States » WestPosted at: Nov 7 2026 4:47PM


Fadnavis, Ministers to celebrate Diwali with farmers in drought-hit villages

Mumbai, Nov 7 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will celebrate Diwali from Saturday night onwards with farmers in Lohari Sawanga village in Narkhed taluka of Nagpur district, official sources said here.
The development has come after opposition parties like the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena severely criticised Fadnavis for paying only Rs 5000 to farmers as drought relief.
According to official sources, Fadnavis is scheduled to leave for Lohari Sawanga village from Nagpur city on Saturday evening and stay in the village overnight, interacting with drought-hit farmers and their families.
The visit by Fadnavis is aimed at boosting the morale of farmers facing financial distress in Diwali due to the severe drought and to convince the farming community that the Fadnavis government stands firmly with them during these difficult times, sources said.
Fadnavis will hold detailed discussions with drought-hit farmers regarding issues concerning agriculture, including irrigation facilities, crop insurance, water availability and other local
problems during his interactions with farmers in drought-hit Lohari Sawanga village.
Earlier on Saturday, Fadnavis told media persons that “Maharashtra has been hit by a severe drought. The government is fully sympathetic to the problems of farmers. Therefore, every minister should go to a village at least for one day and celebrate Diwali with drought-hit farmers”,

On Sunday morning, Fadnavis is scheduled to hold a meeting with elected representatives from Narkhed taluka to discuss local issues with them. During his return journey, Fadnavis is also likely to stop at a few drought-hit villages to inspect agricultural fields and review the ongoing water conservation works, sources said.
Following the Chief Minister’s appeal to his ministers to celebrate Diwali with drought-hit farmers, several ministers have confirmed their plans to participate in the initiative.
Accordingly, Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule will celebrate Diwali in Amravati district, while Minister Ashish Shelar will be in Raigad district on November 10.

Maharashtra Minister of State Pankaj Bhoyar will celebrate the festival in Wardha district, while Minister of State Meghna Bordikar will visit Parbhani district. Public Works Minister Shivendrasinh Raje Bhosale will tour Satara district and Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Pankaja Munde will tour Jalna district.
Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department Jayakumar Gore is scheduled to celebrate Diwali with sanitation workers at Pandharpur on November 9, with farmers at Maan Khatav on November 10, and tour a village in Solapur district on November 11, sources said.
Senior BJP leader and Minister of Skills Development Mangalprabhat Lodha will celebrate Diwali
at Adivasi Pada in Aarey Colony, in Mumbai. The initiative is expected to provide farmers with
a direct platform to voice their concerns and expectations to the highest levels of the Maharashtra state government, to give a sense of belief and hope to drought-hit farmers, sources said.
UNI BM
Tags: #Fadnavis# Ministers to celebrate Diwali with farmers in drought-hit villages
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