The three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies – Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – jointly voiced strong opposition to the BJP-led state government and decided to boycott Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ invitation for customary high tea scheduled on the eve of the Monsoon session of the state legislature on Sunday.
One of the main triggers for their protest was the introduction of Hindi as a third language from Std 1. In a seven-page letter to the CM, the MVA also highlighted delays in implementing the promised farm loan waiver, opposition to the Shaktipeeth Highway, misuse of government funds and the worsening law and order situation.
The MVA leaders had a meeting at the official residence of Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition in the state council. It was attended by Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, party whip Sunil Prabhu and Sachin Ahir, Congress leaders Vijay Wadettiwar, Amin Patel and Satej Patil. The NCP (SP) was represented by Jitendra Awhad and Shashikant Shinde.
The opposition parties stated that, given the rising corruption, unemployment, crimes against women, farmer suicides, lack of guaranteed prices for crops, and allegations of corruption against both current and former ministers along with irresponsible remarks by ruling party legislators, they could not, in good conscience, attend the customary tea meeting.
Speaking to the media later, opposition leaders also accused the government of imposing Hindi in Marathi and English-medium schools from Classes 1 to 5, thereby undermining the Marathi language.
The MVA leaders strongly opposed the proposed Rs86,300 crore Shaktipeeth Mahamarg, saying that it would lead to a major fiscal disaster.
Danve and Wadettiwar accused the government of not keeping its poll promise of waiving farm loans. They alleged that the agricultural crisis in the state was not merely due to natural calamities but also due to the government's failure.
Thackeray attacked the government on the recent potholes and flooding of the Samruddhi Mahamarg. He alleged a tacit backing to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which, according to him, was imposing unjust fines to the tune of Rs12.50 crore on motorists using the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Wadettiwar pointed out the inflated cost of infrastructure projects in the state, citing the cancellation of tenders for a tunnel and road project in the Thane-Ghodbunder-Bhayander route after the matter reached the Supreme Court.
