The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly session that begins on Thursday is a crucial one, for it is the last one before state elections this year. Popular announcements aimed at courting voter support are expected from the Mahayuti government of Eknath Shinde, BJP and Ajit Pawar.
With women emerging among the strongest vote banks in recent Assembly elections in other states as well as the Lok Sabha elections, the Maharashtra government may announce free education for girls up to the undergraduate level in the state. Such a move would provide considerable relief to female students to pursue education and potentially offer the Mahayuti strategic advantage in the upcoming elections.
Sources said the proposal to make education free for girls up to graduation is currently being reviewed. It is expected to be a focal point of discussion during the state cabinet meeting on Thursday. Orders have already been issued to draft a proposal on this initiative. Consequently, all eyes are on whether the state government will declare free education for girls up to the undergraduate level.
Cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil was recently asked about the speculated scheme as he had announced few months ago that state government is considering making education free for girls.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Mahayuti alliance managed to secure only 17 seats in Maharashtra, a significant setback for all three constituents. To avoid a similar fate in the upcoming Assembly elections, the state government is reportedly planning a new scheme to attract women voters, inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s successful ‘Ladli Behna’ scheme.
The state government is considering a program to deposit money directly into the bank accounts of women from poor and middle-class families. The Madhya Pradesh government deposits Rs 1,250 monthly into the accounts of women under the ‘Ladli Behna’ scheme. The Maharashtra government is reportedly prepared to offer an even higher amount, potentially up to Rs 1,500 per month.
The ‘Ladli Behna’ scheme, introduced by then chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has gained immense popularity in Madhya Pradesh, contributing to the BJP’s sweeping victory, wherein it secured all 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state. A similar scheme in Maharashtra before the Assembly elections could prove beneficial for the Mahayuti government, potentially swaying the electorate in its favour.
This financial aid initiative, along with the proposal for free education for girls, highlights the government’s strategy to address key voter concerns and bolster its position ahead of the elections. As the Assembly session nears, these anticipated announcements are poised to be the centre of attention, with the potential to significantly impact the political landscape in Maharashtra.
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