17 October,2026 06:22 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe claimed crores were being spent on Garba events. File Pic/X
Maharashtra Congress on Saturday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of spending crores of rupees on lavish Navratri and Garba events while farmers and residents across drought-hit areas struggle with water shortages, crop losses and a lack of fodder for livestock.
Addressing a press conference in Nagpur on Saturday, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that BJP leaders had spent nearly Rs 100 crore on festival events. He questioned whether Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would seek the resignations of state BJP president Ravindra Chavan and minister Ashish Shelar over the alleged expenditure.
The claims about the spending were made by Londhe and have not been independently verified.
Londhe said 305 talukas across Maharashtra had been affected by drought, leaving farmers and ordinary residents facing severe hardship. He cited rising prices, shortages of drinking water and livestock fodder, and difficulties faced by families in paying students' education fees.
He argued that festivals could be celebrated on a smaller scale given the circumstances. He also questioned why BJP leaders were organising expensive Garba events while the government was urging people to practise austerity.
Apart from Chavan and Shelar, Londhe named BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, former MP Gopal Shetty and MLAs Sanjay Upadhyay and Vinod Shelar among those who had organised Garba events involving substantial expenditure.
Londhe highlighted the Namo Namo Navratri festival organised by Chavan at the Sant Savlaram Maharaj Sports Complex in Dombivli.
According to Londhe, the event features a large air-conditioned venue, decorative chandeliers, elaborate lighting, LED screens and welcome arches. He claimed that the organisers had spent around Rs 60 lakh on indoor and outdoor platforms.
He also alleged that the event involved substantial expenditure on air conditioning, sound systems, lighting, generators, floral decorations and performances by singers and musicians.
Londhe claimed that the overall budget for Chavan's event was between Rs 18 crore and Rs 20 crore. These figures could not be independently verified.
Londhe said Fadnavis had appealed to people to celebrate festivals simply, keeping the drought situation in mind. He alleged that BJP ministers and legislators had disregarded that appeal by organising expensive events.
He also questioned the government's announced assistance of Rs 5,000 for drought-affected farmers, contrasting it with what he described as crores of rupees being spent on festival celebrations.
Londhe claimed that Garba events organised by BJP leaders were costing between Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore a day in total. This estimate has not been independently verified.
Londhe also raised concerns over a grand ceremony held on the Beed bypass in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for the proposed historical stage production Praudh Pratap Purandar.
Guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat, minister Atul Save and former minister Bhagwat Karad were among the leaders present at the ceremony, according to the statement.
Londhe questioned the need for large-scale spending on such events when Marathwada was facing severe drought conditions. He said the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj should be shared with younger generations but questioned whether elaborate celebrations were appropriate during a crisis affecting farmers.
The Congress has called for greater accountability over festival expenditure and questioned whether BJP leaders were following the government's appeal for austerity.
