The local body election campaign in Maharashtra is at its peak and the Ladki Bahin Yojana is once again at the center of political debate. After the announcement by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, now the statement of Rural Development Minister Jaikumar Gore has further heated up the election atmosphere.
While praising the Ladki Bahin Yojana at an election rally in Solapur, Gore said that your husband does not give you Rs 100 whereas Devabhau has given you Rs 1500 every month. This scheme was started after the Lok Sabha elections when Shinde was the CM.
This scheme had proved to be a game changer in the assembly elections, hence now its political importance has increased in the civic elections also. Political parties are challenging each other to take credit for this scheme. Eknath Shinde calls this an achievement of his government. This scheme started when Ajit Pawar was the Finance Minister, hence NCP also considers it as its achievement.
BJP had linked it to Fadnavis’s “Deva Bhau” image. Whereas BJP minister Jaikumar Gore told the Ladki sisters that your husband does not give Rs 100 but Deva Bhau gave Rs 1500. Addressing a rally in Solapur, Jaikumar Gore said that even your husband does not give you Rs 100, but Deva Bhau has sent Rs 1500 to your account. At least show some gratitude for this. Gore also surprised people by saying that if people from the opposition party come to give money, then take it, but vote only for BJP.
Gore is considered very close to CM Fadnavis and his statement is being seen as a direct election message. He also said that on Rakhi, brother also asks his wife to give Rs 100. Gore said that on Rakhi Purnima, even your real brother puts Rs 100 in the plate only when his wife nods her head. If the wife refuses, the brother keeps Rs 100 back in his pocket but Chief Minister Fadnavis is giving you Rs 1500 without any conditions.
He further claimed that if Deva Bhau is no more, Rs 1500 will stop coming into your account. She also said that now the era of distributing sarees is gone and the availability of festive sarees has also stopped, hence women should understand the importance of this scheme. After this statement the election temperature has now increased. After this statement of Jaikumar Gore, the discussion has intensified in political circles.
Opposition parties are calling it political use of women’s sentiments and economic needs, while BJP is calling it an achievement of the government and a public welfare scheme. At the same time, Eknath Shinde’s party has also said that leaders should give statements thoughtfully. This Ladki Bahin scheme is of the government and the money belongs to the public. The first phase of voting in Maharashtra will be held on December 2.
Counting of votes and results will be declared on December 3. The results will decide how much impact the Ladki Bahin Scheme will have in the civic elections, but it is certain that the political rhetoric on this scheme is going to intensify.
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