Written by Alok DeshpandeMumbai | Updated: September 26, 2025 12:49 PM IST 3 min readMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s tours of flood-affected regions in the state are turning out to be a test of patience for the veteran leaders, with agitated farmers demanding instant relief.On Wednesday, taking stock of the flood situation in Latur district, Fadnavis addressed the crowd and assured them that the government stands with the people in these testing times. “I assure you that the government will keep all the criteria aside and help the farmers completely. We will ensure even additional possible help,” he said.However, the crowd started demanding the declaration of ‘wet drought’ and sought to know how much money the government was going to pay farmers. As one of the farmers repeated the demand to know how much help per hectare will be given, a visibly irritated Fadnavis lost his composure. “Don’t do politics here. This is not the place to do politics. Don’t do politics,” a usually calm Fadnavis snapped back. The elected representatives and the crowd asked the farmer to stop.According to a letter written by the Maharashtra government seeking additional financial aid from the Centre, around 50 lakh hectares of crop land have been damaged due to incessant rains in around 195 tehsils in Maharashtra, a majority being in Marathwada.Ajit Pawar too courted controversy after snapping back at a farmer, asking whether he should be made chief minister and whether the ministers were playing marbles.During his visit to a flood-affected village in Dharashiv district’s Bhoom-Paranda tehsil, Pawar was addressing a gathering in a village. During his speech, a farmer standing behind him asked, “When will the government announce a farm loan waiver?”To this, an upset Pawar said, “Why don’t we make him the chief minister? We also understand things. Aamhi gotya kheltoy ka? (Are we playing marbles here?) I have been working since 6 am, and you are not letting those who work speak.”Story continues below this ad“I am here to console you. I have to go to another village after this as well,” Pawar said, adding that the government had paid Rs 46,000 crore under the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme and had waived off electricity charges for farmers as well. “We can pretend about many things, but not about money,” he told the audience.Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also came under criticism after the tempos with aid kits sent by his party, the Shiv Sena, to Dharashiv carried his photographs and those of Dharashiv’s guardian minister Pratap Sarnaik.Apart from the top three ministers in the state cabinet, Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan and Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharne also faced farmers’ wrath while they toured flood-affected areas.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd