Budget session to begin today, focus on 9.3L cr debt, sops

Mumbai: Given the state's financial stress—it has a projected debt of Rs 9.3 lakh crore and a host of pre-poll welfare schemes to cater to—the spotlight at the budget session, which begins on Monday, will be on how the Mahayuti govt manages to deliver on its promises.The budget will be presented on March 6 by CM Devendra Fadnavis in the wake of deputy CM and finance minister Ajit Pawar's death. This will be the first assembly session attended by Ajit Pawar's wife, Sunetra Pawar, who has replaced him as deputy CM and holds the state excise and minority affairs portfolios.
Given the opposition's low numbers, taking on govt will be a major challenge for it. However, MVA parties are likely to target assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who drew flak in Alibaug over allegedly intervening in a land measurement dispute. Narwekar has denied the charges. The opposition is also likely to question the reported clean chit given to Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar, in a revenue department inquiry on the transfer of a 40-acre plot in Mundhwa to a company linked to him. The budget session will take place for the first time without a leader of opposition (LoP) in both Houses. The assembly has been without an LoP since the state polls in Nov 2024 after the number of opposition MLAs fell below the long held convention of 10% of the House strength. The party had proposed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav for the post, but Narwekar has not granted the request. The post of LoP in the upper House has remained vacant since Sena (UBT)'s Ambadas Danve retired in Aug 2025. Congress, the largest opposition party in the legislative council, had recommended the name of its MLC Satej Patil for the post. The opposition is also likely to raise questions about the trimming of beneficiaries of Mahayuti's flagship Laadki Bahin scheme. After the introduction of e-KYC, the number of beneficiaries dropped by 86 lakh for Dec 2025. The number of beneficiaries who filed e-KYC details is 55 lakh lower than last year. MVA is likely to confront govt over its pre-poll promises, like raising the Laadki Bahin stipend from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000, and loan waivers for farmers. The state has set up a committee to study the waiver and long-term solutions to the farm crisis, which will present its report in June. The opposition could also question the MoUs signed by the state at Davos, especially the Rs 1.3 lakh crore deal signed with Lodha Developers, linked to minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Elections to seven Rajya Sabha seats will also be held during the session, with Mahayuti poised to win six seats and MVA expected to win one. It's not clear whom MVA will back for its lone seat. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar is said to be willing to contest the election if it is unopposed. However, both Sena (UBT) and Congress have made claims to the seat.