Political Credit War Erupts Over Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Scheme Ahead of Mumbai Civic Polls

Mumbai:

As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections approach, political parties are refining their electoral strategies, with the state's flagship Ladki-Bahin scheme becoming a central point of contention regarding which party deserves credit for its implementation.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have both made statements about the scheme, which political analysts interpret as a 'credit' war between leaders.

At a recent rally, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared, "As long as your 'Deva Bhau' (Brother Deva) serves as Chief Minister, funding for the 'Laadli Behna' scheme will continue uninterrupted."

He further emphasized, "We initiated the Laadli Behna Yojana, providing Rs 1,500 as financial support to our sisters. After our electoral victory, opposition parties claimed we would terminate this program. However, I want to assure you that our government recently marked its first anniversary, and the scheme continues to operate effectively."

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also claimed ownership of the scheme, stating that it was launched during his tenure as chief minister.

"The Laadli Bahin Scheme was introduced when I held the position of chief minister. Together with both deputy chief ministers, we implemented the scheme as a unified team," Shinde remarked.

When questioned about women's voting preferences in the upcoming elections, he responded, "I am well aware of the challenges the scheme faced. Nevertheless, we resolved to maintain it. Regardless of external commentary, the Laadli Bahin Scheme will continue operating. Our sisters will make appropriate electoral decisions."

Congress Leader Vijay Wadettiwar criticized the government, accusing it of launching the scheme ahead of assembly elections to influence voters. He stated, "Previously, the scheme lacked transparency. Now, the government is imposing arbitrary conditions. The program will likely be discontinued after municipal and district council elections. Despite ministerial assurances, the scheme will eventually be terminated."

The "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana" is a welfare initiative by the Government of Maharashtra, designed to provide financial assistance to women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Eligible women receive Rs 1,500 monthly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

The scheme has demonstrated electoral benefits, as women voters have shown increased support for the ruling party following its implementation.