Shinde Launches Shiv Sena's Zilla Parishad Campaign with Major Scheme Promise
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has officially kickstarted Shiv Sena's campaign for the upcoming zilla parishad elections from his home district of Satara. In the first two rallies held on Monday and Tuesday, Shinde made a significant announcement regarding the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, promising to increase the monthly instalment from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 at an appropriate time.
Crediting the Scheme for Electoral Success
Shinde emphasized that the Ladki Bahin scheme played a crucial role in securing a tremendous mandate of 232 seats for Mahayuti in the recent assembly elections. He further claimed that this women-centric initiative has been instrumental in helping Mahayuti achieve success in municipal council and corporation elections across the state.
The deputy chief minister shared personal insights behind the scheme's inception, revealing that he initiated it during his tenure as chief minister to prevent women from experiencing the financial struggles faced by his own mother and wife.
Personal Motivation Behind the Initiative
"The idea came to my mind since I saw my mother's pain in running the household, and I saw my wife's struggles while managing the monthly expenses," Shinde explained during his rallies at both Taldeo near Mahabaleshwar and Kelghar near Medha in Satara district.
He assured supporters that "the scheme will never stop" while addressing opposition reminders about their promises. "Yes, at an appropriate time, we are going to increase the monthly instalment from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100," Shinde confirmed at both campaign events.
Political Context and Campaign Schedule
During the Taldeo rally, Shinde reflected on his political journey, mentioning his decision to oust the Uddhav Thackeray-led government from power after 50 MLAs joined his rebellion. "The moment will be recorded in the history books in golden words. Not just India, countries across the globe took note of Eknath Shinde's daring step," he declared.
Shinde also highlighted Shiv Sena's achievement of winning 28 seats in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election during its debut attempt, effectively ending the decades-old rule of Thackeray in BMC.
The deputy chief minister's campaign activities have taken precedence over official duties, as he skipped the weekly cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. According to Shiv Sena politicians, Shinde has lined up campaign rallies until February 2, with voting for the ZP election scheduled for February 5. His next rally is planned for Wednesday in Solapur.
