MUMBAI: In a setback to the Mahayuti government, which was planning to transfer a double instalment of Rs 3,000 under its Ladki Bahin scheme to underprivileged women by Jan 14 – shortly before the Jan 15 elections to 29 municipal corporations, including BMC – state election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare has barred the advance payment for the month of Jan while allowing the pending payment for Dec 2025. Hence, the state will only be allowed to dispense the sum of Rs 1,500 for Dec to around 2.5 crore eligible women in the state by Jan 14. “The regular benefits of the scheme can be given while the model code of conduct is in force. But benefits cannot be given in advance. And new beneficiaries are also not allowed to be selected,” Waghmare said in his order. In doing so, Waghmare went beyond the report of state chief secretary Rajesh Aggarwal which had only said that “development work and schemes that were actually started before the announcement of the elections are allowed to continue during the code of conduct period.” In a post on X on Jan 7, rural development minister Girish Mahajan of BJP said that eligible beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin scheme will receive a combined transfer of Rs 3,000 for Dec and Jan in their bank accounts before Makar Sankranti, which falls on Jan 14, terming it a “special gift” from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The flagship scheme of govt was credited with powering a landslide victory for the Mahayuti in the assembly polls last year. Congress filed a complaint to SEC and questioned the timing of the announcement, alleging it was a violation of the model code of conduct and aimed at influencing voters ahead of the corporation elections. SEC in turn had asked the chief secretary to send a report on the issue. Waghmare’s order came after the report was sent. Meanwhile, on the issue of around 70 of 2,869 posts in the state’s municipal corporations set for unopposed elections in favour of Mahayuti candidates, Waghmaresaid that the count was just 2.4% of the total seats. “This cannot be considered a threat to democracy. In fact, in the Lok Sabha elections last year, around 50 MPs were elected unopposed,” said a senior official. Asked if Fadnavis’ statement that Mumbai would have a Marathi and Hindu mayor was a violation of the model code of conduct, Waghmare said, “If someone sends a complaint to SEC, we will issue notice on the statement.”
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