The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has assured that essential and emergency services will not be affected during the MVA-sponsored state-wide bandh on Monday. The MVA has given a call for agitation in solidarity with the farmers, who were allegedly murdered in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh. The Maharashtra Cabinet passed a resolution expressing regret about the deaths last week and the ruling MVA—the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress—gave a call for a state bandh on October 11.

Party spokespersons, state minister Nawab Malik (NCP), Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) and Sachin Sawant (Congress) told media persons that the workers have been instructed to not disturb the essential and emergency services. They appealed to people to join the protest voluntarily and peacefully.  The bandh has been supported by all other non-BJP parties and farmer fronts affiliated with the left organisations. “This will be a people’s protest. We are just messengers,” said Raut, asking the BJP to mend its ways. Sawant wanted Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra, who is father of the accused Ashish Mishra in the case, to resign from the ministry. “His son is accused of killing the farmers. He must resign,” Sawant said.