The Maharashtra government has decided to hold a significantly shortened winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur this year. The session will commence on December 8 and conclude on December 14, spanning just one week and including the weekend. This decision marks a departure from the usual practice of longer sessions held in the state's second capital.
Why the Session Has Been Shortened
Officials confirmed that the business advisory committee of the legislature, which met on Wednesday, finalized the schedule for this truncated session. Historically, the winter session in Nagpur—a tradition reflecting the state's commitment to decentralized governance—runs for about 10 to 15 working days. However, the ongoing local body elections across Maharashtra have been cited as the primary reason for curtailing the session's duration. "Due to the ongoing local body polls in the state, the session has been curtailed and will run for only one week," a government official stated.
A Brewing Confrontation on Key Issues
Despite the absence of a formal Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in both legislative houses, the opposition parties are gearing up for a fierce confrontation with the ruling MahaYuti coalition. Several pressing issues are expected to dominate the brief proceedings:
- The severe agrarian crisis triggered by recent unseasonal rains.
- Widespread complaints from farmers affected by alleged crop insurance fraud.
- The persistent and volatile demand for Maratha reservation.
- Various scam allegations leveled against multiple ministers in the government.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is anticipated to face intense scrutiny from opposition members over the Pune land scam case, which involves his son, Parth Pawar. Additionally, opposition leaders have indicated they will raise concerns about alleged corruption and irregularities in the ongoing civic body elections.
Opposition Accusations and the Cost of the Session
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav accused the state government of deliberately avoiding a longer session to escape tough questioning. He claimed that the government's reluctance to face the opposition over numerous scam allegations is the real reason behind the one-week schedule. Meanwhile, the state exchequer will bear a significant cost for hosting the session in Nagpur. An estimated Rs 100 crore is being spent on preparatory work, which includes renovation and new construction to make the city ready for the legislative assembly.
With a packed agenda and a compressed timeline, the one-week winter session promises to be a high-stakes, politically charged event, testing the government's ability to manage legislative business amidst a barrage of opposition attacks.
