To counter Mahayuti, Congress plans bigger SOP for women

NEW DELHI: With a badly-mauled governing alliance in Maharashtra falling back on cash payments to women to turn its political fortunes — a tried and tested method in recent years, Congress believes the BJP-led govt has made a faux pas by spelling out its upper limit (Rs 1500 per month) with the launch of the scheme. Sources said the opposition MVA will counter the ‘Ladli Behna’ card of ‘Mahayuti’ with the promise of a bigger payout if voted to power.
The fresh scheme by the BJP-Sena-NCP combine, announced weeks after its decimation in Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, is part of a plan to win over women voters who were baited by Congress with ‘Mahalakshmi’ yojana during the poll campaign.The cash payout to women has been a proven winner in politics in recent years, with BJP setting the example with its Madhya Pradesh govt’s ‘Ladli Behna’ scheme and Congress following the cue by successfully using the promise in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana elections. Maharashtra has clearly taken a leaf out of the recent political playbook.

Sources in Congress, however, said BJP’s scheme in Maharashtra, coming close to elections, is a mistake, as its implementation has set the limit of its payout. “We will announce a bigger amount to counter it successfully,” a strategist said. They also said that the political mood in the state as demonstrated by the LS elections shows that Congress and alliance’s promise will resonate with people, and BJP will not get the advantage of having rolled out the scheme.
Congress has learnt its lessons hard. Former Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath had prematurely announced the planned promise of Rs 1,500 per month for 2023 polls, and chief minister Shivraj Chouhan immediately hiked his scheme from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 to counter the rival, with the added promise that he would increase it further to Rs 1,500, if voted back. BJP won the elections with ease, and Nath got the flak in the party for giving the game away.
As the national focus shifts to Maharashtra in coming weeks, sources said Congress will launch an all-out attack on BJP, that will echo Rahul Gandhi’s opening salvo after the LS results. “Favours to Adani” will be a key component of the party campaign. Rahul is likely to start the outreach in Maharashtra with a day’s participation in the revered Pandharpur yatra that culminates later this month.