The Maharashtra State Election Commission on Monday directed the state government to refrain from disbursing funds under the Ladki Bahin scheme in advance for January, citing the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming civic elections, PTI reported.
The State Election Commission had received several complaints about media reports alleging that beneficiaries of the scheme would receive Rs 3,000, covering the December and January instalments, in their bank accounts before January 14 as a gift for the festival of Makar Sankranti.
The scheme provides a monthly transfer of Rs 1,500 to women aged 21 to 65 whose families earn less than Rs 2.5 lakh a year.
On Saturday, the Congress in Maharashtra also complained to the State Election Commission against a social media post by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and state minister Girish Mahajan announcing the disbursal of funds under the Ladki Bahin scheme ahead of the festival.
Makar Sankranti falls on Wednesday, a day before polling is slated to take place for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including Mumbai.
On Sunday, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that Mahajan’s post announcing the release of installments for December and January amounted to an attempt to influence women voters and violated the model code of conduct. The Congress alleged that the announcement amounted to an attempt to influence women voters.
Following the complaints, the State Election Commission sent a letter to Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal on Sunday, seeking a clarification on the allegations and sought a response within a day.
After receiving a response from Agarwal, the poll panel said in a statement that it had issued consolidated orders on November 4 about the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the elections in the state, The Hindu reported.
It added that the chief secretary noted in his response that development works and schemes that had started before the announcement of the elections were allowed to continue during the code of conduct period as per the provisions of the November 4 order.
“Considering this background, the regular benefits of this scheme can be given,” the newspaper quoted the State Election Commission as saying. “…but benefits cannot be given in advance; and, new beneficiaries will not be able to be selected.”
On Monday, the state Congress criticised the Mahayuti government, claiming that the leaders of the ruling party were “selfish brothers” who expected votes as a “return gift” from the beneficiaries of the scheme, PTI reported.
“These selfish brothers have no emotion,” the news agency quoted party spokesperson Sachin Sawant as saying. “They stopped the instalment for two months and disbursed the amount during the election campaign. They seek something in return. The sisters should show these selfish brothers their place as they expect a return gift in the form of votes.”
He added that the funding for the scheme is paid using the taxpayers’ money and was not the private property of those in power.
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