Over 1.5 Lakh Electricity Workers To Strike in Maharashtra As Privatisation Row Intensifies
Over 1.5 Lakh Electricity Workers To Strike in Maharashtra As Privatisation Row Intensifies
Pune, October 4, 2025:
A major confrontation is brewing in Maharashtra’s power sector, with over 1.5 lakh permanent staff and contract workers of state-run electricity companies preparing for a statewide strike on October 9. Employees of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company (MSETCL), and Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company (MahaGenco), under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), are protesting against the government’s alleged push for privatisation of the sector.
On Friday, employees and union members staged a protest outside the Mahavitaran office on SB Road, Pune. The demonstration was part of a phased agitation campaign, escalating towards a one-day strike that could disrupt power supply across the state.
Unions allege that the government is encouraging parallel licensing for private companies such as Adani and Torrent, which could strip public utilities of their most profitable regions, leaving them burdened with unviable rural loads. They argue that such moves would not only endanger jobs but also increase tariffs for farmers and low-income consumers.
The dispute has roots in 2022, when Adani Transmission first sought parallel licenses in revenue-rich zones such as Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and Bhandup. A 72-hour strike in January 2023 by 1.25 lakh workers forced emergency negotiations, during which state aid of ₹50,000 crore was promised and privatisation was put on hold. However, new license applications submitted in 2025 have reignited tensions, leading to widespread protests, including a nationwide solidarity strike in July that drew nearly 2.7 lakh electricity workers.
Beyond the privatisation issue, workers are also pressing for other long-pending demands, including the implementation of a pension scheme, reservation in promotions for backward classes, and regularisation of 40,000 contractual labourers. Union reports have also criticised outsourcing of operations such as substations to private companies.
The current protest is part of the sixth phase of the agitation. Unions have announced door-to-door campaigns between October 4 and 7 to mobilise public support, followed by sit-in protests at engineers’ offices on October 6. They have warned that disruptions could spread to major urban centres including Mumbai and Pune if the government fails to intervene.
With the strike deadline approaching, the standoff has placed the state government under pressure to find a resolution that addresses both the concerns of the workforce and the future of Maharashtra’s power sector.
