4 min readNov 29, 2025 08:44 PM IST
First published on: Nov 29, 2025 at 07:08 PM IST
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is back in the spotlight in Maharashtra, where campaigning is underway for the upcoming local body elections. All three ruling party allies—the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)—are claiming credit for the government’s populist flagship scheme, reiterating their promise to continue it indefinitely.
“I want to reassure my sisters, as long as this Devabhau is there, the Ladki Bahin Yojana will not end. It is my promise and commitment to empower women. We have set a target of 1 crore Lakhpati Didi, and we have already achieved 50 lakh Lakhpati Didi,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said at a campaign rally in Washim on Sunday, adding that the scheme was not a poll promise but a long-term commitment for women’s empowerment.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also quick to claim credit for the scheme, under which the government pays a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women beneficiaries.
At Nashik, the Shiv Sena president said, “When I was chief minister, I launched the Ladki Bahin Yojna. At that time, many disapproved of the scheme and opposed it tooth and nail. But I went ahead. As a ladla bhau (dear brother), I wanted to financially empower mothers, sisters and daughters of the state. Nobody can stop this scheme. Ladki Bahin Yojna is my favourite scheme.”
Following in the footsteps of his Mahayuti allies, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar reiterated that the government launched the welfare scheme for the upliftment of women. “Despite huge financial expenditures, as the finance minister, I have always supported Ladki Bahin Yojna,” he said.
Initially, the Ladki Bahin Yojana was availed by 2.5 crore women beneficiaries. However, after scrutiny, 77,000 were found ineligible. This led the government to introduce terms and conditions and strictly monitor the eligibility criteria to weed out ineligible beneficiaries, a move that drew criticism from the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP).
“All three parties are trying to take the credit for the scheme to win votes. But once local body elections are over, they may scrap the scheme, saying it is not feasible,” Opposition leader Vijay Waddetiwar said.
With polls around the corner—elections for 246 municipal councils and 42 municipal panchayats will be held on December 2, with results declared on December 3—the move to woo women voters makes political sense in a state where they constitute nearly 50 per cent of the vote bank.
Meanwhile, elections for 32 zilla parishads and 29 municipal corporations are likely in late December or January next year.
What is the Ladki Bahin Yojana scheme?
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a welfare scheme launched by the Mahayuti government, led by then chief minister Eknath Shinde, in July 2024. Under the scheme, eligible women between the ages of 18 and 65 are entitled to a monthly allowance of ₹1,500. The scheme costs the state government approximately ₹45,000 crore annually.
The origins of the scheme can be traced to the Ladli Bahena scheme launched in Madhya Pradesh. The Maharashtra government borrowed the concept after a dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections, and six months later, the BJP secured a landslide victory, winning 132 seats, while alliance partners Shiv Sena won 57 and the NCP 41. With five independents supporting the BJP, its tally rose to 137. The Mahayuti alliance currently holds 235 seats in the 288‑member state legislative Assembly.
BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP are competing for credit over the Ladki Bahin Yojana as Maharashtra’s local polls near. (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav) 
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