Uddhav Thackeray demands drought declaration, special session over Maharashtra agrarian crisis
Synopsis
Uddhav Thackeray's press conference on 24 September wasn't routine opposition sparring — it was a point-by-point indictment of the Mahayuti government's drought response, complete with demands for an emergency legislature session, a probe into ₹5 compensation cheques from crop insurers, and a real-time digital dashboard for relief tracking. With panchnamas delayed past 5 October, Maharashtra's farmers are waiting and Thackeray is making sure the political cost of that wait is visible.
Key Takeaways
Uddhav Thackeray on 24 September 2026 demanded a formal drought declaration and a 2-to-3-day special Maharashtra Legislative Assembly session .
He questioned the disbursement of the previously announced ₹31,000 crore relief package and demanded a full public beneficiary list.
Thackeray called for a government probe into crop insurance companies that allegedly paid compensation as low as ₹5 or ₹21 .
He attacked CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde for delaying crop loss assessments (panchnamas) until after 5 October .
He demanded financial aid to farmers within 40–45 days and a live digital relief dashboard at the Mantralaya .
During his tenure, Thackeray noted, a blanket loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh was delivered within 15 days .
Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday, 24 September 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra over its handling of the state's worsening agrarian crisis and drought-like conditions, putting forward five key demands including a formal drought declaration and an emergency legislative session.
Five Key Demands Issued
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray called on the state government to immediately convene a two-to-three-day special Maharashtra Legislative Assembly session to deliberate on drought mitigation, drinking water distribution, and crop damage relief — without waiting for procedural clearances. He also demanded the urgent convening of special Cabinet meetings in the worst-affected regions of Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), and Vidarbha.
'Convene immediately 2-to-3-day special Maharashtra Legislative Assembly session to discuss drought mitigation, drinking water distribution, and crop damage relief without waiting for procedural delays,' Thackeray stated.
Transparency on ₹31,000 Crore Package Demanded
Thackeray demanded full accountability for the previously announced ₹31,000 crore financial relief package, asking for a comprehensive public report on how much of that amount actually reached distressed farmers. He also called for immediate publication of the complete list of beneficiaries under the current farm loan waiver scheme, criticising the administration for what he described as opacity in relief disbursement.
He drew a pointed contrast with his own tenure, noting that during his time as Chief Minister, a blanket loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh was extended within 15 days without lengthy eligibility criteria.
Crop Insurance Firms in the Crosshairs
Thackeray took aim at crop insurance companies, demanding a government probe and strict penalties against firms that he alleged distributed nominal compensation cheques of as little as ₹5 or ₹21. He also condemned the removal of four major trigger conditions from insurance policy terms, arguing that the change had compromised farmer security and caused insurance registrations to plummet.
Attack on Fadnavis and Shinde Over Delayed Assessments
Directly targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray questioned the decision to delay formal crop loss assessments (panchnamas) until after 5 October. 'Farmers are on the verge of dying, crops are scorched, livestock fodder is depleted, and families are buried under debt. Yet, the Chief Minister says assessments will begin later. What are you waiting for? Your eyes should be your criteria — it is plain to see that the farmer is completely ruined,' he said.
Thackeray dismissed ministerial field visits as photo opportunities, mockingly asking whether government tours were meant for actual relief or just for 'eating cashews and almonds' while ignoring rural suffering.
Digital Dashboard and Suicide Prevention Plan Called For
Among his other demands, Thackeray urged the state government to disburse financial assistance to farmers within 40 to 45 days without waiting for central funds. He also called for the establishment of an open digital dashboard at the Mantralaya updating daily disbursements and relief measures in real time, and asked authorities to chalk out concrete plans to prevent farmer suicides and manage large-scale rural-to-urban migration through immediate employment and temporary shelter provisions.
This comes amid growing political pressure on the Mahayuti government ahead of the upcoming winter legislative session, with opposition parties sharpening their attacks over the state's agrarian distress. How the government responds to these demands in the coming days will be closely watched.
Point of View
But the substance is hard to dismiss. Crop insurance payouts of ₹5 and ₹21 — if verified — represent a systemic failure that goes beyond optics. The delay of panchnamas until after 5 October, with farmers already in distress, raises a legitimate governance question: is administrative procedure being prioritised over ground reality? The Mahayuti government's response will be tested not by counter-press conferences but by the speed and reach of actual disbursements. Maharashtra's agrarian suicides remain a structural problem that outlasts any single government, and without a credible, auditable relief pipeline, the ₹31,000 crore headline risks becoming another number that sounds large but lands small.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Uddhav Thackeray's five key demands over Maharashtra's agrarian crisis?
Thackeray demanded a formal drought declaration, an emergency 2-to-3-day special Maharashtra Legislative Assembly session, full transparency on the ₹31,000 crore relief package, a probe into crop insurance companies paying nominal compensation, and financial aid to farmers within 40–45 days with a public digital dashboard tracking disbursements.
Why is Thackeray critical of the delay in panchnamas?
Thackeray criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for deferring formal crop loss assessments until after 5 October, arguing that the visible scale of damage makes further delay unjustifiable. He said farmers cannot wait for administrative timelines when livelihoods have already collapsed.
What is the controversy around Maharashtra's crop insurance companies?
Thackeray alleged that certain crop insurance firms distributed compensation cheques as low as ₹5 or ₹21 to distressed farmers — amounts he described as predatory and insulting. He also accused the government of removing four key trigger conditions from insurance policies, leading to a fall in farmer registrations.
How does the current relief compare to Thackeray's tenure as Chief Minister?
Thackeray claimed that during his tenure, a blanket farm loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh was delivered within 15 days without elaborate eligibility checks. He contrasted this with the current government's alleged delays and opacity in implementing the ₹31,000 crore package.
What is the Mahayuti government and why is it under pressure?
The Mahayuti is the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a faction of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Ajit Pawar. It is facing mounting opposition criticism over the state's handling of drought conditions and farmer distress, with Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) leading the political offensive.
