Maharashtra Winter Session: Issues Ranging From Reservation To Farmers' Loan Waiver To Be Discussed

The Winter Session of Maharashtra Assembly is set to begin on a stormy note in Nagpur on December 7 and will conclude on December 20. In this session, several simmering issues, ranging from the Maratha reservation to a loan waiver for farmers, will be debated. In addition, this session will act as a test for two coalitions -  the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the government Mahayuti - hoping to make a strong showing ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The BJP is naturally optimistic after pulling off a stunning three-state victory in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. It is expected to go all out in Nagpur, its political stronghold and the place of residence for both state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. In advance of the next elections, the saffron party will also try to reassert its leadership inside the coalition.

As this is going on, the MVA - a coalition of the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar, and the Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray - will be preparing to present a cohesive and strong front against the Mahayuti led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Maratha Reservation Issue

During the Parliament's Winter Session, the reservation politics that have polarized Marathas against OBCs are probably going to take center stage. In order to preserve the current OBC quota in Maharashtra, the state administration is probably going to propose a resolution reiterating its commitment to Maratha reservation.

Farmers’ Loan Issue

An additional topic that is becoming more popular with the opposition concerns farmers. The state government of Maharashtra has pledged to give INR 10,000 crore to help farmers who have been negatively impacted by floods and rain. In addition, every farmer receives an allowance of INR 12,000 per year from the federal and state governments, which are credited directly to their accounts. But to put pressure on the government, the opposition intends to demand that farmers' loans be waived.

Uddhav Thackeray, the head of Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the government for not offering enough farm insurance to farmers who are experiencing severe financial hardship. The Working President of NCP (Sharad Pawar Faction) Supriya Sule brought attention to the predicament of Maharashtra farmers and asked that their loans be waived.

Governments - federal or state, need to understand that farmers cannot thrive without assistance from them, says farmer activist Vijay Jawandia. Even the majority of industrialized nations, including the United States, have embraced the model of governmental subsidies in the agricultural sector. He went on to say that while immediate financial assistance would be helpful, it would not contribute to the search for a long-term solution. He recommended that the state government increase farmer compensation and purchase a maximum amount of farm produce from them.

Parties To Reassert Their Identities

All of the parties in the ruling and opposition coalitions will try to reassert their identities with the Lok Sabha elections being just six months away.

Disqualification Of MLAs

The winter session will test how well both coalitions can put aside their disagreements and function as a unit since the NCP and Shiv Sena factions are at odds, the MLAs' disqualification case is still pending before Speaker Rahul Narwekar, and disagreements are beginning to surface among alliance members.