Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, announced that the state government has already deposited an advance drought relief amount of ₹5,000 into the accounts of 73 lakh farmers, with the remaining disbursements set to be completed within two days — ahead of the Diwali festival. The relief covers farmers across 304 drought-hit talukas in Maharashtra, with the government targeting a total of 1.50 crore beneficiaries.

Scale of the Relief Push

Speaking after the weekly cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis said the advance had been a government commitment made expressly before Diwali. “Money has reached the accounts of 73 lakh farmers so far, and in the next two days, it will reach nearly 95% of farmers,” he said, attributing a residual 5% delay to minor discrepancies in some bank accounts. The state’s direct-benefit transfer mechanism is being used to route funds without intermediaries, a step officials say minimises leakage.

Loan Waivers Add to the Relief Package

Beyond the advance drought relief, Fadnavis announced a fresh tranche under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Loan Waiver Scheme: ₹4,764 crore was credited on Wednesday to the accounts of 4.86 lakh farmers. The Marathwada region recorded the highest number of beneficiaries in this round, with 2.76 lakh farmers in the region receiving loan waiver funds. Cumulatively, the scheme has now disbursed funds to nearly 21 lakh farmers, totalling approximately ₹19,000 crore. The Chief Minister noted that verification and authentication are still ongoing, and further disbursements will follow progressively.

Diwali With Farmers: A Political Gesture

Fadnavis said the decision to prioritise Diwali-linked disbursement was a collective cabinet resolve rather than a unilateral order. “After discussing with all ministers, everyone felt that we should celebrate Diwali with the farmers,” he said, adding that ministers would visit farmers’ homes during the festival. This comes amid broader political optics around the Mahayuti alliance’s outreach to the agrarian vote base ahead of local body elections.

CM on MNS Criticism and ‘Save Democracy’ Marches

When asked about Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s reaction to the Mahayuti alliance’s ‘Save Democracy’ protests, Fadnavis defended the marches as being “against anarchy and aimed at protecting the Constitution.” He alleged that the INDIA alliance, under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, was attempting a “regime change” that would amount to altering the Constitution. “To defeat this attempt at regime change, it is not just them who can take to the streets — we can also come out to counter them,” he said, asserting that the marches would continue.

Raju Shetti Agitation and Sugar FRP Dispute

On the road blockade called by Peasants and Workers Party chief Raju Shetti over cane pricing, Fadnavis appealed for dialogue, arguing that the agitation ultimately hurts farmers. He explained that while the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) declared by the government is mandatory for sugar factories, farmers were demanding a price above the FRP — a matter of negotiation between growers and factory owners. “The state government is acting as a mediator,” he said, adding that minister Hasan Mushrif has been tasked with conducting formal mediation talks. The dual pressure of a drought relief crunch and the ongoing FRP standoff underscores the depth of agrarian stress in Maharashtra heading into the festive season.