The political atmosphere in Maharashtra has intensified ahead of crucial municipal corporation elections, with the state Congress unit lodging a formal complaint against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly attempting to influence voters. The party has approached the State Election Commission (SEC), accusing senior BJP minister Girish Mahajan of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) through a social media post related to the flagship Ladki Bahin scheme.
The Core of the Controversy
At the heart of the dispute is a social media announcement made by Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan on January 7. In his post, Mahajan proclaimed a "special gift for Ladki Bahin beneficiaries on Makar Sankranti", stating that a consolidated amount of Rs 3,000 – covering payments for December and January – would be credited to beneficiaries' bank accounts before January 14. This date is significant as it falls just a day before polling for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) general secretary Sandesh Kondwilkar formally submitted the complaint in a letter addressed to State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare. The Congress alleges that this timing is a deliberate attempt to sway women voters, who constitute a major beneficiary group of the scheme.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations
State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal spearheaded the attack, asserting that Mahajan's public post amounts to a clear-cut effort to influence the electorate. "It is clearly aimed at women voters at a time when local body elections are imminent. The post by Mahajan raises serious questions over the model code of conduct," Sapkal told the media. The complaint letter urges the SEC to direct the state government to defer the disbursal of the December and January installments until after the completion of the municipal polls.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance, however, has launched a fierce counter-offensive. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, in a strongly-worded statement, accused the Congress of displaying a "cruel and hateful mindset" towards the women beneficiaries. He claimed that under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the government is providing crucial support to poor families by crediting the two-month assistance ahead of the Makar Sankranti festival.
Bawankule further alleged that Congress has consistently tried to obstruct the scheme, first by backing petitions in the high court and now by approaching the SEC. "Congress's jealousy and vindictiveness would not be forgotten by the Ladki Bahin beneficiaries," the statement warned.
SEC's Stance and Political Implications
State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare confirmed to the press that the commission has received the complaint and will examine it thoroughly. "We will issue necessary directives to the women and child development department about the needful as per law," Waghmare stated, indicating that the SEC will take action in accordance with legal provisions.
The Ladki Bahin scheme, a monthly financial assistance program for women, was a central poll plank for the ruling alliance during the recent assembly elections. The Congress complaint highlights that the government had already deposited the payout for November in the last week of December. The decision to now release a combined Rs 3,000 right before voting day, the party argues, is a form of "collective government bribery" that could impact over one crore women voters.
This controversy sets the stage for a heated electoral battle, with welfare schemes and their implementation timing becoming a focal point of political discourse. The SEC's forthcoming decision on this complaint will be closely watched, as it could have significant repercussions on campaign strategies and the perceived fairness of the electoral process in Maharashtra's municipal elections.
