28 August,2026 02:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut dared Shiv Sena ministers to rebel over the decision announced by CM Fadnavis. File Pic
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday alleged that Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis granted autorickshaw and taxi drivers a one-year extension to learn Marathi due to "pressure from Delhi", describing the move as a stern message to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) ally Shiv Sena, which is headed by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena, Raut said the announcement was intended to remind Mahayuti allies and send a message that they have to listen to the person "who succeeds the (incumbent) CM", news agency PTI reported.
Raut also dared Shiv Sena ministers to rebel over the decision announced by Fadnavis.
"The (Marathi proficiency) initiative was not for the Marathi language but for the non-Marathi people (drivers). Delhi pressured to roll back the initiative. We had been keeping an eye on this move. We had anticipated pressure from Delhi for the rollback, which happened yesterday," he claimed.
A day earlier, Fadnavis said autorickshaw and taxi drivers would be given one year to learn functional Marathi, in response to demands from representatives of migrant non-native drivers.
"The state government has accepted their demand and is giving them one year. No action will be taken during this period," Fadnavis said.
Political observers feel the announcement was made ahead of next year's crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the state from which a sizeable number of migrant drivers settled in Mumbai belong.
"Election may have dictated the decision, but the issue was of Marathi language," Raut added.
Meanwhile, autorickshaw and taxi unions on Friday welcomed the Maharashtra government's decision to grant them a year to acquire working knowledge of Marathi, saying the extension removes the immediate threat to their livelihoods.
The development comes a week after the Transport Department, headed by Shiv Sena Minister Pratap Sarnaik, issued notices to drivers who failed Marathi "working knowledge" tests conducted by Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials on roads.
The BJP-led Maharashtra government had announced in April that drivers of commercial vehicles must have functional knowledge of Marathi.
"By announcing the extension to drivers to learn the language by a year, the chief minister has shown he is the boss. The announcement was done as an arrangement to remind the allies and send a message that they have to listen to the person who succeeds the (incumbent) CM," Raut added, alluding to speculation about a Central role for Fadnavis.
Sarnaik had said that drivers failing the Marathi test would be given one month to acquire working knowledge of the language, failing which their badges would be suspended for three months.
(With PTI inputs)
