MVA to transform Ladki Bahin Yojana into rights-based scheme: Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan

Chavan asserted that the Congress deserves the largest share of seats in the upcoming assembly elections, due to their recent success.

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has promised that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will turn the Ladki Bahin Yojana into a rights-based initiative for women if the opposition alliance comes to power in Maharashtra.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Chavan highlighted that Congress secured the most seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections among MVA allies, emphasising the party's significance within the coalition. Out of Maharashtra's 40 Lok Sabha seats, Congress won 13, Shiv Sena (UBT) secured nine, and NCP (SP) clinched eight.

Chavan asserted that the Congress deserves the largest share of seats in the upcoming assembly elections, due to their recent success. He dismissed the need for a single leader in the MVA and expressed confidence in the alliance's chances of regaining power.

Assembly elections for the 288-member Maharashtra legislature are expected in November.

When questioned about the Mahayuti government’s Ladki Bahin Yojana, a financial assistance program for women, Chavan stated that the Congress supports such initiatives. He noted similar schemes exist in Karnataka and Telangana, where women receive Rs 2,000 monthly.

Chavan stated that empowering women through financial aid is a Congress initiative and described the Ladki Bahin Yojana as a means of recognising the unpaid work women perform in raising the next generation. He assured that, under MVA, the scheme would be transformed into a rights-based programme in Maharashtra.

On the formation of the opposition INDIA bloc ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chavan described it as a strategic move, though not flawless, noting that it successfully avoided a split in opposition votes.

When asked about the MVA’s chief ministerial candidate, Chavan suggested that the largest party should select the chief minister, in line with past practices. However, he deferred the final decision to Congress leadership, adding that there was no necessity for a single leader within the MVA, as the alliance will present a unified manifesto.

Chavan also reiterated Congress' call for the maximum number of assembly seats in the MVA, noting that the party had entered the coalition as a junior partner but outperformed its allies in the Lok Sabha elections.