23 October,2026 02:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
MNS chief Raj Thackeray. File Photo
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday criticised the state government's decision to provide Rs 5,000 in advance financial assistance to drought-hit farmers before Diwali, questioning whether the amount would be sufficient to address their difficulties.
"What will happen in Rs 5,000?" Thackeray asked reporters after meeting party workers and office-bearers from rural areas to review the drought situation across Maharashtra.
In a post on X, Thackeray said he had held detailed discussions with party colleagues about conditions in drought-affected areas, the problems faced by farmers and the difficulties confronting rural communities.
"The state government has declared drought in 325 talukas of Maharashtra, and today in Mumbai, I met with my office-bearer colleagues from the rural areas and took a detailed review of this serious situation. On this occasion, discussions were held on the situation in the drought-affected areas, the problems faced by farmers, and the difficulties troubling the rural populace," he said.
Thackeray announced that he would tour drought-affected areas after Diwali to assess conditions on the ground and review the problems faced by farmers and rural residents.
He alleged that successive measures had failed to provide lasting solutions to water scarcity, claiming that several regions were struggling to secure even basic drinking water supplies.
The MNS chief also warned that the situation could lead to serious food and water shortages if effective steps were not taken. His planned tour, he said, would help assess the extent of the crisis and the needs of affected communities.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on October 14 that the state would provide an initial payment of Rs 5,000 to eligible drought-hit farmers ahead of Diwali. The assistance is intended as immediate relief while the wider assessment and administrative process for drought compensation continues.
The government said drought had been declared in 305 of Maharashtra's 358 talukas after 40 additional talukas were added to the earlier list of 265. The relief measures include concessions related to crop loans, land revenue, electricity bills and education fees for farmers' children.
Thackeray questioned whether the initial payment would adequately address the scale of losses and the immediate needs of farming families. Opposition leaders and farmers' organisations have also criticised the amount as insufficient to compensate for crop damage and rising expenses.
Thackeray said the government needed to focus on long-term measures to tackle recurring water shortages instead of relying only on financial assistance. He warned that worsening conditions could deepen the hardship faced by farming families and other rural residents.
The drought has placed water availability, crop losses and the provision of relief among the key concerns for the state administration. The government has said it is extending drought-relief concessions and taking steps to protect drinking-water supplies in affected regions.
Thackeray also responded to a question about an audio clip released by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, which allegedly contains a conversation about a Rs 500-crore payment involving Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.
Jarange has alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to silence him and weaken his agitation for Maratha reservation. He released the clip after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde challenged him to substantiate his claim that Rs 500 crore had been secured from the BJP and routed through his son, Shrikant Shinde.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the audio would undergo a forensic examination.
Thackeray questioned the origin and authenticity of the recording, adding another political dimension to the controversy as the state government faces criticism over drought relief and conditions in rural Maharashtra.
