From removing toll to welfare schemes like ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, Mahayuti govt is all set for Maha battle with a strong report card

The newly announced schemes in the run up to Assembly polls are projected to cost approximately Rs 1 lakh crore annually

In the run up to the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Mahayuti government initiated a series of voter-focused decisions beginning with the Budget presentation in June. The government has announced more than 200 different initiatives, many designed to appeal to particular voter segments.

The newly announced schemes are projected to cost approximately Rs 1 lakh crore annually to the state government, according to a report by The Indian Express. The Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme announced for women in the state budget earlier this year, accounts for nearly half of this expenditure.

A look at Maharashtra government's announcements ahead of Assembly polls:

The Eknath Shinde-led government recently announced full toll exemption for light motor vehicles at all five toll booths entering Mumbai. Before that, the government had announced several other freebies in the state budget, with the most ambitious being Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. Under the scheme, it pledged monthly payments of Rs 1,500 to women aged 21-65 who fall below the poverty line. It is expected to cost the state exchequer Rs 46,000 crore annually.

According to the Mahayuti government, 2.35 crore women have already registered for this welfare program.

In the same budget, the government also announced three free LPG cylinders annually for those below poverty line, which is expected to benefit over 52 lakh families. The state government also launched the Mukhya Mantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojana, under which it has taken on the responsibility of farmers' electricity expenses, providing free power for use of agricultural pumps up to 7.5 horsepower capacity. The scheme currently benefits approximately 44.06 lakh farmers.

The government also announced the formation of Parshuram Financial Development Corporation with a Rs 50 crore corpus fund to provide support to underprivileged Brahmin students. Previously, Brahmin students could only access assistance through the economically weaker section (EWS) quota.

On October 10, the Maharashtra cabinet decided to request the Union government to increase the income limit to qualify for ‘non-creamy layer’ to Rs 15 lakh per year from the current Rs 8 lakh. A non-creamy layer certificate, which means the family income of a person is below the prescribed limit, is needed to avail of reservation benefits in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.

As per the 2024-25 Budget estimates, Maharashtra's total debt stock has reached Rs 7.82 lakh crore, representing 18.35 per cent of the GSDP. This marks a steady increase from 17.59% in 2023-24 and 17.26% in 2022-23.

Polling for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will take place on November 20 and votes will be counted three days later.