MUMBAI:  Maharashtra's Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented a Rs 6,12,293 crore budget in the Maharashtra Assembly, offering various incentives aimed at farmers, women, the poor, and youth, in a bid to win over different voter groups ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. As the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Pawar also sought to appeal to the middle class, a demographic often concerned with rising prices, by announcing a tax reduction on petrol and diesel. 

While presenting the budget Pawar said that 46 lakh farmers in the state will benefit from a waiver of electricity bill dues, costing the government Rs 14,761 crore. Additionally, Pawar introduced the CM Mazi Ladki Bahin scheme, which will provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to poor women aged 21-60 years through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), leading to an annual expenditure of Rs 46,000 crore for the government. Under the CM Annapurna Scheme, eligible families will receive three free gas cylinders annually.

Pawar also proposed an outlay of Rs 1.92 lakh crore under the annual plan for 2024-25, including Rs 15,839 crore for the Scheduled Castes sub-plan and Rs 15,360 crore for the Tribal sub-plan. He announced a 65 paise per litre reduction in petrol prices in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane, with the tax on diesel in the Mumbai region being reduced from 24% to 21%, effectively lowering diesel prices by Rs 2 per litre. The tax on petrol was also decreased from 26% to 25%, further reducing the price by 65 paise per litre.

He further said the electricity bills of 46.06 lakh farmers' agricultural pumps will be waived, resulting in a government expenditure of Rs 14,761 crore. The Budget emphasized a strategy focused on balanced and inclusive growth for Maharashtra, addressing both urban and rural needs while promoting sustainable development.

In his speech, Pawar also mentioned that nearly one lakh women would be provided with employment opportunities in the coming year and that 7,000 km of roadworks would be completed during the financial year. He announced a grant of Rs 20,000 to each Dindi participating in the Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadashi Vari. Furthermore, Pawar revealed that the government would approve the Wadhavan port project in Palghar. Lastly, he said, that under the CM Yuva Karya Prashikshan Scheme, 10 lakh interns will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000, with the government allocating Rs 10,000 crore for this initiative.