15 August,2026 11:26 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sharad Pawar. File Pic
The NCP (SP) on Saturday accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of attempting to mislead people over the closure of more than 36,000 companies in the state, days after party chief Sharad Pawar raised concerns about the issue.
The party cited a response from the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha regarding the shutdown of 36,211 companies in Maharashtra over the past five years.
Responding to criticism from the Opposition, Fadnavis had claimed that some people were deliberately citing figures of non-functional companies that had never commenced operations.
The NCP (SP), however, said on Saturday that the official response presented in the Lok Sabha did not state that 76 per cent of the companies were "defunct" or had "never started", as claimed by the chief minister.
In a post on X, the NCP (SP) alleged that Fadnavis's response amounted to an attempt to sidestep the central issue by focusing on technicalities surrounding the data.
The party said the chief minister's response "reveals his style of wordplay, juggling numbers and sidestepping the question on technical grounds."
"If, as you claim, the format of answers given in Parliament is fixed, then your argument itself raises questions about the completeness and accuracy of the written answers provided to the country's highest legislative forum," the NCP (SP) said.
The party argued that the issue was not merely about the number of companies registered or closed, but also about the impact of such closures on workers and employment in Maharashtra.
The party pointed out that Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajabhau Waje's question had specifically sought information about the rehabilitation of workers who lost their jobs, as well as their provident fund, gratuity and pending wages.
"If the Union Ministry is answering MPs' questions without understanding their substance and the basic concerns behind them, your argument gives the impression that Union ministers are relying more on bureaucracy than on the actual situation in the country," the NCP (SP) added.
The party said the concerns raised in the parliamentary question went beyond company registration figures and involved the livelihood and financial security of workers affected by business closures.
It argued that any discussion about the closure of thousands of companies should also address the employment consequences and the support available to affected workers.
The NCP (SP) also questioned Fadnavis's contention that the Union ministry had merely provided data on company registrations while responding to the parliamentary question.
"If the ministry has only provided data on company registrations while answering the question, then it means the ministry itself has avoided the actual issue raised in the question. In that case, whom should MPs approach for direct answers to their questions?" it asked.
The party said the explanation raised questions about how parliamentary questions concerning employment and workers' rights were being addressed.
The NCP (SP) alleged that presenting data "selectively" might help the government "buy time", but argued that public concern over unemployment in Maharashtra reflected a broader issue.
The party said the closure of companies and its impact on employment could not be addressed merely by debating whether the companies had been operational or whether the figures referred to registrations.
The latest exchange comes days after Sharad Pawar raised concerns over the closure of more than 36,000 companies in Maharashtra. Fadnavis subsequently defended the government's position and questioned the interpretation of the figures cited by the Opposition.
