident, despite the swift arrest of accused Dattatray Gade, is expected to spark discussions on law and order in the state.
Financial Challenges Ahead
On the fiscal front, the government faces a delicate balancing act between fulfilling populist promises and maintaining financial discipline. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who will present the budget on March 10, has emphasized the need for cautious spending. “Financial discipline will be the priority, and Centre’s guidelines must be strictly followed,” he recently stated.
The state’s debt has already surpassed Rs 7.11 lakh crore, with a revenue deficit of Rs 20,051 crore (0.5% of GSDP) in 2024-25, reported Indian Express. The capital outlay for the same period stands at Rs 85,292 crore, unchanged from the previous year. Officials acknowledge that limiting expenditures while boosting capital outlay remains a challenge, especially with poll promises needing fulfillment.
Despite financial constraints, the government has assured that the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides Rs 1,500 per month to women aged 18-65, will continue. The scheme, even after beneficiary filtering, requires an annual budget exceeding Rs 35,000 crore.
Additionally, the state plans to increase the Namo Shetkari Kisan Mahasanman Yojana’s annual allocation from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 per farmer, complementing the Rs 6,000 grant under PM-KISAN. Balancing these welfare commitments with fiscal prudence will be the government's key challenge in the upcoming session.
