‘Not taken into confidence’: Sena upset over CM’s ‘unilateral decision’ to relax Marathi rule for autorickshaw, taxi drivers

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced that the State government would give drivers one year to learn the language and not take any action for non-compliance during this period. | Photo Credit: PTI

Leaders of the Shiv Sena, a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra, expressed displeasure on Friday with its ally BJP over Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s “unilateral decision” to relax Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik’s drive to ensure that commercial autorickshaw and taxi drivers in the State speak “functional Marathi”.

Mr. Sarnaik had announced in April that autorickshaw and taxi drivers must display basic knowledge of Marathi and set a deadline of August 15 to comply with the rule. After drivers’ unions opposed the decision, Mr. Fadnavis on Thursday announced that the State government would give drivers one year to learn the language and not take any action for non-compliance during this period.

“The CM should have taken us into confidence before making such an announcement. Now, there is a perception that he was the one to give relief to north Indian auto and taxi drivers,” a Shiv Sena leader said.

Shiv Sena leaders said they were also unhappy at celebrations organised by migrant drivers at a few places in Mumbai after the Chief Minister’s decision. “Why do you need 12 months to answer 12 simple questions in Marathi?” said a party leader.

“It is the Shiv Sena’s core ideology that we stand for Marathi asmita (pride). We were the ones who decided to implement this rule. We cracked down on errant drivers. In Maharashtra, one must know Marathi,” a Sena leader said, adding that the party will not move away from its core ideology though there is a clash with the BJP over it.

Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena over these differences, Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said it was time for the Shiv Sena to rebel. “The party’s decision was changed by the BJP. The Transport Minister does not hold any power. The leader of that party is [Union Home Minister] Amit Shah. So, his orders will have to be followed. That is exactly what has happened,” he said.

BJP sources said the decision was taken in view of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. While both Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are BJP-ruled States, the north Indian population is a core vote bank for the national party in Mumbai. “Not just in Mumbai, but in other financial centres of Maharashtra too, there is a substantial migrant population,” said a BJP leader.

The party leader also said the issue was not something over which they wanted clashes in the State. “There is already a build-up of negative perception about the State due to various issues like agitations and the Amravati hospital fire. We don’t want to add to it,” the leader said.

Shiv Sena sources indicated that the unrest in the regional party was not just over the issue of Marathi, but alleged interference in the functioning of the party’s Ministers by the BJP over the last one and a half years.