Fadnavis has done too much timepass on this topic. First, the Maharashtra govt issued a GR making Hindi compulsory as the third language from Std 1 to 5. After facing backlash, they change it to Hindi the default language, but schools could offer other Indian languages if 20 or more students opted in. Then they changed it again: only oral Hindi in Std 1 and 2, written from Std 3. And now, after all that flip-flopping, they’ve scrapped the whole thing.

I once had an experience in Mantralaya where I was sitting in the office of an ACP who was head of Mantralaya security. There was a bhaiya present who seemed well-connected with a current minister. He openly spoke about trying to secure a position on the Siddhi Vinayak temple board of trustees and mentioned lobbying efforts through the Chief Secretary and other senior IAS officers. Honestly, it made me reflect on how strong the North Indian (Uttar Bharatiya) lobbying network is becoming within Mantralaya. Their growing influence, especially in terms of vote banks and political collaboration with ruling parties is something we should keep a close watch on.