Sunetra Pawar orders NCP leaders to visit drought-hit farmers across Maharashtra
Synopsis
With drought-like conditions gripping Maharashtra, NCP president and Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar has ordered party leaders down to the ground — literally. She directed ministers, MLAs and MPs to walk into farmers' fields, document crop damage, and push the administration for relief. The party also quietly shelved its Nashik 'Chintan Shivir', reportedly fearing a political optics disaster amid widespread agrarian distress.
Key Takeaways
Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar on 23 September 2026 directed all NCP ministers, MPs, MLAs, and office-bearers to personally visit drought-hit farmers' fields in Maharashtra .
Leaders were asked to ensure panchnamas (official crop damage reports) are prepared and relief is pursued at the government level.
Pawar visited Lalbagcha Raja in Mumbai and offered prayers for adequate rainfall and farmer welfare.
The NCP's 'Chintan Shivir' scheduled for 27 September in Nashik was postponed amid concerns that a political gathering during agrarian distress could damage the party's image.
Opposition parties have stepped up pressure for unconditional financial assistance to farmers affected by the prolonged dry spell.
Amid intensifying drought-like conditions across Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sunetra Pawar on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, directed party ministers, guardian ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, former legislators, and senior office-bearers to personally visit farmers' fields and conduct on-ground assessments of crop damage. The directive underscores mounting concern within the ruling alliance over agrarian distress as a prolonged dry spell strains standing crops statewide.
Key Directives to Party Leaders
Pawar asked NCP representatives to understand farmers' grievances firsthand, inspect affected areas, and follow up with the administration to secure timely assistance. She specifically stressed the need to ensure that panchnamas — official crop damage assessment reports — were prepared promptly, and that relief measures were actively pursued at the government level.
'When farmers are facing adversity, it is our duty to stand firmly by them. Visit their fields, hear their concerns, reassure them, and make every effort to secure the necessary state support for them,' she said.
She also urged party workers to instil confidence among the farming community that the NCP stood firmly with them through the difficult period.
Pawar Offers Prayers at Lalbagcha Raja
On the same day, Pawar visited the Lalbagcha Raja in Mumbai and offered prayers for relief from the crisis confronting farmers. According to a statement issued by her office, she prayed for greenery to return to farmers' fields, adequate water for crops, and fruitful returns for their hard work. She also sought Lord Ganesha's blessings for satisfactory rainfall across Maharashtra, prevention of crop damage, and the strength for farmers to overcome the current adversity.
Nashik 'Chintan Shivir' Postponed
On Tuesday evening, Pawar had announced the postponement of the NCP's 'Chintan Shivir', originally scheduled for 27 September in Nashik, citing the worsening drought-like situation across the state. According to reports, some NCP leaders had reportedly cautioned that holding a high-profile political gathering during agrarian distress could adversely affect the party's public image. Following internal discussions, demands to reconsider the event gained momentum, leading to its deferral.
Agrarian Distress and Political Pressure
The prolonged dry spell has placed standing crops under severe stress and triggered financial hardship for the farming community. The state government is assessing relief measures, while opposition parties have stepped up pressure for unconditional financial assistance to affected farmers. This comes amid a broader pattern of Maharashtra facing recurring drought cycles, with rural constituencies historically sensitive to the government's response speed. Pawar's latest directions place fresh emphasis on direct field engagement, documentation of crop losses, and coordination with officials to ensure affected cultivators receive assistance without delay.
The deputy chief minister asked leaders to remain accessible and actively monitor relief disbursement as the situation continues to evolve.
Point of View
And standing visibly with farmers is a time-tested electoral calculus. The quiet postponement of the Nashik 'Chintan Shivir' is more telling: it suggests internal acknowledgement that optics matter more than party introspection right now. What will matter more than directives, however, is the pace at which panchnamas are completed and whether compensation actually reaches farmers before the next sowing window. Maharashtra's drought response has historically been hampered by administrative lag, and a public directive without a monitoring mechanism risks being remembered as symbolism rather than substance.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has Sunetra Pawar directed NCP leaders to do amid Maharashtra drought?
NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has directed party ministers, MPs, MLAs, former legislators, and senior office-bearers to personally visit drought-hit farmers' fields across Maharashtra. They have been asked to assess crop damage, ensure official panchnamas are prepared, and follow up with the administration for timely relief.
Why was the NCP's Nashik Chintan Shivir postponed?
The NCP's 'Chintan Shivir', scheduled for 27 September in Nashik, was postponed by Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday evening due to worsening drought-like conditions across Maharashtra. Reports indicate that some party leaders cautioned that holding a high-profile political event during agrarian distress could harm the party's public image, leading to internal pressure for the deferral.
What is the current situation of farmers in Maharashtra?
A prolonged dry spell has placed standing crops under severe stress across Maharashtra, causing significant financial hardship for the farming community. The state government is assessing relief measures, while opposition parties have demanded unconditional financial assistance for affected farmers.
What is a panchnama in the context of Maharashtra drought relief?
A panchnama is an official crop damage assessment report prepared by government revenue officials following a field inspection. It is a critical document required for farmers to receive state compensation or relief, and Sunetra Pawar has specifically directed NCP leaders to ensure these are completed without delay.
What did Sunetra Pawar pray for at Lalbagcha Raja?
Pawar visited the Lalbagcha Raja in Mumbai on 23 September and prayed for adequate rainfall across Maharashtra, the return of greenery to farmers' fields, prevention of crop damage, and the strength for farmers to overcome the current adversity, according to a statement from her office.
