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Maharashtra Drought List Sparks MahaYuti Rift and Opposition Favouritism Claims
Maharashtra’s government made a list of 265 areas that it says are affected by drought.
Some areas represented by ruling-party ministers were included, while others were left out.
This upset leaders and workers in the ruling coalition.
Opposition parties said the list may have been influenced by politics.
They also said some badly affected opposition areas were excluded.
The inclusion of places that usually receive heavy rain raised questions about how the list was prepared.
Farmers are facing crop failures, water shortages and financial hardship.
The government says areas left off the list will still receive help.
Officials warned that the drought could hurt the wider rural economy.
The MahaYuti government classified 265 of Maharashtra’s 358 talukas as drought-affected.
Coalition leaders and party workers protested after several ministers’ constituencies were excluded.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi accused the government of political favoritism and discriminatory aid decisions.
The list includes high-rainfall regions such as Mahabaleshwar, Radhanagari and Shrivardhan.
Devendra Fadnavis assured excluded areas that they would not be denied government assistance.
- Who
- The Maharashtra MahaYuti government, ruling coalition leaders, Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi parties, farmers and affected residents.
- What
- The government classified 265 talukas as drought-affected, prompting accusations of political favoritism and protests over omitted constituencies.
- Where
- Maharashtra, across 265 talukas in 36 districts; the controversy was reported from Mumbai.
- When
- The notification was announced last week; officials warned of possible losses during the 2026 Kharif season.
- Why
- The classification determines drought-related government assistance, while crop failures, water shortages and rural economic distress are worsening.
Government and MahaYuti
Opposition and Critics
Basis of the drought list
Government and MahaYuti
The government issued a notification covering 265 talukas and said excluded areas would still receive government assistance.
Opposition and Critics
The Maha Vikas Aghadi questioned whether objective evaluation criteria were applied consistently and alleged political favoritism.
Excluded constituencies
Government and MahaYuti
Ruling-party leaders and workers sought additions, including Sumit Wankhede’s request for Arvi, which Devendra Fadnavis accepted.
Opposition and Critics
Opposition leaders said severely affected opposition-held areas, including Brahmapuri, were deliberately excluded and asked why ministers had not visited them.
Response to the crisis
Government and MahaYuti
The government maintained that aid would not be denied to areas absent from the official notification.
Opposition and Critics
Opposition leaders demanded stronger financial support, including Sharad Pawar’s call for Rs 1 lakh per hectare, and criticized the handling of water shortages and farmer distress.
Key facts
- Drought-affected talukas
- 265 of Maharashtra’s 358 talukas were included.
- Districts covered
- The state has 36 districts.
- Included high-rainfall regions
- Mahabaleshwar, Radhanagari and Shrivardhan were included despite being described as high-rainfall regions.
- Opposition demand
- Sharad Pawar demanded financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh per hectare for affected farmers.
- Excluded constituency
- BJP MLA Sumit Wankhede requested that Arvi be added, and Devendra Fadnavis immediately agreed.
- Government assurance
- Devendra Fadnavis said areas omitted from the notification would not be deprived of government aid.
- Economic concern
- Relief and Rehabilitation Department officials warned that 2026 Kharif losses could severely damage the rural economy.
Quotes
Vijay Wadettiwar
Senior Congress leader and critic of the Maharashtra government
“The government should be ashamed of playing politics over a sensitive issue like drought. While farmers across Maharashtra are battling severe distress, this shameless MahaYuti government is engaging in discriminatory politics.”
thehansindia.com
“Are opposition constituencies not part of Maharashtra?”
thehansindia.com
Senior Relief and Rehabilitation Department official
Unnamed state official warning about the drought’s economic consequences
“Farmers are the backbone of the rural economy. With their purchasing power exhausted due to crop failure, the overall economy will face a direct ripple effect.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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