Ahead of the party`s annual Dussehra rally, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday criticised the Maharashtra government, accusing it of being indifferent to the suffering of farmers affected by recent excess rainfall and crop damage.
Speaking at a press conference, Uddhav Thackeray said, “The government is enjoying itself while farmers are in deep trouble. Crops that grew in front of their eyes are now worth nothing. Instead of helping, the state is ignoring the crisis.”
He claimed that despite repeated appeals to work together to support farmers, the government has not provided any meaningful assistance.
“We demanded loan waivers, but the government has ignored it. Are farmers now waiting to join the BJP just to get loan relief?” the former Maharashtra Chief Minister asked.
“Just a few days ago, the Chief Minister met the Prime Minister, and the media reported that he was waiting for some proposal. At the same time, the Prime Minister announced Rs 10,000 for every woman in Bihar. But what about Maharashtra? Our state is facing a serious crisis, but all attention seems to be on Bihar due to elections. This is blatant injustice to Maharashtra,” he said.
Uddhav Thackeray also said that he had visited flood-hit areas and saw the seriousness of the situation at present.
“While only damage assessments (panchnamas) are going on, actual aid has not reached the farmers,” Uddhav Thackeray said.
He said that the current leadership was more focused on self-promotion than governance.
पक्षप्रमुख मा. श्री. उद्धवसाहेब ठाकरे ह्यांची पत्रकार परिषद | मातोश्री, मुंबई – #LIVE https://t.co/MeTzZ7IHIh
— ShivSena – शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) October 1, 2025
“At a time when the state is facing a crisis due to heavy rains, the Chief Minister is busy with advertisements. One Deputy CM is pasting his photos on relief material, and the other is doing nothing at all,” Uddhav Thackeray said while speaking to reporters.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief urged the state to act urgently and provide relief to flood-affected and debt-ridden farmers, warning that frustration among the farming community is growing.
Uddhav Thackeray had last week called for an immediate farm loan waiver in the wake of devastating floods in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region.
During his visit to the affected areas, Uddhav had criticised the state and Union governments for not doing enough to support struggling farmers.
Thackeray had asserted that the present crisis is precisely the right time to write off farm loans, referring to a similar measure taken during his tenure as chief minister from 2019 to 2022.
The recent floods, triggered by heavy rainfall and rising river levels have claimed at least several lives and destroyed crops on thousands of hectares, according to official estimates.
Uddhav had demanded compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for flood-affected farmers, arguing that the topsoil has been eroded, rendering land unfit for cultivation for the next three to five years.
