Maharashtra’s Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has bought the country’s first Tesla Model Y car. He has also shared pictures of the beautiful white luxurious car on social media and said that as the state’s transport minister, he tried to buy it and was successful in it.

Transport Minister and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik took delivery of his car from ‘Tesla Experience Center’ at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

‘Bought Tesla as a transport minister
Pratap Sarnaik said, “I have already gifted this car to my grandson. However, taking a car is not a big deal, but I have taken this car with the message of saving the environment. The state’s transport minister is taking the electric vehicle (EV), I have taken this vehicle to give this message.”

#Watch Mumbai: Maharashtra Transport Minister and Owner of India’s First Tesla Car, PRATAP SARNAIK, Says, Says, “I have alredy gifted the tesla to my grandson … Getting a car is not a big deal. Across a message that the transport minister of the… pic.twitter.com/wl2mbs95f5

– ANI (@ani) September 5, 2025

The Transport Minister further said, “In the coming 10 years, EV should be fully come in Maharashtra. This is the resolution of the government and we have to fulfill it. As the Minister of Transport, I have bought this car so that people buy more and more EV. Not only Tesla, but also buy any EV and save the environment.”

‘I consider myself lucky’
He said, “There is a lot of loss of environment in Maharashtra and especially Mumbai. I consider myself lucky that Tesla Company’s first delivery has been given to the Transport Minister of Maharashtra. I consider it my good fortune.”

With this, the minister claimed that whatever infrastructure is needed regarding EV, the Government of India is positive for it. Toll blocks on Atal Setu etc. have been made free for convenience.

5150 electoral buses purchased for the state- Pratap Sarnaik
The minister said, “I have bought 5150 electric buses. Through these buses, the villagers are also being provided EV facility. Today, 480 EV Public Transports are running. People are running it and are using it. The rest of the vehicles were being closed in the way in Mumbai but the EV was going well in the way, but EV is going well.

A month ago in Mumbai, the Rapido bike-taxis were taken action, the same company has now emerged as the sponsor of the Pro-Govinda League 2025 organized by Priyashe Sainaik, son of state government minister Pratap Sarnaik. It is now being alleged that the post of minister has been misused.

On July 2, Transport Minister Pratap Saranaik himself caught a bike taxi of ‘Rapido’ with the ministry. He booked from the app by another name and rode himself to confirm the complaints. He then publicly said, “I myself used this illegal service, while the government has not approved it. Strict action will be taken against such companies.”

VIDEO | Maharashtra Transport Minister PRATAP SARNAIK POSS as a Customer, Catches a Rapido Bike Operating Ilelegally in Mumbai.

(Source: third party)

(Full video available on pti videos – https://t.co/n147tvrpg7, pic.twitter.com/yvu7wxarzr

– Press Trust of India (@Pti_News) July 2, 2025

After this, his department started action and 78 bikes of Rapido were seized. But now that it came to light that the same Rapido Pro-Govinda League is the main sponsor of 2025, which has been organized by Sarnaik’s son himself. Opposition parties have raised questions on this.

Let us tell you that Maharashtra’s bike taxi policy has been stuck as a draft since 2022. After a change in the draft several times, its final draft was released in June 2025, but it has not been officially implemented. In the absence of clear rules, companies like Rapido are continuously serving using private bikes, which is a violation of the current transport rules.

Congress raised questions

Congress leader Vijay Vadettywar took a pinch and said, “Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik should be congratulated – he showed the whole of Maharashtra how the money is raised for the event. First the bike is booked with a private app, then the poor driver is caught on the middle road. Then the stunt is done that the bike is illegal. How smart and cautious they are. ”

Rohit Pawar’s target

Nationalist Congress (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar termed the entire matter as “blackmailing”. He said, “Transport Minister’s #Double_Dhamaka, Rapido Bike came … He was stopped by the minister himself and action was made … I got a lot of publicity … Then the Minister got a lot of publicity and finally changed his stand in the ‘Rapid’ style and finally got a sponsorship by compromising … It is clear that this government is not working for the public, but it is not a question of my government. #Blackmail_Sarkar ”

Transportation minister #Double_Dhamaka

Rapido Baik Aali ..
Tyala Khudd Ministeri Advoon Action Kelly …
Batamya Jhalya, Famous Mali …
Minister ‘Ropid’ Role Badal Aani
Shaved Mandavali Houun Sponsorship
Mali …

Yavrun O Sarkar Jantesathi is not going to work automatically, O clear… pic.twitter.com/617rzs6owe

– Rohit Pawar (@Rrpspeaks) August 7, 2025

Now the question is arising whether this whole matter was a publicity stunt or another example of misuse of strength?

Discussion in the city is hot, and all eyes are now on the political dish of this ‘Dahihandi competition’. Prior to the celebration of Dahihandi and Janmashtami, the third edition of Pro-Govinda League in Mumbai is in full swing. This time a total of 16 teams are participating, who are playing the tradition of bursting Dahi Handi by creating a human pyramid.

In this event, West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle has been made brand ambassador. Out of the total prize money of Rs 1.5 crore, the first prize is 75 lakh, the second 50 lakh and the third prize is 25 lakh. Apart from this, an amount of 3 lakh is being given to every participating team. The event will conclude on 9 August in Worli.

Drivers of cab-taxi such as Ola, Uber and Rapido have announced a strike in Mumbai. Due to this, cab companies are suffering heavy losses. Drivers are on indefinite strike. He has many demands, one of which is to increase the fare of the cab.

Kiran Kshirsagar, president of Maharashtra Gig Workers Forum, said that about 90 percent of cabs of these private companies will not be seen on the roads. People representing the organization also met the Transport Minister of Maharashtra, Pratap Saranaik, but they were not given any concrete assurance from the government. In such a situation, the movement of cab drivers became fierce.

These are the demands of cab drivers
According to a report by the news agency PTI, the Maharashtra Gig Works Manch has made several demands such as rationalizing fares, fareing the meter ‘black-yellow’ cab, banning bike taxis and fixing the limit of permits of black-yellow cab and auto rickshaws. Apart from this, there has been a demand for the formation of Welfare Board for the drivers of app based cab and the implementation of ‘Maharashtra Gig Workers Act’ on the lines of other states.

All profit is charging cab aggregators
Kiran Kshirsagar said that cab aggregators are charging heavy commissions, while drivers are being paid rent at a minimum rate of Rs 8 per km. He said that they want equal rates of traditional taxi drivers, who charge Rs 32 per kilometer for AC cab.

People of Mumbai upset due to cab strike
Meanwhile, passengers faced difficulties in booking the cab online due to the strike. Many people completed their journey through Best’s civil transport buses and autorickshaws and then preferred to walk to nearby railway or metro stations.

Politics on Marathi Morcha: The Marathi Swabhiman Morcha, which has been held on Meera Road in Mumbai today (Tuesday, July 8), did not get permission, which has caused the politics to get hot. There is a split in Mahayuti on this issue. Eknath Shinde’s army is upset due to not getting permission for Marathi Morcha. Shinde Sena Minister Pratap Saranaik has openly expressed displeasure.

Pratap Saranaik says, “Police should not work on behalf of a party (BJP). If the traders (Gujarati-Marwadi) front was allowed, why is the Marathi people not being given?”

Eknath Shinde’s minister became aggressive
Pratap Saranaik claimed that he himself was going to join this front. He said, “I am a minister later, I am first Marathi. I have expressed my displeasure by talking to the police commissioner there. Today I am going to talk to the Chief Minister on this issue too.”

Pratap Sarnaik adopted an aggressive form and said, “If the police have power, then stop or show it.”

Shiv Sena’s Yogesh Kadam’s stand
However, the second minister of Shiv Sena Yogesh Ramdas was seen speaking on behalf of Kadam Kadam. He said, “There is no politics in this. The place where he has asked for permission can cause some problems. We have told them that they should change the place, after that permission will be received but they are not ready to change the place.”