The issue of funds crunch that the State is facing is set to dominate the Winter Session of the Maharashtra State Legislature beginning December 8. The State Government is already facing a severe financial crunch, and the funds given to MLAs and MLCs were released only two days ago. Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has already indicated that the State might need to request additional funds from the Central Government to meet its needs.

 

This issue is likely to be raised in both Houses, and the Opposition may try to create impediments for the ruling alliance. Adv Abhijeet Wanjari told ‘The Hitavada’, “Usually the MLAs get the fund by April or May. This time, we received it after nine months. Now session is beginning and we have no time to plan the expenditure. This shows that Government is facing financial crunch.” The Opposition is expected to grill the MahaYuti Government over alleged unequal distribution of development funds to constituencies held by Opposition parties. In the recent past, the PWD contractors in Nagpur threatened a strike and halted work on essential infrastructure related to the Session, claiming the Government had failed to clear over Rs 150 crore in unpaid bills for previous work and the present ones.

 

The State Government is expected to table significant supplementary demands for additional funds, which are always a subject of debate. Funding for relief measures for farmers affected by unseasonal rains and crop-loss compensation will be a key demand raised by the Opposition. The Opposition is likely to raise issues of alleged corruption and irregularities, such as an audit revealing that over 14,000 men received funds from the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme intended for women, costing the State millions. The decision to spend approximately Rs 90 crore on the week-long Session’s arrangements, while the State faces a financial crunch and contractors remain unpaid, has also drawn criticism.