Shiv Sena Upset Over Fadnavis Relaxing Marathi Rule for Auto and Taxi Drivers

Leaders of the Shiv Sena, a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra, expressed strong displeasure on Friday following Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s decision to grant commercial autorickshaw and taxi drivers a one-year reprieve to learn functional Marathi.

The move effectively paused a drive initiated by Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. In April, Mr. Sarnaik had announced that all autorickshaw and taxi drivers across the State must demonstrate basic knowledge of Marathi, establishing a compliance deadline of August 15. Following pushback from drivers' unions, Mr. Fadnavis announced on Thursday that the State government would give drivers one year to learn the language and would not take punitive action for non-compliance during that period.

Shiv Sena leaders voiced frustration over being sidelined, stating that the Chief Minister should have taken them into confidence before making the announcement. They noted that the decision created a perception that Mr. Fadnavis provided relief to north Indian drivers, and expressed dismay over celebrations organised by migrant drivers in parts of Mumbai.

Party leaders maintained that the drive was tied directly to their foundational ideology of protecting "Marathi asmita" (pride), affirming that they would continue to stand for their principles despite the policy clash with the BJP.

The disagreement has also highlighted broader strains within the ruling alliance. Shiv Sena insiders stated that unrest within the party was not limited to the language rule, alleging ongoing interference by the BJP in the functioning of Shiv Sena ministers over the past year and a half. Leaders claimed that their decisions were frequently superseded or overruled, reflecting a lack of coordination within the coalition.

BJP sources stated that the decision took into account the sizeable migrant population in Mumbai and other financial hubs across Maharashtra, particularly in view of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. BJP leaders also noted that they wanted to prevent clashes and avoid generating further negative perceptions in the State.

Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised the ruling Shiv Sena over the rollback, asserting that the party's decisions were subordinated to the BJP leadership.