Rift emerges in Mahayuti over promotion of Maharashtra govt.’s flagship scheme for women

Dispute within Mahayuti alliance over promotion of Maharashtra government's flagship scheme, highlighting tension between Shiv Sena and NCP.

In the run-up to the Maharashtra Assembly election, a dispute has emerged within the ruling Mahayuti alliance over the promotion of the State government’s flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which was launched by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde last month.

Shiv Sena leader and Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai on Friday raised objections against ally NCP and its president Ajit Pawar for allegedly omitting the word ‘Mukhyamantri (Chief Minister)’ from the party’s advertisements of the scheme for women.

Expressing displeasure at the NCP not following “protocol”, Mr. Desai said: “We [Shiv Sena] inserted the pictures of both Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis in our posters while advertising the scheme, then why did NCP remove the word ‘Mukhyamantri’ from its advertisements and promotional material? Why this disparity?”

Mr. Pawar last month had launched the NCP’s Jan Sanman Yatra, a public outreach programme that focused on promoting the State government’s welfare schemes for women.

Addressing rallies in the State, the NCP president spoke extensively about the new scheme that provides monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to eligible women in the 21-65 age group. However, in advertisements and promotional material during the campaign, the party mentioned the scheme just as ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin’.

The matter came up for discussion during a meeting of the State Cabinet, but while addressing mediapersons on Friday, Mr. Fadnavis clarified that “no drama ensued over taking credit for the scheme in the Cabinet meeting. Only its branding and how parties should equally advertise it were discussed”.

NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil downplayed the dispute over the promotion of the government scheme and said the State Cabinet should have instead discussed Shiv Sena Minister Tanaji Sawant’s recent remarks “insulting the NCP and Ajit Pawar”.