Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday demanded from the Maharashtra government a complete waiver of farm loans and its impelemntation before the Assembly elections in the state scheduled later this year.
Thackeray raised the demand while addressing a press conference in Mumbai where he termed the monsoon session of the state legislature that commenced on Thursday as the "send-off" session of the Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
"There should be a complete waiver of farm loans immediately and this should be implemented before the state polls," said the former Maharashtra Chief Minister.
The state government is slated to present its budget on Friday.
Taking a swipe at the Centre and state government over the paper leak cases, Thackeray said these two dispensations are "leakages government", also referring to the reports of water leak at the Ayodhya Ram temple.
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On the first day of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly's monsoon session, legislators from the opposition staged protest on the premises of the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai.
The protesting MLAs, belonging to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP), raised slogans against the government over the issues related to farmers and the NEET exam.
The opposition members sat on the state legislature complex's stairs and raised slogans holding placard in their hands.
On Wednesday, the opposition alliance boycotted customary tea party hosted by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on the eve of the session, accusing the government of failing to address issues of the masses.
The session will be held from June 27 to July 12 where the ruling Mahayuti will present the state budget in both Houses of the legislature on June 28. In February, the state government had tabled an interim budget ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.