NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde took a moment to celebrate the Mahayuti alliance’s resounding victory in the 2024 Assembly elections by acknowledging the role of the state’s women. At an event related to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (Ladki Bahin Scheme), Shinde clicked selfies with attendees and credited the scheme for the electoral success.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Shinde expressed gratitude saying, “I thank all my ladki bahins in the state and the brothers who voted in large numbers for us. The voting trend is an endorsement of our work. Every section of society supported us because of our development efforts.”
Opposition weighs in
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar, reflecting on the election results, acknowledged that women’s participation and schemes like Ladki Bahin contributed significantly to the Mahayuti sweep. “The Ladki Bahin scheme and religious polarisation may have played a role. Women’s participation in large numbers could be the reason for this outcome,” Pawar said while addressing reporters in Karad. Despite the setback, he vowed to revitalize his party and its leadership.
Pawar suffered his worst-ever political defeat, with his faction securing only 10 seats, compared to 41 seats won by the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP (132 seats), Shiv Sena (57 seats), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP (41 seats), emerged victorious with 230 seats in the 288-member assembly. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi was limited to just 46 seats.
About the Ladki Bahin scheme
Launched on Raksha Bandhan in August 2024, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana provides Rs 1,500 monthly to over one crore financially disadvantaged women in Maharashtra. Women aged 21 to 65 years with annual household incomes below Rs 2.5 lakh are eligible.
During a trial phase earlier this year, over 30 lakh women received Rs 3,000 directly into their bank accounts. Inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s Ladli Behna Yojana, Shinde assured that Maharashtra’s version would continue indefinitely.
A historic mandate
As trends solidified the Mahayuti victory, Shinde emphasized that public recognition of their development efforts underpinned the success. With women emerging as a key demographic, the Ladki Bahin scheme appears to have played a pivotal role in securing the alliance’s mandate.