Latur, Sep 23: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the Maharashtra government will issue a Government Resolution (GR) on the drought situation within the next two days and declare blanket aid for farmers.

Speaking to reporters after visiting Kharosa village in Latur district, the Chief Minister clarified that crop damage assessments (panchnamas) are being conducted solely because they are legally mandated.

“The government has no intention of getting farmers entangled in administrative delays. The financial aid will be extended universally,” he assured, adding that the state stands firmly behind farmers by considering damage to both Kharif and Rabi seasons.

Describing the condition of crops in Latur district as critical, CM Fadnavis noted that current rainfall has dropped to 50 per cent, compared to 63 per cent during previous drought years. Urging citizens to remain resilient, he assured that the state government would fully manage drinking water supplies and livestock fodder.

“We will need to support one another over the next three to four months, and the state government is fully standing by you,” the Chief Minister stated.

He further assured that the state government would clear pending bills for water supply schemes to ensure every village receives drinking water.

During the visit, MLA Abhimanyu Pawar submitted a memorandum requesting assistance for local issues, while farmers carrying dried-up soybean plants met the Chief Minister to highlight the dire situation.

Acknowledging that the present conditions are even more severe than the historic 1972 drought, CM Fadnavis reaffirmed that the official order for drought declaration would be released within two days.

Following the inspection of two villages in Latur, the Chief Minister is scheduled to interact with farmers in Karajkheda and Yermala in Dharashiv district. Discussions during these visits will focus on structuring relief measures.

Meanwhile, the state administration has decided to set up dedicated ‘War Rooms’ at the district level to streamline drought management action. Accompanied by the Guardian Minister during the tour, CM Fadnavis was briefed on the sharp decline in agricultural output.

Reiterating his commitment, he emphasised that the severity of the situation demands immediate action without letting procedural formalities delay relief.

He further stated that the government has taken the drought situation very seriously.

The CM also assured that the government stands firmly behind the farmers. Appropriate action is underway at the government level regarding the necessary measures to be taken in light of the drought.

Furthermore, reports regarding the drought situation have been received by the government. The current situation is extremely critical. The government is providing necessary assistance to farmers, alongside extending benefits under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme, said the CM.

He added that sufficient funds will be made available for this purpose.

CM Fadnavis further mentioned that detailed micro-planning has been carried out for essential requirements during the drought, such as drinking water and livestock fodder.

Mumbai, Sep 23: As a report of ‘dissent’ within the Election Commission of India (ECI) surfaced, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said that it exposed the “illegal work” done by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in the electoral process.

He claimed that the Opposition tried to raise these concerns several times; however, “no one was ready to listen”.

The controversy emanated from a leading daily publishing an investigative report, claiming that on 14 occasions over a period of 10 months, two Election Commissioners had objected “on record” to steps taken by the Commission.

According to the report, the objections related to a range of decisions and processes, including allegations that the commissioners were kept in the dark about certain matters as well as issues concerning the addition of new voters and deletion of names from electoral rolls.

Speaking to media, Raut said, “This is a big revelation. We have been repeatedly saying these things on public platforms. Now, this has been exposed. Two members of the Election Commission — Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — have done the biggest work to save democracy. Gyanesh Kumar is doing illegal work within the Election Commission and outside as well.”

“How these people, how Amit Shah won the elections in West Bengal and Bihar, has now come to light. They won with the help of Gyanesh Kumar’s criminal activities. The changes made in Form 6 regarding SIR are illegal; this is what the two Election Commissioners are saying. But objections were raised, complaints were made, yet no one is ready to listen,” he said.

Hitting back at Raut, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said that the Opposition has the right to ask questions; however, it is essential to understand that the Election Commission is a constitutional institution and the SIR process is transparent before commenting on the same.

“The Election Commission is a constitutional institution. We have to understand the importance of SIR. Similar names are mentioned 10 times in the list; fake names should be removed, and genuine voter names shall be included,” Kadam said.

“This is what the SIR is about. The Opposition wants to play blame games on this simple matter. Should a person who is declared dead be included in the voter list? Why should it be so?” he asked.

Calling it a “very transparent” process, the BJP MLA said, “If a person is listed multiple times, then they should be removed. Politics is about criticism and blaming the other person; that’s natural. But removing the counterfeit names cannot be a political issue. Anyone who calls it a political issue has the wrong intention. Should bogus voting continue?”

“Does Sanjay Raut want the bogus voters to continue to remain in the voter list? What would Sanjay Raut support? The names that have come up more than once should remain, or should they be removed?” he asked.

Kadam asserted that people who are against removing the fake names do not have clear intentions. “Every person can vote once, isn’t that the rule? Then why do they want the fake names to remain? Can Sanjay Raut answer that?” Kadam added.

The ECI, however, rejected the daily’s report and said that every officer in the institution is “fully authorised” to offer suggestions for improving the electoral system, while underlining that several “unanimous decisions” have been taken by the poll body in recent months.

The Commission said that differing views, observations, and suggestions are a normal part of deliberations within any institution and pointed out that the decision-making process involves not only the three Election Commissioners but also officials across the organisation.

The poll panel said it has introduced around 40 new initiatives and undertaken several electoral reforms, including electoral roll revision, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), across the country, with the agreement of all authorised officers.

Mumbai, Sep 23: As severe drought threatens large swathes of Maharashtra, the state government has stepped into high gear, with the top leadership of the cabinet launching ground-zero inspection drives to review crop damage and outline immediate relief measures.

A deficit rainfall driven by the Al Niño phenomenon has devastated crops across Marathwada, Vidarbha, Khandesh, and Western Maharashtra, snatching livelihoods from farmers and triggering an acute crisis of drinking water and livestock fodder.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is conducting an extensive field tour across Latur, Dharashiv, and Solapur districts to interact directly with affected farmers on their agricultural land. He is inspecting moisture-stressed and withered crops across Jau, Kharosa, and Lamjana villages in Ausa and Nilanga talukas.

According to BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar, CM Fadnavis will hold a direct dialogue with local farmers at Kharosa. Commencing his tour, the Chief Minister — joined by Public Works Minister Shivendraraje Bhosale and Dharashiv Guardian Minister Pratap Sarnaik — will visit Karajkheda in Dharashiv taluka and Malkapur in Kalamb taluka.

Further inspections are scheduled for Yermala (Kalamb) and Tuljapur. The CM’s itinerary includes field inspections across three major drought-hit locations in Solapur district. All eyes remain on the Chief Minister regarding upcoming relief packages and key policy declarations for drought mitigation.

Simultaneously, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is spearheading crop assessment efforts in Western Vidarbha, covering Buldhana, Akola, and Amravati districts. Issuing a stern directive to his cabinet ministers, Dy CM Shinde mandated that all Shiv Sena ministers descend to Ground Zero, perform immediate panchnamas (crop damage loss assessments), and conduct Janata Durbars (public grievance hearings) in affected villages.

Reassuring the farming community, Dy CM Shinde pledged the full financial and administrative backing of the state government.

Further, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar reviewed the worsening drought scenario in the Warud-Morshi belt of Amravati district following a briefing in Mumbai by former Morshi MLA Devendra Bhuyar.

Addressing critical issues regarding drinking water shortages and agricultural distress, Dy CM Pawar contacted the Amravati District Collector to direct immediate administrative intervention.

Following prolonged dry spells across all eight talukas and 52 revenue circles in Jalna, Collector Aashima Mittal issued official orders creating a centralised War Room. The command centre will monitor daily metrics regarding crop health, fodder availability, water storage, tanker-filling stations, premature crop-cutting experiments, e-crop surveys, and potential rural migration.

Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane on Tuesday evening chaired a high-level review meeting at CIDCO Bhavan in Navi Mumbai. The session assessed water scarcity, agricultural losses, and local agrarian distress across Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar districts.

Earlier on Tuesday, CM Fadnavis announced the establishment of a Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, to oversee and execute measures to address drought-like conditions in several parts of Maharashtra.

Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister, who chaired the weekly cabinet meeting, affirmed that the state government will extend immediate assistance to affected farmers without waiting for financial aid from the Central government. He added that a preliminary notification declaring drought-like conditions will be officially released by Saturday.

During the cabinet meeting, ministers reviewed rainfall metrics, reservoir water levels, and overall agricultural status across the state. CM Fadnavis noted that primary data collection regarding the drought situation is already underway. To facilitate swift decision-making, the newly formed Cabinet Sub-Committee has been vested with full cabinet powers.

The panel will determine relief packages and measures based on incoming statewide field data. Official crop damage assessments (panchnamas) are directed to begin on Wednesday. Major crops, including soybean, maize, and cotton, have suffered extensive damage, while paddy fields in the Konkan region have also been severely impacted.

“I will personally begin inspecting affected areas starting tomorrow, and I have directed all ministers and elected representatives to go directly to the ground (bandh) to assess the damage,” said CM Fadnavis. He added that a formal proposal requesting relief funds based on NDRF norms will be submitted to the Central government.

Special focus will be placed on drinking water supplies and livestock fodder over the next seven to eight months, co-ordinated through Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and local self-government bodies, he noted.

CM Fadnavis said, “Ministers will begin state tour tomorrow to inspect drought-affected regions, Cabinet Sub-Committee has been granted full cabinet authority to make immediate relief decisions, on-ground crop damage assessments (panchnamas) will start statewide tomorrow, priority allocation for drinking water management and livestock fodder supply and relief deployment will begin immediately without waiting for central assistance.”