MVA boycotts CM’s tea party ahead of monsoon session of Maharashtra assembly

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar attend the customary tea reception on the eve of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra state legislature. | Photo credit: PTI

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance (MVA) boycotted the usual government tea party organized on the eve of the legislative session to protest the “failure of administration of the state government”.

The MVA criticized the government for not providing satisfactory answers to many problems, including drought, farmers’ problems, increase in atrocities on women, drug trade and deteriorating law and order in the state. The government should make the 7/12 farm proceeds (land records ‘saat baara utara’) debt-free instead of trapping them on technicalities, MVA leaders said.

Also read | Maharashtra to introduce ‘Women Farmers Empowerment Bill’ during upcoming monsoon session

The government’s farm loan waiver is fraudulent and farmers are stuck in terms and conditions, MVA leaders alleged. Congress leaders in the state have accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of corruption, alleging that contractors had to pay large kickbacks to receive bills for work.

Funds allocated for the Jal Jeevan mission and many development works have been revised downwards, the opposition alleged.

Apart from the rural economy, the MVA also criticized the state government for failing to check atrocities against women and alleged that drug dealers and the police are hand in glove.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray or UBT) Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray took to social media platform X to attack the state government’s inaction in the face of a potential water crisis.

“A gentle reminder to the Maharashtra government: Had they not canceled the Manori desalination plant project that we initiated, Mumbai would not need to divert water now,” said Mr. Aaditya Thackeray. “While Mindhe’s illegitimate government scrapped our project, the new BJP government approved the Gargai Dam – which not only cuts down more than 5,00,000 trees in a nature reserve, but keeps the city of Mumbai dependent on the monsoon. And while Maharashtra has no drinking water,” the parties in the government have forgotten to rule filth and only revel in buying democracy.

These were one of the reasons for their boycott of the tea party, MVA leaders said at a media briefing.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fadnavis accused the opposition of sending an AI-generated letter giving reasons for boycotting the customary tea party and criticizing the government.

The letter was written on ChatGPT, Mr. Fadnavis said at a press briefing after the state cabinet meeting, adding mockingly that he was glad the opposition was using the technology.

CM on loan waiver

On the opposition’s demand for loan waiver for farmers, Mr. Fadnavis said steps were being taken. “For us, loan waiver is for farmers, we should let our farmers live, farmers should be empowered to take loans again, we are looking at it from that perspective… We have formed a committee and tasked it to consider short-term measures, long-term measures and the impact on the banking system and give a report and then put some criteria in it,” he said.

Acknowledging the potential water shortage, Mr Fadnavis spoke of the El Niño phenomenon, where rainfall in June was just 80% of the long-term average. According to him, the government is advising farmers based on information from the India Meteorological Department. “Water resources are also limited at present. There is a total of 24% water resources in the state,” the CM said.

Published – 21 Jun 2026 22:43 IST