Maharashtra NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil on Monday strongly criticised the Mahayuti government for tabling supplementary demands worth ₹57,509.71 crore in the state legislature, alleging that such fiscal decisions are increasing the state’s financial burden and pushing it towards a deeper revenue crisis.
Speaking to reporters on the first day of the monsoon session of the legislature, Patil accused the government of undermining financial discipline and jeopardising welfare spending for the poor and marginalised.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, tabled the supplementary demands in the Assembly for various schemes and projects.
“These supplementary demands have taken the total projected shortfall this year to over ₹1.03 lakh crore, including the budget’s revenue deficit of ₹45,891 crore. This is yet another dubious record of the government,” said Patil, a former state finance minister.
Supplementary demands are typically additional funds sought beyond initial budget allocations. However, Patil alleged that the actual disbursal often fails to match the allocations on paper.
“Every year, we see that funds allocated for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backwards Classes remain unspent. The same pattern is unfolding this year,” he said.
Patil warned that if the government continues along this path, the revenue deficit could swell to between ₹1.5 lakh crore and ₹2 lakh crore by the time the next budget is presented.
He further criticised the government for borrowing heavily and making financial commitments that, according to him, it is unable to fulfil.
“This could lead to a grave situation where people awaiting their dues may either take extreme steps or turn against the administration,” Patil added.
He said that fiscal mismanagement is fast becoming a serious challenge for Maharashtra and is directly affecting the implementation of welfare schemes meant for the poor and underprivileged.
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