Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar ignited a political firestorm at a rally by slamming farmers for their "habit" of demanding farm loan waivers, questioning why they expect everything "free of cost." Pawar highlighted past waivers under Sharad Pawar, Devendra Fadnavis, and Uddhav Thackeray, insisting such measures cannot be routine. "The government already gives zero-interest crop loans—still, they demand waivers. This is not a good habit," he declared, warning that fulfilling the 2024 election promise would cost thousands of crores.

Pawar's remarks directly undermine Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' pledge to execute the waiver by June 2026, exposing cracks within the MahaYuti alliance. He admitted the promise was made to win votes but called its implementation "not easy," drawing accusations of betrayal from farmers already reeling from soaring input costs and stagnant crop prices.

Opposition leaders pounced, with Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal accusing MahaYuti of insensitivity. "Farmers didn't demand this—you promised it in your manifesto! If you can't deliver, resign. You have no moral right to stay in power," he thundered. Sapkal labeled Pawar's comments a slap in the face to distressed farmers.

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Farmer leader Vijay Jawandia countered that waivers wouldn't be needed if the government ensured fair MSP. "Cotton sells at ₹6,500-7,000/quintal—same as 20 years ago—while fertilizers have tripled. Input costs have exploded, but produce prices haven't. Without waivers, farmer suicides will surge," he warned, calling the relief a "balm" the government now refuses to apply.

This isn’t Pawar’s first controversy—his 2013 quip about urinating in dams during a drought still haunts him. As cotton and soyabean trade below MSP and farmer distress mounts, Pawar’s outburst risks alienating rural voters and fracturing MahaYuti’s credibility ahead of crucial local body polls.

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