Nagpur: Amidst opposition protests, Devendra Fadnavis, the Maharashtra Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, introduced the Maharashtra Casino (Control and Taxation) Bill during the first day of the Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Simultaneously, State Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the Chit Fund Maharashtra Amendment Bill for discussion in the House.

Addressing the issue of distressed farmers during the Assembly session, Fadnavis highlighted, "Forty talukas in the state have been identified as drought-prone by the central government's criteria. Full assistance will be extended to these areas. Last year, we provided aid totaling Rs 10,000 crore. Over 20 lakh farmers have already received 25 per cent of the advance amount, and we've modified the criteria to encompass three hectares instead of two. The Mahayuti government is committed to supporting the farmers."

Earlier, opposition party MLAs staged a protest at Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur, expressing discontent over the state government's handling of farmers' issues.

This Assembly session, which commenced with a tumultuous atmosphere on Friday, is anticipated to witness heated debates between the ruling Mahayuti and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in the Opposition, particularly in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

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