In an election where the BJP-led MahaYuti’s flagship scheme “Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana” proved to be a game-changer that ensured its return to power in Maharashtra, only 21 women have been elected to the 288-member State Legislative Assembly.
Of the total 4,136 candidates in fray, there were 3,771 men and 363 women. Given that 21 women candidates out of the total 363 female candidates romped home in the polls, the women representation in the 288-Assembly is meagre 7.29 per cent.
That only 21 women candidates have emerged victors in the State Assembly polls is ironic considering that both the ruling MahaYuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had made pink as the theme in the polls and they reached out in a big way to the women voters in the state.
While the BJP went to polls with a promise to increase the quantum of assistance under the “Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana” from Rs 1,500 to 2,100 per month, the Opposition MVA promised a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of Rs 3,000 per month for women under its Mahalakshmi Yojana.
Between the two women assistance schemes, “Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana” proved to be a hit with the women voters across the state and it contributed to the BJP-led MahaYuti’s historic victory in the polls.
So much so that Chief minister Eknath Shinde, his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar have attributed a large share of the MahaYuti victory to its ‘Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana’ (Chief Minister's Beloved Sister Scheme) which was announced in the State Budget 2024-25.
“I salute women across the state. The Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana’ proved to be a game-changer for us…. Remember every one wrote us off after the Lok Sabha polls. If the people, especially women across the state, have given us resounding victory, it is because of the development work and welfare schemes like the Ladki Bahin scheme, which helped us script an unprecedented win in the polls,” Shinde said on Saturday, while addressing a joint news conference after the MahaYuti’s thumping victory in the Assembly polls.
In the backdrop of the euphoria over the contribution of women voters to the ruling MahaYuti’s landslide victory in the polls, the number of women elected to the new Maharashtra Assem
Out of the total 21 new women MLAs elected to the State Assembly, 20 are from the ruling MahaYuti. Of these 20 new women MLAs, the BJP accounted for a lion’s share of 14. Of the 14, 10 women MLAs have been re-elected. They are Shweta Mahale (Chikli constituency), Meghana Bordikar (Jintur), Devyani Farande (Nashik Central), Seema Hiray (Nashik West), Manda Mhatre (Belapur), Manisha Chaudhari (Dahisar), Vidya Thakur (Goregaon), Madhuri Misal (Parvati), Monica Rajale (Shevgaon) and Namita Mundada (Kaij).
The four BJP women nominees, who have been elected as MLAs for the first time are: Shreejaya Chavan (Bhokar), Sulabha Gaikwad (Kalyan East), Sneha Pandit (Vasai) and Anuradha Chavan (Fulambari).
Similarly, Manjula Gavit (Sakri) and Sanjana Jadhav (Kannad) have been elected to the State Assembly on the ruling Shiv Sena tickets, while the three new NCP MLAs are Sulbha Khodke (Amravati), Saroj Ahire (Deolali), Sana Malik (Anushaktinagar) and Aditi Tatkare (Shrivardhan).
The lone opposition MLA in the Maharashtra Assembly is Dr Jyoti Gaikwad, who has won the Dharavi seat for the Congress. She is the sister of Mumbai Congress President Prof Varsha Gaikwad, who is Mumbai North Central MP and daughter of late Eknath Gaikwad, a former MLA
and MP.
