23 February,2026 02:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat began his address in Marathi. PIC/X
In his joint address to both the Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature on Day 1 of the Budget Session on Monday, Governor Acharya Devvrat began his speech in Marathi. He assured citizens that the government is firmly committed to resolving the long-standing Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute. The Maharashtra Budget Session will continue till March 25.
The border row is an old and unresolved issue that dates back to when state boundaries in India were reorganised mainly based on language. After the reorganisation, some areas with a large Marathi-speaking population, including Belgaum and its nearby regions, were included in Karnataka.
Maharashtra has been demanding that these areas be merged with it on the grounds that the people in these regions speak Marathi and share cultural ties with the state. Karnataka, however, maintains that the boundaries were decided legally and should not be changed. The issue has remained a sensitive political matter for decades.
Further, appreciating the steps taken by the government in the economic front, he said that Maharashtra is moving steadily towards its goal of becoming a five-trillion-dollar economy by 2047 under the vision of âViksit Maharashtra'. The governor also highlighted the Maharashtra government's plans to develop Gadchiroli as a steel hub and establish an East Vidarbha steel corridor, expressing confidence in the government's roadmap for the state's overall growth.
In his speech, the governor highlighted the government's achievements, including high investments from Davos and plans to improve road infrastructure. He spoke about extending the Samruddhi Express highway connectivity to Vadhvan Port in Palghar district and further to East Vidarbha, which would create job opportunities.
He also mentioned the 'Lakhpati Didi' programme, a government initiative that helps rural women earn a steady income and become financially independent; under the scheme, a woman from a self-help group (SHG) must have a household income of at least Rs 1 lakh per year. Additionally, the governor referred to preparations for Kumbh Mela 2027 in Nashik and highlighted that Maharashtra contributes 13 per cent of India's total GDP.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will present the state budget for 2026-27 on March 6. Fadnavis is currently handling the finance portfolio after the death of former Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, who passed away in a plane crash near Baramati on January 28. The upcoming budget is expected to outline the government's financial plans and development roadmap for the next year.
