Mumbai, Oct 2026 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Tuesday announced that his party would take responsibility for funding and organising the weddings of daughters of distressed farmers across the state, as he pledged comprehensive assistance to farming families facing drought conditions ahead of Diwali.
Addressing the Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally, Shinde said the party would arrange mass marriage ceremonies for eligible families whose daughters’ weddings had been finalised. He directed party Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to immediately prepare lists of farmers in their respective constituencies who needed assistance to organise their daughters’ weddings.
“We will not let farmers have a gloomy Diwali. If there is a wedding in a farmer’s family, the Shiv Sena will take the responsibility of getting their daughter married,” Shinde said, assuring farmers that the party would stand by them during the difficult period.
The announcement came amid continuing concerns over drought and agricultural distress across Maharashtra. Shinde said the state government and the Shiv Sena were committed to providing practical support to affected families rather than limiting their response to assurances.
Welfare initiatives for women and farming families
As part of the party’s welfare initiatives, the distribution of 25,000 sewing machines and 25,000 bicycles for women beneficiaries associated with the ‘Ladki Bahin’ initiative has begun from Parbhani.
Shinde also announced that the distribution of Diwali ration kits, known as Diwali Shidha, had commenced for farming families to help them meet household requirements during the festive season.
He urged farmers facing financial difficulties not to take extreme steps and assured them that the government would provide assistance through a range of relief measures.
According to Shinde, the Maharashtra government has officially declared drought conditions and implemented 12 major relief measures. These include assistance relating to education, suspension of loan recovery, electricity bill concessions, cattle fodder and drinking water supply.
He further announced immediate cash assistance of Rs 5,000, in addition to regular drought relief packages. Shinde said the administration had moved beyond standard National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms to facilitate faster assistance to affected farmers.
He also referred to Rs 32,000 crore allocated in connection with discussions on farm loan waivers, although further details of the allocation and its implementation were not provided in the remarks.
Centre assures cooperation, says Shinde
The Deputy Chief Minister said he had personally discussed the situation facing Maharashtra’s farmers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to Shinde, both leaders had assured the state of the Centre’s cooperation in addressing the crisis.
“Both the state and Central governments are standing side-by-side with our farmers,” he said.
Invoking the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and his mentor Anand Dighe, Shinde said their approach would have prioritised the needs of farmers during periods of hardship.
He also defended his government’s relief measures against criticism from political opponents, accusing them of focusing on allegations rather than delivering assistance.
“We are providing real assistance to farmers. You at least go and hand over a packet of biscuits,” he said in an apparent reference to opposition leaders.
Shinde added, “Not a single day goes by without the Opposition targeting us with allegations. Remember, we are not just speech-givers; we are ration-providers.”
He criticised opposition leaders for staging protests in Mumbai and raising allegations of vote theft while farmers were dealing with agricultural distress. He maintained that the government should be judged on the assistance it delivered through welfare schemes and relief programmes.
Attack on Opposition over electoral allegations
The Shiv Sena chief also launched a political attack on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the broader Opposition INDIA alliance, particularly over allegations concerning electronic voting machines (EVMs) and electoral rolls.
Questioning what he described as selective objections to election results, Shinde asked why opposition parties raised concerns about alleged electoral irregularities only in certain circumstances.
“When they (Opposition INDIA bloc) won in several places, was there no vote theft then?” he asked.
He also accused the Congress of having a history of electoral malpractice, including booth capturing. These remarks formed part of his broader criticism of the Opposition’s allegations concerning voting procedures and electoral rolls.
Describing the opposition alliance as a “10-headed Ravan”, Shinde invoked the symbolism of Dussehra, suggesting that what he characterised as opportunistic politics needed to be defeated.
He further accused opposition leaders of attempting to create instability by drawing comparisons with political unrest in neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan.
“This is not Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Pakistan—this is India, a new India that steps into the enemy’s territory to strike back,” he said, referring to the country’s military capabilities and leadership under Prime Minister Modi.
Defence of Modi government and Shiv Sena’s strength
Shinde also defended the Union government’s welfare and development record. He said the Modi-led administration was providing free foodgrains to more than 32 crore citizens.
Comparing the Centre’s financial support to Maharashtra under successive governments, he claimed that the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had allocated Rs 2 lakh crore to the state, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under Modi had provided Rs 12 lakh crore for its development.
The figures were presented as part of Shinde’s argument in favour of the Centre’s contribution to Maharashtra’s growth.
Reaffirming his commitment to Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology, Shinde said the Shiv Sena had strengthened its organisational position and currently had 15 MPs, 74 MLAs and more than 1,000 municipal councillors, according to his remarks.
Responding to questions about possible political realignments, he said the party’s growth was reflected in the number of leaders and supporters joining its ranks.
“Journalists ask me when ‘Operation 3.0’ will happen. We don't perform operations after announcing dates like doctors—we perform direct operations,” Shinde remarked.
Concluding his address, he said voters understood the political situation and would ultimately decide which party deserved to remain in power. He reiterated that the Shiv Sena would continue to follow its stated commitment to Hindutva while pursuing welfare initiatives for farmers, women and other sections of society.
The announcement on farmers’ daughters’ weddings and the distribution of welfare assistance placed agricultural relief at the centre of Shinde’s Dussehra message, alongside a strong defence of his government’s record and a sharp attack on the Opposition ahead of the coming political contests.
