Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis warms to Old Pension Scheme after cold poll results

MUMBAI: After the legislative council election in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Amravati delivered a dreary result for the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena this winter, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis finally said on Friday that the state government was not “entirely negative” about the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Speaking in the legislative council, he hastened to add that any decision would have to be taken keeping in mind the finances of the state.

The council election results were largely attributed to the unfulfilled demand for OPS, especially in the teachers constituencies of Nagpur and Aurangabad. The BJP even lost the Kasba assembly seat, considered its fortresss for about three decades, on Thursday.
Responding to questions raised by MLCs Bhai Jagtap, Abhijit Vanjari, Kishore Darade, Satej Patil and Rajesh Rathod, among others, Fadnavis told the legislative council that he would soon meet all recognised state government employees’ and teachers’ unions and organisations to find a middle ground on the implemention of the OPS.
Do not want to burden future govts, Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis cites Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's statement about the state not being negative about the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) on Friday marks a shift from his earlier hard line-having categorically said that the OPS would not be implemented and that reviving it would cost the state Rs 1.1 lakh crore, which would lead to the bankruptcy of the state.
"This must not be viewed from an emotional angle," Fadnavis said. "This must be taken seriously. No government will want their employees to be unhappy. But we have to also think of the future. This government won't be affected, but the real impact of the OPS will be felt 2028 onwards, and it will go out of hand in 2032."
Fadnavis said the next election could be won by making populist announcements but the ruling class must also think about the future at a time when government expenditure was already on the rise.
"Our off-hand calculation shows that from 2028 onwards, 2.5 lakh employees will retire," Fadnavis said. "We don't realise the implications now, but this will have a huge impact."
Fadnavis quoted noted economist Montek Singh Ahluwalia, saying current governments were placing the burden on future governments and walking away on the OPS.
"The state government is not negative about OPS, but we have to think about finances," he said. "We have to make roads, bridges and help various sections of society. People are not retiring right now. Those who joined in 2005 will retire in 2028 onwards. We are studying this issue. I am going to sit for a whole day and meet all recognised employees' unions and organisations and look at the alternatives they give. If they give any viable alternative, then we are willing to accept it. This is not an issue of our prestige, the issue is of putting a burden on future governments. We are not entirely negative, I will hold the meeting with employees and teachers organisations and will try to find a way."
In January, a month after Fadnavis, who is also the finance minister, had told the legislative assembly that the state government would not return to the OPS, chief minister Eknath Shinde had said that the state was positive about the OPS for teachers and government employees and working on it. He made an announcement about implementing the OPS for teachers and government employees while addressing a rally ahead of the legislative council election.