Fadnavis 3.0: A year of controversies, clashes and political friction

Several Shinde-led Sena ministers expressed dissatisfaction over ministerial appointments, portfolio distribution and guardian minister posts, particularly in Nashik and Raigad. While skipping meetings became routine, the cabinet boycott in November by Sena ministers became a highlight or peak of the strain in relationships that was often justified by claims of BJP interference and poaching of Sena supporters ahead of municipal elections. The highlight of the year was also that of frequent reports of Shinde being upset over some decisions taken by the CM.

Public rallies by Fadnavis and Shinde in the same districts during the local body polls underscored the widening rift, leading analysts to term the situation a ‘cold war’ within the coalition, waged subtly through bureaucratic delays, selective absenteeism and public statements rather than outright confrontation.

Dec 2024: First Resignation of Minister

Barely days after taking office, the Fadnavis-led government faced its first major test. On December 9, 2024, Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, was abducted, brutally tortured and murdered. Videos of the crime circulated widely, triggering state-wide outrage and getting caste colour to the issue. Investigations linked the killing to an alleged extortion attempt on a wind-energy firm and several accused, including a minister’s aide Walmik Karad, were named in the CID chargesheet.

The incident had immediate political consequences. NCP minister Dhananjay Munde resigned on March 4, 2025, under pressure from media and political scrutiny.

Jan 2025: Race for Guardian Minister

In January, the state government appointed 36 guardian ministers and the tussle began over the appointments. Despite the appointment of NCP minister Aditi Tatkare, daughter of NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, as the Guardian Minister of Raigad, the friction between Sena Minister Bharat Gogawale and Tatkare had forced Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to stay the allotment of the post to Aditi. Similarly, the CM also stayed the appointment of Nashik’s Guardian Minister which was allotted to BJP’s Girish Mahajan as Shinde-led Sena’s Minister Dada Bhuse was keen on the position. The tussle over this continued throughout the year.

Feb 2025: Portfolio Change of Minister

Former Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate faced a conviction in 1995 for forged documents, which was later stayed. However, during the monsoon session of the legislature, a video showing him playing an online card game during Assembly proceedings and controversial statements about farmers led to his portfolio change from agriculture to sports.

March 2025: Communal Clashes

Communal clashes were reported from Nagpur that involved stone-pelting, burning of vehicles and houses and widespread arson, triggering a city-wide curfew. Over 65 arrests were made and police said dozens of rioters and even police personnel were injured.

Communal clashes were reported across the state as well. As per the police data, Maharashtra reported several incidents of communal unrest in different districts in early this year.

May 2025: Shalarth Scam

The Shalarth scam rocked the state, exposing a massive network of ghost teachers and fraudulent staff appointments. Forged documents and manipulated digital IDs allowed crores to be siphoned off, implicating school administrators and clerks in Marathwada, Vidarbha and North Maharashtra. FIRs were filed, officials suspended and a comprehensive audit of Shalarth entries since 2012 was launched, raising serious questions about administrative oversight and transparency.

June-July 2025: Three-language Policy

The government came under fire over the three-language policy in primary school. In July, the three-language decision triggered a rare reunion between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. The two cousins, who have long charted separate political paths, announced a joint protest rally in Mumbai, arguing that the government’s circular diluted Marathi’s primacy in schools. The move created immediate political pressure, with teacher unions and several civic groups joining the campaign. Within days, the state government withdrew the controversial decision, citing the need for wider consultation. Soon after, Uddhav and Raj held what they described as a ‘victory rally.’

July 2025: Misconduct by MLAs

On July 17, Vidhan Bhavan witnessed violent clashes between supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad that led to outrage across the state and the CCTV footage being circulated widely, prompting the Speaker to restrict visitor access and order an inquiry. Simultaneously, Shinde-led Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad assaulted a canteen staffer at the MLA hostel in Mumbai alleging that stale food was served to him. The footage showed the legislator confronting the worker over alleged service lapses, leading to slaps and punching. The incident sparked widespread national outrage with Gaikwad justifying his act.

This forced Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to publicly admonish MLAs and ministers for misconduct, urging them to maintain decorum and personal restraint. Shinde held meetings with party legislators, emphasising that such incidents not only harmed individual reputations but also tarnished the party image ahead of upcoming local-body elections.

In the same month, another Shiv Sena Minister Yogesh Kadam came under scrutiny after reports emerged that a Kandivali dance bar, registered in his mother’s name, was allegedly operating in violation of licensing rules. A police raid reportedly found 22 bar‑girls and staff present, prompting Opposition leaders to demand Kadam’s resignation, arguing that a minister, particularly in the home department, could not be linked to an establishment accused of illegal activity. Kadam denied any wrongdoing, stating the bar was leased to a third party and that his family had no operational control. The family later surrendered the licence, but the controversy drew sustained political and media attention.

August 2025: Maratha Reservation Agitation

In late August, activist Manoj Jarange Patil led a Maratha quota agitation in Mumbai. From August 29, thousands of protesters gathered at Azad Maidan, paralysing city traffic and public transport for five days. The protest demanded recognition of Marathas under the ‘Kunbi’ category (Hyderabad Gazette) and withdrawal of FIRs.

Fadnavis, holding the home portfolio, faced intense scrutiny as coalition deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were reportedly absent during the initial phase. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil negotiated partial concessions, granting Kunbi certificates to certain Maratha groups.

The agitation exposed caste-based tensions, highlighted coalition vulnerabilities and tested the government’s capacity to handle urban unrest without escalation.

The opposition also targeted the government, accusing it of cheating farmers, beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme and the unemployed in the state. While the opposition criticised the government for not fulfilling the promises of farm loan waiver and increasing the monthly instalment of Ladki Bahin to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500, the opposition also hit out at the government for stopping the budgetary funds allocation to several other welfare schemes for reducing the burden on the treasury.

Oct-Nov 2025: Mundhwa-Bopodi land deal

The Mundhwa-Bopodi land deal emerged as one of the state’s most high-profile controversies late this year. The transaction involved nearly 40 acres of ‘Mahar Watan’ land in Pune, transferred to a private firm, Amadea Enterprises LLP, in which Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is a partner. The land was sold far below market value and proper clearances and stamp duty procedures were bypassed.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested Sheetal Tejwani, who held power of attorney over the property, and a suspended sub-registrar was named for irregularities in processing the sale. However, despite evidence, Parth was not formally named in any FIR. The controversy fuelled public scrutiny and political pressure on the ruling coalition and raised concerns over the misuse of funds.

Nov 2025: Coalition Friction and Municipal Poll Preparations

Coalition tensions persisted. Cabinet boycotts, absenteeism and disputes over portfolios were frequent. Disputes over guardian minister appointments in Nashik and Raigad intensified the rift and the local bodies polls added fuel to it with Shinde-led Sena ministers boycotting the cabinet meeting, accusing the BJP of poaching the Sena leaders.

Ahead of municipal elections, both parties allegedly poached local leaders, resulting in separate rallies and heightened political tension. Electoral violence became common, with stone-pelting, vandalism and bogus voting reported in Beed, Buldhana and Aurangabad. Police resorted to lathicharge and tear gas, and observers described the elections as ‘proxy battlefields’ reflecting deeper coalition rivalry.

Unprecedented violence were reported in December 2 local body polls with at least five FIRs registered across the state.

This year was also marred by the reported suicides of Vaishnavi Hagwane in July. The suicide was reportedly owing to dowry and domestic violence by the family which was connected to NCP. Similarly, in November, Dr Sampada Munde in Phaltan committed suicide by writing a note on her hand alleging harassment by a police officer.