MahaYuti allies clash in Maharashtra Council over crop loan waiver failures
Synopsis
Two MahaYuti allies — Shiv Sena's Bacchu Kadu and BJP's Pravin Darekar — turned the Maharashtra Legislative Council into a shouting match over the state's broken crop loan waiver system. With farmers' names on waiver lists but no money in their accounts, the cracks inside the ruling coalition are now as visible as the crisis in the fields.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLC Bacchu Kadu and BJP MLC Pravin Darekar clashed verbally on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on 24 June .
The dispute centred on the stalled implementation of the state's crop loan waiver scheme, including the OTS scheme and delayed disbursements.
Kadu demanded the incentive subsidy be raised from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh and that eligibility conditions be scrapped.
Farmers whose names appear on waiver lists have reportedly not received funds, forcing some to approach courts for new loans.
Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde directed Agriculture and Cooperation ministries to hold division-wise MLA meetings before the Monsoon Session ends.
Maharashtra's Monsoon Session turned turbulent on Wednesday, 24 June as two legislators from within the ruling MahaYuti alliance — Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLC Bacchu Kadu and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Pravin Darekar — broke into a fierce verbal confrontation on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Council over the state's stalled crop loan waiver scheme. Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde was forced to intervene as the exchange escalated into a shouting match, threatening to derail proceedings.
How the Confrontation Unfolded
The altercation was triggered when Bacchu Kadu pressed Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil for a substantive response on the status of farm loan waivers, expressing open frustration at what he called an inadequate reply. 'Answers are expected from your side, but it appears you are not providing them,' Kadu said.
Pravin Darekar objected sharply to Kadu's interruptions, arguing that disrupting a minister mid-reply violates parliamentary decorum. He challenged Kadu directly: 'You lead agitations and represent farmers. Do you actually want concrete answers or are you just putting up a show? Is it fair to obstruct state Ministers while they are addressing the House?'
Kadu fired back, asserting his legislative seniority: 'I am not new to this house!' Darekar's retort was equally pointed: 'Don't shout. I can shout ten times louder than you. The proceedings of this House will not run according to your style or through bullying tactics!'
Chairman's Warning to Both Members
Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde stepped in to reprimand both legislators, stressing the need to uphold House discipline. 'What is achieved by members constantly engaging in cross-talk and interrupting Ministers mid-way?' he asked. He warned that members entering the well and crossing procedural lines at will was unacceptable, and cautioned that he would be compelled to initiate disciplinary action if the conduct continued.
Kadu's Charges Against the Loan Waiver Scheme
Speaking under Rule 260, Kadu had earlier mounted a detailed critique of the state's farm loan waiver architecture, targeting its stringent eligibility conditions, caps on incentive subsidies, the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, and persistent delays in disbursement. He alleged that administrative officials were complicating implementation to the point of damaging the state government's own reputation.
Kadu demanded that conditions tied to loan waivers and incentive subsidies be scrapped immediately, and that the incentive amount be raised from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh. He also cited the Amravati District Central Cooperative Bank as an example, urging cooperative banks statewide to take independent decisions on interest waivers.
Notably, Kadu flagged that farmers whose names appeared on loan waiver lists had not received any money in their bank accounts — leaving them unable to secure fresh credit. 'Consequently, the farmers are facing difficulties in securing new loans, forcing some farmers to approach the courts,' he said. He also raised pending dues under the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana and the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Shetkari Karzmukti Yojana.
Opposition and Government Responses
Congress MLA Satej Patil added to the pressure, questioning why farmers are being subjected to repeated KYC verification when their data already exists in the state's AgriStack system.
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane defended the government's record, stating: 'The Chief Minister, both Deputy Chief Ministers, and all Ministers in the government come from farming backgrounds, so the state government is fully aware of the farmers' plight. Despite challenging economic conditions, the state government has taken significant decisions to provide relief to farmers, and efforts are underway to complete the loan waiver process within the stipulated time.'
What Happens Next
Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde concluded the debate by directing the Ministries of Agriculture, Cooperation, and related departments to convene division-wise meetings with all MLAs to clear pending grievances. He expressed the expectation that concrete relief decisions for farmers be finalised before the Monsoon Session concludes. The episode underscores deepening cracks within the MahaYuti coalition over an issue — farmer distress — that cuts to the heart of Maharashtra's rural political economy.
Point of View
Not just a parliamentary scuffle. The MahaYuti partners — Shiv Sena (Shinde), BJP, and NCP (Ajit) — drew much of their rural support on the promise of resolving agrarian distress; a public brawl over a stalled loan waiver scheme exposes the gap between that promise and delivery. The detail that farmers' names are on waiver lists but accounts remain empty is damning: it suggests systemic administrative failure, not merely a policy design flaw. With Maharashtra's next electoral cycle never far away, this session may prove a preview of how coalition fault lines will be exploited.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the clash between Bacchu Kadu and Pravin Darekar in the Maharashtra Legislative Council?
The confrontation erupted on 24 June during the Monsoon Session when Shiv Sena MLC Bacchu Kadu pressed Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil on the status of farm loan waivers and was dissatisfied with the response. BJP MLC Pravin Darekar objected to Kadu's interruptions, and the exchange rapidly escalated into a shouting match before Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde intervened.
What are the key problems Bacchu Kadu raised about Maharashtra's crop loan waiver scheme?
Kadu alleged that stringent eligibility conditions, caps on incentive subsidies, confusion around the OTS scheme, and administrative delays have prevented farmers from actually receiving waiver benefits. He specifically noted that farmers whose names appear on waiver lists have not had money deposited in their accounts, leaving them unable to secure new loans.
What did Kadu demand regarding the incentive subsidy?
Kadu demanded that the incentive subsidy amount be raised from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh and that the conditions attached to loan waivers and incentive subsidies be scrapped immediately. He also called for greater clarity on the One-Time Settlement scheme.
How did the Maharashtra government respond to the criticism?
Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane defended the government, stating that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers come from farming backgrounds and are aware of farmers' difficulties. He said significant relief decisions had been taken despite challenging economic conditions and that efforts were underway to complete the loan waiver process on time.
What action did Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde take?
Chairman Ram Shinde reprimanded both legislators for disrupting House proceedings and warned of potential disciplinary action. He directed the Agriculture, Cooperation, and related ministries to hold division-wise meetings with MLAs to resolve pending issues, and expressed the expectation that concrete farmer relief decisions be reached before the Monsoon Session concludes.
