Vote Against Mahayuti in Upcoming Elections: Posters Surface on Cabs and Rickshaws in Pune
Pune, 26th September 2025: Posters urging citizens to “vote against Mahayuti in the upcoming elections” have appeared on several cabs and rickshaws across Pune, intensifying protests by transport unions against aggregator companies Ola, Uber, and Rapido.
“Aggregator companies continue to operate despite orders from the Transport Department. While police complaints are already registered against some, the Transport Minister still grants them permissions,” alleged Dr. Keshav Kshirsagar, President of Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha. He announced that a state-wide protest will be held at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on September 30.
Kshirsagar warned that unless strict action is taken against the companies and the Transport Minister resigns, rickshaw, cab, and taxi drivers across Maharashtra will launch an indefinite strike.
According to directives from the Transport Commissioner’s office, aggregator companies were ordered to pay drivers ₹32 per kilometer. However, drivers allege that they still receive only ₹10–11 per kilometer. Last month, drivers across the state staged demonstrations over this issue.
Deputy Transport Commissioner Bharat Kalaskar had mediated between the unions and companies, and a compromise rate of ₹22.50 per kilometer was agreed upon, with the revised fares to be implemented from September 16. Despite assurances, Ola, Uber, and Rapido reportedly retained the old rates, angering driver unions once again.
“Ola, Uber, and Rapido have faced repeated action. The Transport Minister himself once directed a case to be filed against Rapido, but today the same Minister, Pratap Sarnaik, grants them licenses and even makes them sponsors of his Dahi Handi festival. While the livelihoods of lakhs of drivers are at stake, these companies are being given red carpet treatment,” Kshirsagar alleged.
With local self-government elections approaching, Kshirsagar accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of siding with corporates instead of workers. Raising the slogan “Modiji, listen… take the resignation of the corrupt Transport Minister, otherwise vote against Mahayuti,” he appealed to drivers and citizens to join the September 30 protest at Azad Maidan.
