Relief Aid with Shinde & Sarnaik Posters Sparks Row in Dharashiv; Ministers Tour Flood-Hit Areas

In Dharashiv district of Maharashtra, a political stir erupted after flood relief materials distributed to affected villages bore posters of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Guardian Minister Pratap Sarnaik. More than 25 trucks carrying ration kits, essential supplies, and relief packages arrived from Thane and Mumbai. Residents and opposition leaders criticized the move, accusing the ruling party of using a humanitarian crisis for political gain.

The controversy deepened as images surfaced of relief boxes prominently displaying the ministers’ portraits and logos. While the Shiv Sena defended the distribution as a private initiative rather than state-funded aid, critics argue that the timing and branding are inappropriate. MP Sanjay Raut of Sena (UBT) accused the party of “politicizing disaster relief” and demanded that help reach victims without partisan display.

State Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne, while touring flood-hit Jalna, faced protests from farmers over delays in documenting crop and livestock losses. Many farmers in Georai village claimed that officials ignored damage to orchards and animal deaths during panchnamas (damage assessments). In response, Bharne called district authorities to speed up assessments and ensure that compensation payments reach the victims before Diwali.

Other ministers, such as Shambhuraj Desai and Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (guardian minister for Ahilyanagar), joined the relief tours. In Ahilyanagar, they inspected flooded fields, met affected families, and promised that “no rain-hit farmer will be left out.” They also directed officials to complete panchnamas and credit compensation into farmers’ accounts promptly.

The incident underscores tensions between relief efforts and political optics in disaster management. While authorities emphasize the urgency of delivering aid, many observers fear that partisan displays may erode public trust. Going forward, residents and farmers say, relief should focus on speed, transparency, and fairness, rather than political branding.