EC Bars Advance Ladki Bahin Scheme Payments Ahead of January 15 Civic Elections

The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on January 12, 2026, barred the Mahayuti-led state government from releasing advance payments under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. The decision came after complaints and media reports highlighted a statement by BJP leader and minister Girish Mahajan, who announced that eligible women beneficiaries would receive a consolidated ₹3,000 (covering December and January installments) as a "special gift" from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis before Makar Sankranti on January 14—just a day before polling on January 15.

The SEC's action was prompted by multiple complaints, including one filed by Congress leader Sandesh Kondvilkar, alleging that the timing of the advance disbursement was designed to influence voters in the civic body polls scheduled across 29 municipal corporations. State election commissioner Dinesh Waghmare clarified that while regular or pending installments could continue to be released, advance payments or the addition of new beneficiaries would not be permitted during the enforcement of the model code of conduct. The SEC had sought clarification from the state chief secretary on Sunday and issued its directive on Monday, emphasizing that only pre-existing commitments under welfare schemes could proceed without violating electoral guidelines.

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a key flagship program of the Mahayuti alliance government, providing ₹1,500 monthly financial assistance to eligible women aged 18 to 65 years. Launched prior to the 2024 state assembly elections, the scheme is widely credited with bolstering support for the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP coalition, which secured a decisive victory in those polls. Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, criticized Mahajan's announcement as an attempt to "play with the feelings of women" by withholding payments for two months and then releasing them strategically to seek votes.

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This move by the SEC draws parallels to recent electoral practices in other states, notably Bihar, where the Nitish Kumar-led government announced ₹10,000 transfers to women beneficiaries under a similar scheme just before the November 2025 assembly elections. That announcement, seen by the Opposition as a last-minute voter-wooing tactic, preceded the NDA's landslide win. In Maharashtra, the SEC's intervention aims to maintain a level playing field during the sensitive pre-poll period, allowing only routine disbursements while prohibiting any accelerated or consolidated payments that could be perceived as inducements.

The civic elections, with voting set for January 15 and counting on January 16, 2026, are a significant test for the Mahayuti government and the Opposition alliance. The SEC's firm stance underscores the poll body's commitment to curbing the use of welfare schemes for electoral advantage, ensuring that financial assistance programs do not undermine the integrity of the democratic process. As the model code remains in force, the focus now shifts to the conduct of the polls amid heightened scrutiny of government announcements.

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