4 months ago
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Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan has claimed that fiscal assistance for December and January nether the Ladki Bahin Yojana would beryllium disbursed earlier Makar Sankranti, adjacent arsenic the Opposition alleged the determination violates the Model Code of Conduct.
The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has sought a study from the main caput connected a Minister's claims, pursuing complaints by the Opposition Congress, which questioned the timing of the announcement and alleged it was aimed astatine influencing voters up of the January 15 polls to 29 municipal corporations.
An authoritative from the authorities Women and Child Development Department, however, struck a cautious note, saying determination could beryllium a hold successful the disbursal of instalments nether the strategy arsenic the Model Code of Conduct would stay successful unit until the elections conclude.
"Beneficiaries whitethorn person to hold for the funds," the authoritative said.
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is simply a flagship strategy of the authorities authorities nether which eligible women beneficiaries get a monthly assistance of ₹1,500. The strategy is wide credited with helping the Mahayuti unafraid triumph successful the 2024 State Assembly elections.
In a station connected X connected January 7, BJP person Mahajan claimed eligible beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin strategy volition person a combined transportation of ₹3,000 for December and January successful their slope accounts earlier Makar Sankranti, which falls connected January 14, terming it a "special gift" from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
State Congress person and advocator Sandesh Kondvilkar submitted a ailment to the SEC connected Saturday (January 10, 2026), claiming the outgo was projected for January 14, a time earlier polling, and sought the canvass body's involution to halt the transfer.
The SEC sent a missive to authorities Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal connected Sunday (January 11, 2026), seeking clarification connected the factual presumption and whether the authorities intended to merchandise 2 months' instalments unneurotic conscionable up of the polls, with a effect sought connected Monday (January 12, 2026), sources said.
Amid the controversy, CM Fadnavis has said the Ladki Bahin Yojana was a continuous strategy of the authorities authorities and did not autumn nether the restrictions of the predetermination codification of conduct.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal has, however, said his enactment was not opposed to the scheme, but objected to the merchandise of 2 months' assistance connected the eve of voting, calling it a wide usurpation of the exemplary codification of conduct.
The authorities Congress connected Monday (January 12, 2026) slammed the Mahayuti government, claiming the ruling enactment leaders were "selfish brothers" who expect votes arsenic a "return gift" from the women beneficiaries.
"These selfish brothers person nary emotion. They stopped the instalment for 2 months and person disbursed the magnitude during the predetermination campaign. They question thing successful return. The sisters should amusement these selfish brothers their spot arsenic they expect a instrumentality acquisition successful the signifier of votes," authorities Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant told reporters.
The instalment is paid from taxpayers' wealth and is not the backstage spot of those successful power, helium pointed out.
When the Congress criticises (such developments), the ruling confederation alleges the enactment is against the scheme, Mr. Sawant said.
"The Congress has objected and written to the SEC, but we don't expect immoderate action. During the municipal assembly polls, parties successful the Mahayuti accused each different of giving wealth for votes and adjacent circulated videos, but the SEC, which is the B Team of the BJP, did not act," helium alleged.
