MUMBAI: Days after transport minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik announced that the licences of auto and taxi drivers unable to speak Marathi would be suspended after three months if they failed to learn the language till then, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stepped in and on Thursday announced a one-year extension for the drivers. The CM added that no action would be taken against them till then.
After several rounds of discussion with unions, he announced Marathi classes where drivers could acquire a working knowledge of the language. Shaikh thanked Fadnavis for this relief. “Some people were attempting to play politics with the Marathi issue. But now CM Fadnavis has addressed the concerns of drivers. Those who failed were issued show cause notices and given three months’ time to learn the language.
The Marathi issue began in April 2026 when Sarnaik announced that as per the rules, auto and taxi drivers needed to have a working knowledge of Marathi, failing which their permits would be cancelled. Over 1,65,000 drivers learnt Marathi before the August 15 deadline but many failed to. RTOs across Maharashtra launched a drive from August 18 to test the drivers’ Marathi.
“We welcome the decision announced by the CM,” he said.
Earlier reporting noted: The announcement came days after transport minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik announced that the licences of auto and taxi drivers who are unable to speak Marathi would be suspended after three months if they failed to learn the language. One, he cornered the Eknath Shinde-led Sena and Sarnaik, who were playing the Marathi card, and underlined his authority in the state government. The lack of action by the party against the Marathi language drive had raised concerns among them. Most of them are not very educated so they will require more time. Pratap Sarnaik, whose decision was overruled, also claimed to welcome the decision, saying that the chief minister was the supreme authority in the state government. “But now that they have a full year in hand, we hope they will study well and speak fluent Marathi. Sarnaik added that if another extension was sought, it would not be granted. “It is their duty to respect Maharashtra’s language and culture. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam, who had opposed the transport department’s action against drivers, also expressed gratitude. “Now the government needs to issue the revised orders.
Two, he pacified the substantial number of North Indian migrants in the city, who have been the BJP’s vote bank for the last 12 years, well before the UP elections next year. Earlier reporting noted: Fadnavis gives auto and taxi drivers across Maharashtra 1 year to learn Marathi Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced a one-year extension for the auto and taxi drivers to learn Marathi, adding that no action would be taken against them till then.
With this, Fadnavis killed two birds with one stone, said political observers. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Fadnavis said, “This afternoon, a delegation of auto and taxi drivers met me and requested additional time to learn Marathi. “We had given drivers 105 days to learn Marathi,” he said. “We will hold the test after a year and they will have to pass it, otherwise action will be taken against them,” he said. Shashank Rao, BJP leader and president of the Mumbai Autorickshaw-Taximen’s Union, called the decision “a big relief for drivers”. “We are not opposing Marathi but only want more time,” he said.
I have decided to give them a year’s extension, and from today, no action will be taken against them for a year.
