MUMBAI, Oct. 9 -- Seven employee unions of all three government-run power companies of Maharashtra are going on a three-day strike beginning Thursday midnight. This may impact supply in Mumbai's eastern suburbs and elsewhere in the state where the companies provide electricity. The unions are opposing restructuring of departments, parallel licensing to private companies and tariff-based competitive bidding, which they say will hasten the sector's privatisation. The unions going on strike are: Maharashtra State Electricity Workers Federation, Maharashtra Electricity Workers' Mahasangh, Subordinate Engineers Association, Maharashtra State Electricity Workers Congress, Maharashtra State Backward Electricity Workers Sangathana, Maharashtra State Swabhimani Electricity Workers Union and Technical Workers Union. Santosh Khumkar, general secretary, Subordinate Engineer Association, said, "Attempts are on to issue parallel licenses... is happening despite assurance from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in January 2023 (when he was deputy CM) that there won't be any privatisation of the power companies." Meanwhile, a senior official from Mahadiscom said that a back-up plan is in place. "We have ensured that power supply will not be affected anywhere in the state," he said. An order issued by Mahadiscom stated that the company has invoked Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and those who violate it by going on strike will have to face disciplinary action. Faisal Malik...