Mumbai, Oct 1 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde asserted on Wednesday that MahaYuti stands firmly with farmers facing the challenges posed by severe rains and flooding.

Shinde expressed criticism towards Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT), implying that instead of attacking the government, he should engage in self-reflection.

He remarked, “The former Chief Minister (Uddhav Thackeray) had pledged a subsidy of ₹50,000 to farmers who consistently repay their loans. This promise was never fulfilled, whereas MahaYuti has successfully waived loans for 20 lakh farmers. They should reflect on this before making accusations,” he asserted.

Furthermore, he stated, “The MahaYuti government is committed to supporting farmers. We aim to alleviate their distress and instill hope. Similar to the PM Kisan Sanman Nidhi Scheme, we have initiated a comparable program to offer financial support to farmers. The farmers of Maharashtra are aware of the extent of the assistance during your tenure as Chief Minister and the number of times you visited their areas.”

Shinde highlighted that in the past two and a half years, a staggering ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 crore has been allocated to farmers through various initiatives, reaffirming the government’s dedication to assisting and revitalizing the agricultural community.

“In a recent cabinet meeting, we resolved to support farmers by relaxing the current conditions for financial aid. A definitive decision will be made in the next two days,” he added.

Shinde emphasized that any speculation regarding the government's commitment to aiding farmers is misguided. He guaranteed that the MahaYuti administration will extend substantial relief to farmers and directed that no bank should engage in forceful recovery.

Addressing rumors from the opposition regarding the potential closure of the Ladki Bahin scheme, Shinde stated, “These claims should be disregarded. We will ensure that this scheme remains operational. Those who have opposed it lack the authority to comment. The opposition's stance has been made evident in the assembly elections.”

Moreover, he mentioned that efforts are underway to distribute checks worth ₹10,000, along with food grains, clothing, and educational materials to those affected by the intense rainfall and floods.

In light of the flood situation as Diwali approaches, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has been instructed to reverse any planned fare hikes for state transport buses.

He assured that a circular regarding this will be issued shortly, which will benefit the general populace.

Additionally, considering the ongoing heavy rains and flooding, a final opportunity is being provided for students to participate in the online admission process for class 11. This decision was reached during a meeting led by Rahul Narvekar, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, with the Minister of School Education, Dadaji Bhuse.

The complete schedule concerning this will be revealed at a press conference on October 3, 2025, at 11 AM, as stated by Mahesh Palkar, the Director of Education (Secondary).

Starting from the academic year 2025-26, class 11 admissions will be managed through a centralized online platform across the state.

To date, 10 rounds of the online admission process for class 11 have been completed. Detailed instructions for this last opportunity will be provided on October 3.

In this round, every student who registers for Part-2 and Priority will receive a junior college placement based on merit. The Director of Education has urged students, parents, and junior college principals to take note of this admission framework.